5. Tyrone’s rebellion 1594-1603
❖ Reasons for the Nine Years War (Tyrone’s rebellion)
❖Significance of events and individuals
❖Reasons for the war’s duration and England’s eventual success
Reasons for the Nine Years War (Tyrone’s rebellion)
Long-term problems in Anglo-Irish relations
➔ The relationship between England and Ireland was a problem for all Tudor monarchs.
They didn’t rule Ireland. Most of Ireland was ruled by Anglo-irish members of
nobility
➔ Another problem was that the Irish government was different to English
government. The Irish practiced a custom known as tanistry(used to organise the
inheritance of lands/titles). Irish nobles didn’t adopt English noble titles like ‘earl’. Like
Hugh O’Neill was known as O’Neill
Long-term causes of the rebellion
When Henry 8th broke with Rome, this made the problems of Ireland more serious because
Ireland was Roman Catholic.
→ Tudor monarchs was now faced with a choice: they could intervene more directly in Ireland or
peaceful negotiations. Henry 8th picked first choice
➔ 1541, Irish agreed to recognise Henry as King of England→ the government then
encouraged them to surrender their lands to the crown in which these lands would be
re-granted back to them→ They were then given english titles
➔ But, the Anglo-Irish nobles continued to remain quite independent.
Elizabeth’s rule of Ireland 1559-94
As a protestant queen, she faced a potential threat of an Irish-Catholic rising against her, the
threat started to become reality from the Revolt of Northern Earls. In response, the English
tried to take more control of Ireland by replacing Irish laws with English ones.
→ They set up English-style councils in Connaught and Munster and divided Ireland into
counties run by English officials. This led to rebellions in Munster.
→ The second was brutally crushed, and the land was given to English settlers.
➔ New English settlers took over land from Anglo-Irish nobles, causing more
tension. They wanted to convert them to Protestantism.
➔ English actions upset the Anglo-Irish. From 1585, the English used ‘composition’ to
tighten control—Irish landowners paid fixed rents instead of traditional payments, which
seemed fairer. But in return, they had to accept English laws and rules.
, English incursions into Ulster from the 1570s
Many problems that affected Ireland also affected Ulster. This area was where English
control was limited.
➔ Ulster was ruled by the O'Neill and O'Donnell clans, who often competed for
power.
➔ The English tried to take control by planting settlers in Eastern Ulster. The plantation
failed and led to violence. Both clans united to resist the English. In response, the
English massacred 200 O'Neills in 1574 and 500 O'Donnells in 1575.
Resentment of the Earl of Tyrone and other Ulster lords
In the 1580s, England tried to ease tensions in Ulster. Hugh O'Neill became Earl of Tyrone in
1585, but peace didn’t last as this was temporary. The English kept pushing for control by
making the Irish agree to English laws.
Tyrone was feeling under threat from English rule. Beforehand, he was prepared to work
with the English government in Dublin. He was in a feud with the head of the O’Neill clan.
English support was important to him as he attempted to be O’Neill heir.
→ Maguire disliked english intervention, the english took control over his land.
→ Hugh Roe O-Donnell was kidnapped and imprisoned in Dublin Castle by the English. This
was because they wanted to make his father obey English rule, so he didn’t do anything.
However, English attitudes to Tyrone began to change. He became an obstacle to complete
English dominance in Ulster. He tried to neutralise the threat by making a marriage alliance with
his sister. Sir Henry Bagenal disagreed but they eloped anyways so led to personal hatred.
Tyrone’s decision to rebel
It was his resentment and links to O’Donnell and Maguire that caused Elizabeth and her
council to become concerned about the situation in Ulster.
➔ O’Donnell was in touch with Philip II of Spain to ask for support, but he was busy dealing
with trouble in netherlands
➔ Tyrone presented himself to the Lord Deputy in Dublin, Sir William Russell and promised
to restore peace in Ulster and to cooperate with English government. He wanted
control over Ulster in return
➔ Russell was going to believe him and not to arrest him. Tyrone was allowed to keep his
private army, but Elizabeth’s government wasn’t ready to give him control over Ulster
Support for Tyrone in Ireland
❖ Reasons for the Nine Years War (Tyrone’s rebellion)
❖Significance of events and individuals
❖Reasons for the war’s duration and England’s eventual success
Reasons for the Nine Years War (Tyrone’s rebellion)
Long-term problems in Anglo-Irish relations
➔ The relationship between England and Ireland was a problem for all Tudor monarchs.
