TYRONES REBELLION/9 YEARS WAR - IRELAND
May 1595
CAUSES:
(LONG TERM & SHORT TERM ANGLO-IRISH RELATIONS)
The Reformation - Ireland remains roman catholic
Change from Henry VIII’s policy of conciliation (1941 Irish chieftans recognise H as king and
anglo-irish nobility became tenants in chief) to under Mary - the Fortification of the Pale by
Earl of Sussex in attempt to introduce English customs (Irish still too independent)
Revolt of the N.Earls 1969 - Elizabeth more strict on Catholicism (Irish laws were replaced
with English ones, tradit regions divided into English-style counties, attempted to establish
councils in Munster and Connaught)
Led to rebellion in Munster - 2nd one brutally repressed by English, rebels lands were used to
encourage plantation by English settlers
English attempts to set up plantations in Ulster failed due to ON and OD resistance - 1574 -
200 of O’Neill clan murdered at feast = mass damage to relations
1590 - Execution of MacMahon in Ulster - his lands given to English settlers such as
Sir.H.Bagenal = improaching on Tyrone’s territory (he had been prepared to work with them
as they named him Earl of Tyrone in the 1580s but he felt threatened now)
Personal enmity between Bagenal and Tyrone (T eloped with H.B’s sister Mabel)
May 1593 - Tyrone helps English forces capture Maguire - doesn’t feel he gets rewarded,
wants to control Ulster. 1954 L.Deputy Russell in place instead = increased Tyrone’s
grieviences
SUPPORT for Tyrone
Rebellion became a national struggle for independence - tradititional Irish feuds were forgotten =
shocked English, they relied on the disunity to control Ireland!!!
Modern weapons - muskets and pikes
1000 cavalry, 1000 pikemen and 4000 musketmen in 1595
Irish chieftans outside Ulster joined - spread to Connaught in 1595 & Leinster and Munster 1598
1596 - rebels had more men = 6000 footmen & 1200 cavalry VS English = 5732 footmen & 617
cavalry
Spanish support - phillip II - 1596 sent an armarda of 100 ships but they were dispersed by strong
winds
Phillip III - couldn’t send help until 1601 but troops were dispersed & only half made it to Kinsdale
, The Battle of Clontibret 1595
>L. Russell found his forces outnumbered, only 1100 men to defend English possessions- gov gave
troops from Brittany but they were in poor condition
>The rebels began to besiege Monaghan castle - Marshal sir H.B tried to help the besieged garrison
by delivering supplies. They were ambushed by Tyrone’s men & supplies got used up, on return to
Newry they were ambushed again. 31 died but Tyrone ran out of gunpowder - could have been
much worse
1595 - Tyrone named a traitor by England = he had nothing to lose
[ by the end of 1595 battles had reached a stale mate - Irish had realised that tactic of capturing
fortresses was expensive and therefore making them vunerable & in 1596 a settlement was reached
where Tyrone would pay damages and accept English sovereignty in return for being able to control
Ulster ]
Negotations broke down as Irish began to negotiate with Spain ( Tyrone offered crown of Ireland to
Phillips nephew in return for an army) --- armarda sent failed BUT the prospect of support boosted
Irish confidence
Tactic became more AG - Tyrone claimed he had the right to give people titles (own mini patronage
system)
1597 - Eliz replaces Norris and Russell with L.Burgh but he dies suddenly & E.of Ormond is put in
charge
The Battle of Yellow Ford 1598
Bagenel’s 4000 vs Tyrones 5000
Bagenel killed
300 irishmen in English army joined rebs
In Munster Irishmen overthrew the plantations in confidence = English settlers had to flee = munster
colony that had taken 14 yrs to build destroyed
Elizabeth sent troops to protect the pale and stop rebellion spreading from Munster
1599 - appoints Robert Devereux (E.of Essex) as LL of Ireland
The Battle of Curlew Pass 1599
May 1595
CAUSES:
(LONG TERM & SHORT TERM ANGLO-IRISH RELATIONS)
The Reformation - Ireland remains roman catholic
Change from Henry VIII’s policy of conciliation (1941 Irish chieftans recognise H as king and
anglo-irish nobility became tenants in chief) to under Mary - the Fortification of the Pale by
Earl of Sussex in attempt to introduce English customs (Irish still too independent)
Revolt of the N.Earls 1969 - Elizabeth more strict on Catholicism (Irish laws were replaced
with English ones, tradit regions divided into English-style counties, attempted to establish
councils in Munster and Connaught)
Led to rebellion in Munster - 2nd one brutally repressed by English, rebels lands were used to
encourage plantation by English settlers
English attempts to set up plantations in Ulster failed due to ON and OD resistance - 1574 -
200 of O’Neill clan murdered at feast = mass damage to relations
1590 - Execution of MacMahon in Ulster - his lands given to English settlers such as
Sir.H.Bagenal = improaching on Tyrone’s territory (he had been prepared to work with them
as they named him Earl of Tyrone in the 1580s but he felt threatened now)
Personal enmity between Bagenal and Tyrone (T eloped with H.B’s sister Mabel)
May 1593 - Tyrone helps English forces capture Maguire - doesn’t feel he gets rewarded,
wants to control Ulster. 1954 L.Deputy Russell in place instead = increased Tyrone’s
grieviences
SUPPORT for Tyrone
Rebellion became a national struggle for independence - tradititional Irish feuds were forgotten =
shocked English, they relied on the disunity to control Ireland!!!
Modern weapons - muskets and pikes
1000 cavalry, 1000 pikemen and 4000 musketmen in 1595
Irish chieftans outside Ulster joined - spread to Connaught in 1595 & Leinster and Munster 1598
1596 - rebels had more men = 6000 footmen & 1200 cavalry VS English = 5732 footmen & 617
cavalry
Spanish support - phillip II - 1596 sent an armarda of 100 ships but they were dispersed by strong
winds
Phillip III - couldn’t send help until 1601 but troops were dispersed & only half made it to Kinsdale
, The Battle of Clontibret 1595
>L. Russell found his forces outnumbered, only 1100 men to defend English possessions- gov gave
troops from Brittany but they were in poor condition
>The rebels began to besiege Monaghan castle - Marshal sir H.B tried to help the besieged garrison
by delivering supplies. They were ambushed by Tyrone’s men & supplies got used up, on return to
Newry they were ambushed again. 31 died but Tyrone ran out of gunpowder - could have been
much worse
1595 - Tyrone named a traitor by England = he had nothing to lose
[ by the end of 1595 battles had reached a stale mate - Irish had realised that tactic of capturing
fortresses was expensive and therefore making them vunerable & in 1596 a settlement was reached
where Tyrone would pay damages and accept English sovereignty in return for being able to control
Ulster ]
Negotations broke down as Irish began to negotiate with Spain ( Tyrone offered crown of Ireland to
Phillips nephew in return for an army) --- armarda sent failed BUT the prospect of support boosted
Irish confidence
Tactic became more AG - Tyrone claimed he had the right to give people titles (own mini patronage
system)
1597 - Eliz replaces Norris and Russell with L.Burgh but he dies suddenly & E.of Ormond is put in
charge
The Battle of Yellow Ford 1598
Bagenel’s 4000 vs Tyrones 5000
Bagenel killed
300 irishmen in English army joined rebs
In Munster Irishmen overthrew the plantations in confidence = English settlers had to flee = munster
colony that had taken 14 yrs to build destroyed
Elizabeth sent troops to protect the pale and stop rebellion spreading from Munster
1599 - appoints Robert Devereux (E.of Essex) as LL of Ireland
The Battle of Curlew Pass 1599
