History of The 9 years War
After the destruction of the FitzGerald's of Kildare and their cousins the Desmond's, the tension in Ireland grew between the New English Reformists and the Gaelic chieftains. The Anglo-Normans became known as the Old English to differentiate them from this new regime. The New English were claiming more and more territory this is especially true in Ulster.
The last bastion of the Gaelic ways was to be led by a man, who heralded from the Old Gaelic clan, the O’Neill’s he was called Hugh O’Neill and was Lord of Tyrone.
The New English camp was led by a man called Sir Henry Bagenal. He called for an end to any Gaelic law and was determined that Ulster would abide by only the Queens law. He had not reckoned with the powerful, cunning and charismatic Hugh O’Neill. The New English from Connacht were making headway into the south-west of Ulster until finally in 1594 they took Enniskillen Castle. This put them in a good position in the heart of Hugh O’Neill’s territory.
By 1595 O’Neill being a great negotiator had made alliances with the Old English and the Gaels and now was in open rebellion. Hugh O’Neill had the upper hand when it came to war Ulster at this time was badly mapped so the invaders did not know the territory as well as Hugh O’Neill.
O’Neill fought his ground the old Gaelic way by using defence as opposed to offence and he triumphed over Bagenal at the battles of Yellow Ford and Clontibret. What he did not have was the man power to stage an offensive attack so he made a fateful decision to ask England’s mortal enemy, The Spanish, for help.
King Phillip III of Spain was quite happy to assist and sent an army in 1601 which landed at Kinsale in Co. Cork. This is situated to the far south of O’Neill’s homeland so he marched to meet the Spanish army in Kinsale.
The ensuing battle took place at Kinsale and Hugh O’Neill and his Spanish allies were defeated. By 1603 Hugh O’Neill surrendered to Lord Mountjoy and accepted the Queens rule.
Go back to learn more of about Ireland in the 16th Century