They didn’t rule Ireland. Most of Ireland was ruled by Anglo-irish members of
nobility
➔ Another problem was that the Irish government was different to English
government. The Irish practiced a custom known as tanistry(used to organise the
inheritance of lands/titles). Irish nobles didn’t adopt English noble titles like ‘earl’. Like
Hugh O’Neill was known as O’Neill
Long-term causes of the rebellion
When Henry 8th broke with Rome, this made the problems of Ireland more serious because
Ireland was Roman Catholic.
→ Tudor monarchs was now faced with a choice: they could intervene more directly in Ireland or
peaceful negotiations. Henry 8th picked first choice
➔ 1541, Irish agreed to recognise Henry as King of England→ the government then
encouraged them to surrender their lands to the crown in which these lands would be
re-granted back to them→ They were then given english titles
➔ But, the Anglo-Irish nobles continued to remain quite independent.
Elizabeth’s rule of Ireland 1559-94
As a protestant queen, she faced a potential threat of an Irish-Catholic rising against her, the
threat started to become reality from the Revolt of Northern Earls. In response, the English
tried to take more control of Ireland by replacing Irish laws with English ones.
→ They set up English-style councils in Connaught and Munster and divided Ireland into
counties run by English officials. This led to rebellions in Munster.
→ The second was brutally crushed, and the land was given to English settlers.
➔ New English settlers took over land from Anglo-Irish nobles, causing more
tension. They wanted to convert them to Protestantism.
➔ English actions upset the Anglo-Irish. From 1585, the English used ‘composition’ to
tighten control—Irish landowners paid fixed rents instead of traditional payments, which
seemed fairer. But in return, they had to accept English laws and rules.
, English incursions into Ulster from the 1570s
Many problems that affected Ireland also affected Ulster. This area was where English
control was limited.
➔ Ulster was ruled by the O'Neill and O'Donnell clans, who often competed for
power.
➔ The English tried to take control by planting settlers in Eastern Ulster. The plantation
failed and led to violence. Both clans united to resist the English. In response, the
English massacred 200 O'Neills in 1574 and 500 O'Donnells in 1575.
Resentment of the Earl of Tyrone and other Ulster lords
In the 1580s, England tried to ease tensions in Ulster. Hugh O'Neill became Earl of Tyrone in
1585, but peace didn’t last as this was temporary. The English kept pushing for control by
making the Irish agree to English laws.
Tyrone was feeling under threat from English rule. Beforehand, he was prepared to work
with the English government in Dublin. He was in a feud with the head of the O’Neill clan.
English support was important to him as he attempted to be O’Neill heir.
→ Maguire disliked english intervention, the english took control over his land.
→ Hugh Roe O-Donnell was kidnapped and imprisoned in Dublin Castle by the English. This
was because they wanted to make his father obey English rule, so he didn’t do anything.
However, English attitudes to Tyrone began to change. He became an obstacle to complete
English dominance in Ulster. He tried to neutralise the threat by making a marriage alliance with
his sister. Sir Henry Bagenal disagreed but they eloped anyways so led to personal hatred.
Tyrone’s decision to rebel
It was his resentment and links to O’Donnell and Maguire that caused Elizabeth and her
council to become concerned about the situation in Ulster.
➔ O’Donnell was in touch with Philip II of Spain to ask for support, but he was busy dealing
with trouble in netherlands
➔ Tyrone presented himself to the Lord Deputy in Dublin, Sir William Russell and promised
to restore peace in Ulster and to cooperate with English government. He wanted
control over Ulster in return
➔ Russell was going to believe him and not to arrest him. Tyrone was allowed to keep his
private army, but Elizabeth’s government wasn’t ready to give him control over Ulster
Support for Tyrone in Ireland
