3.7 Troublesome Ireland: Tyrone's Rebellion, 1594-1603

How accurate is it to say that the Nine Years' War (1593-1602) was as much an Irish civil war as a war against the English?

• Irish civil war (domestic conflit)
  • Rivalry between Hugh O'Neill and Sir Turlough Luineach O'Neill to be the O'Neill (the real power, as opposed to the legal title of the Earl of Tyrone) - leading to instability in Ulster
  • Bitter clan rivalries 
• War against the English (English conflict) transformed conflict from a rebellion into a long war
  • Struggle for independence - charisma of Hugh O'Neill healed clan rifts between Roe O'Donnell/ Catholics 
  • Hugh O'Neill was not satisfied with the title Lord Dungannon given by the Queen - aspired to be the Earl of Tyrone (Hugh Roe O'Donnell was allied to this and offered mercenaries)
  • Henry Bagenal's quest to exert more power over Ulster (further than his plantation in Newry) and be appointed the first president of Ulster - at the expense of O'Neills etc - drove O'Neill into open warfare - exacerbated by Hugh O'Neill eloping his sister Mabel
  • Crown's plantation of Ulster - caused resentment amongst Irish lords
  • Competing factions within the royal court sought to influence the Queen in governing Ireland
  • Old English families ruling Ireland from Dublin opposed the clans - wanted to eliminate native Irish
  • Spain's attempts to exert control in Ireland (bribery/ mercenaries etc) - opportunity to revenge Elizabeth over the Armada fiasco

To what extent was Henry Bagenal's ambition for land and power responsible for the outbreak of the Nine Years' War in 1593?

• Bagenal's ambition for land and power at the expense of the native Irish led to the Nine Years' War because -
  
  • Had land in Newry (Ulster) - keen to expand into Hugh O'Neill's territory 
  • Power was sought in Ulster - at the expense of the O'Neills and other clans, who were willing to unite against him
    
• Bagenal's personal antipathy for Tyrone was a significant cause of rebellion in Ulster because -
  
  • Tyrone's secret marriage to his sister, Mabel (and her subsequent death) - 
    
• Bagenal was an ambitious man but he alone was not responsible for the Nine Years' War because -
  • Irish calls for independence from multiple clans outweighed the wishes of one 
• In many ways Bagemal was as much a victim of the Crown's ambition for power in Ulster as Tyrone and O'Donnell

How accurate is it to say that the battles of Clontibret and Yellow Ford dealt a serious blow to English power in Ireland?

The battle of Clontibret, 1595

• O'Neill assumed power of rebel forces - 
• Ordered the seige of the English garrison at Monaghan Castle - 
• Sir Henry Bagenal (English relief column) and his 1,750 men - 
• Revealed the guerilla tactics of Tyrone's army - when Bagenal returned from Newry and was ambushed at Clontibret by O'Neill's superior force of 4,000 men 
• Powerful Irish coalition - O'Neill was supported by the MacMahons, Maguires and a contingent of Scottish mercenaries 
  

The battle of Yellow Ford, 1598

• Bagenal spent the next three years strengthening the English garrison castles in Ulster - by 1598 Bagnel's lands had been ravaged by the rebels and the garrison at Newry was under siege 
• Garrison fortress at Blackwater was being besieged simultaneously - Bagnal sent a relief force, which never reached Blackwater garrison, as he was forced to fight Yellow Ford
• Bagnal's force of 4,000 men vs. Irish army of 5,000 - 
• Based in Newry - Bagenal was encroaching O'Neill's lands
• Showed the strength of the Irish coalition - O'Neill, O'Donnell and Hugh Maguire 

How accurate is it to say that the Irish defeat at Kinsale in 1602 was the key turning point in the Nine Years' War?

• Overall, it is fair to say that the heavy defeat at Kinsale dealt the Irish rebels a mortal blow from which they could never recover
• Even with Spanish support (28 warships)
• Showed the weaknesses of the Irish 
• Showed Mountjoy's strengths 
• Generally, the defeat at Kinsale was a serious blow to the rebels but it need not have signalled the end of the rebellion
•  

How accurate is it to say that the Spanish hindered rather than helped the Irish allies in the Nine Years' War (1593-1602)?

• Spanish support for the Irish was mainly diplomatic until the very last stages of the rebellion
• The Spanish army sent to aid the Irish was too small
  • Sent 28 warships, and 3,300 arrived
• The Spanish commander failed to exploit the taking of Kinsale by remaining within the town
• The rebel leaders were lulled into a false sense of security by the landing of spanish troops in Ireland

'England's victory over the Irish rebels by 1602 owed more to the leadership of Sir Henry Bagenal than to that either of Lord Mountjoy or the Earl of Essex.' How far do you agree with this statement?

• Sir Henry Bagenal (1556-98) Bagenal was the most competent of the English battlefield commander/ took a prominent part in supressing the Irish rebellion -  defeated ally Hugh Magure (9/93), captured Enniskillen, raised the siege of Monaghan Castle (defeated at Clontibret), relieved the English garrison at Armagh
• Personal interest in destroying O'Neill - O'Neill eloping with Mabel Bagenal 

• The Earl of Essex (1565-1601) Essex concluded a successful truce with the Irish rebel leader Hugh O'Neill - at Bellaclynthe ford/ agreed a truce - infuriated Elizabeth
• Essex was a favourite of Queen Elizabeth - underestimated the strength of the rebel forces/ decided to lead an expedition into Leinster/Munster, capturing Cahir Castle/ subsequently relieved Askeaton garrison

• Lord Mountjoy (1563-1606) Mountjoy defeated the Irish rebels in battle - only in1602 when the Spanish landed at Kinsale, and his seige forced O'Neill to march south to relieve the Spanish troops
• Mountjoy's scorched-earth policy was cruel but effective in subduing the Irish - denied invading army food/shelter by destroying buildings/crops severely impacted civilians. 
• The Spanish army was too small and weak to threaten the English forces in Ireland

How accurate is it to say that Elizabeth's victory in the Nine Years' War (1593-1602) was due entirely to the military talent at her disposal?

The military talent at Elizabeth's disposal

• O'Neill/ O'Donnell/ MacCarthy were competent battlefield commanders but Bagenal, Essex and Mountjoy were better - Irish were trained by the English, so the English could anticipate their intentions
• Especially Essex

Elizabeth had more men

More resources

'The Nine Years' War (1593-1602) lasted so long because Elizabeth failed to appreciate the scale of the rebellion.' How far do you agree with this statement?

• Elizabeth's failure to appreciate the scale of the rebellion - lack of adequate funds until later on
  
• Leadership of O'Neill - planned/organised/conducted military campaigns as well as healing divisions and creating a confederation of Irish clans
• Fighting of Hugh Roe O'Donnell - 
• Home ground -
  

'The Irish rebellion (1593-1602) failed mainly because Spanish military support was too little too late.' How far do you agree with this statement?

•  Phillip II sent insufficient numbers/ dug in rather than pushing out of the port town - easier to isolate, meaning O'Neill had to march south to support them
• Took 7 years to send troops - already worn out/ brink of collapse

• Superior numbers/militia
• Exceptionally gifted commanders (Bagnal, Mountjoy and Carew)
• Elizabeth could reward those who served against rebels
• Siege/defeat of Spanish at Kinsale was a turning point - reluctant to commit troops after