Hugh O'Neill, 3rd Earl of Tyrone

Hugh O'Neill, 3rd Earl of Tyrone (c. 1540 - July 20, 1616), (known as the Great Earl) was the second son of Matthew, reputed illegitimate son of Conn, 1st Earl of Tyrone.

Related Topics:
1540 - July 20 - 1616 - Conn, 1st Earl of Tyrone

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

He succeeded his brother, Brian, when the latter was murdered by Turlough in 1562, as baron of Dungannon. He was brought up in the Pale, by a family named the Hovenedans, but returned to Ulster in 1567 after the death of Shane, under the protection of Sir Henry Sidney. He served with the English during the Desmond Rebellions against Desmond in Munster in 1580, and assisted Sir John Perrot against the Scots of Ulster in 1584. In the following year he was allowed to attend parliament as Earl of Tyrone, though Conn's title had been for life only, and had not been assumed by Brian Hugh. His constant disputes with Turlough were fomented by the English with a view to weakening the power of the O'Neills, but after Hugh's inauguration as the O'Neill on Turlough's resignation in 1593, he was left without a rival in the north.

Related Topics:
Turlough - 1562 - Pale - Henry Sidney - Desmond Rebellions - Desmond - Munster - 1580 - John Perrot - Ulster - Parliament - Earl of Tyrone - Brian Hugh - 1593

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

His career was marked by unceasing duplicity, at one time giving evidence of submission to the English authorities, at another intriguing against them in conjunction with lesser Irish chieftains. Having roused the ire of Sir Henry Bagnal (or Bagenal) by eloping with his sister in 1591, he afterwards assisted him in defeating Hugh Maguire at Belleek in 1593; and then again went into opposition and sought aid from Spain and Scotland. Sir John Norris was accordingly ordered to Ireland with a considerable force to subdue him in 1595, but Tyrone succeeded in taking the Blackwater Fort and Sligo Castle before Norris was prepared; and he was thereupon proclaimed a traitor at Dundalk. The war that followed is known as the Nine Years War.

Related Topics:
Spain - Scotland - Sligo Castle - Dundalk - Nine Years War

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

O'Neill was the first Irish lord to have armed the people, rather than rely purely upon professional soldiers, such as redshanks and gallowglass. Accordingly, he was able to field an impressive force, with calivers and gunpowder supplied from Spain and Scotland, and in 1595 gave the Crown authorities a shock by ambushing and routing a small English army at the Battle of Clontibret.

Related Topics:
Redshanks - Gallowglass - Battle of Clontibret

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In spite of the traditional enmity between the O'Neills and the O'Donnells, Tyrone allied himself with Hugh Roe O'Donnell, nephew of Shane's former enemy Calvagh O'Donnell, and the two chieftains opened communications with Philip II of Spain, their letters to whom were intercepted by the viceroy, Sir William Russell. They put themselves forward as the champions of the Catholic religion, claiming liberty of conscience as well as political liberty for the native inhabitants of Ireland. In April 1596 Tyrone received promises of help from Spain. This increased his anxiety to temporize, which he did with signal success for more than two years, during which period he made professions of loyalty as circumstances required, which deceived Sir John Norris and the earl of Ormonde.

Related Topics:
Hugh Roe O'Donnell - Calvagh O'Donnell - Philip II of Spain - Catholic

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1598 a cessation of hostilities was arranged, and a formal pardon granted to Tyrone by Elizabeth. Within two months he was again in the field, and on August 14 he destroyed an English force under Bagnal at the battle of the Yellow Ford on the Black-water. If the earl had known how to profit by this victory, he might now have successfully withstood the English power in Ireland; for in every part of Ireland--and especially in the south, where James Fitzthomas Fitzgerald with O'Neill's support was asserting his claim to the earldom of Desmond at the head of a formidable army of Geraldine clansmen--discontent broke into flame. But in reality Tyrone required outside assistance and, despite his growing reputation in Europe as a commander in the field and in politics, this was not yet forthcoming.

Related Topics:
1598 - Elizabeth - August 14 - Battle of the Yellow Ford

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Eight months after the battle of the Yellow Ford, the Earl of Essex landed in Ireland with the largest expeditionary force ever sent there from England (17,000 troops) to find that Tyrone had done nothing in the interval to improve his position. Acting on the queen's explicit instructions, Essex, after some ill-managed operations, had a meeting with Tyrone at a ford on the Lagan on th 7th of September 1599, when a truce was arranged. Elizabeth was displeased by the favourable conditions allowed to the O'Neill and by Essex's treatment of him as an equal.

Related Topics:
Battle of the Yellow Ford - Earl of Essex

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Tyrone continued to concert measures with the Irish leaders in Munster, and issued a manifesto to the Catholics of Ireland summoning them to join his standard, protesting that the interests of religion were his first care. After a campaign in Munster in January 1600, during which the Plantation of Munster was destroyed, he returned in haste to Donegal, where he received supplies from Spain and a token of encouragement from Pope Clement VIII. In May of the same year Sir Henry Docwra, at the head of a considerable army, took up a position to his rear at Derry, while Mountjoy marched in support from Westmeath to Newry, compelling O'Neill to retire to Armagh, a large reward having been offered for his capture alive or dead.

Related Topics:
Plantation of Munster - Pope Clement VIII

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The appearance of a Spanish force under Don Juan d'Aquila, which occupied the town of Kinsale, drew Mountjoy to Munster in 1601; Tyrone and O'Donnell hastened the length of the country in separate winter marches, and at Bandon they joined forces before blockading the English army that was laying siege to Kinsale. The English were in a poor state, with much of the army disabled with dyssentery and the extreme winter weather making life in camp very difficult. But owing to poor communications with the besieged Spanish army and the failure to withstand the shock of a daring English cavalry charge, O'Neill's army was quickly dispersed and the Spanish commander surrendered.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

O'Donnell went to Spain, where he died soon afterwards (poisoning was suspected), and Tyrone, with a shattered force, made his way once more to the north, where he renewed his policy of ostensibly seeking pardon while warily evading his enemies. Early in 1603 Elizabeth instructed Mountjoy to open negotiations with the rebellious chieftains, and in April, Tyrone, in ignorance of Elizabeth's death, made his submission to Mountjoy.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In Dublin, whither he proceeded with Mountjoy, he heard of the accession of King James, at whose court he presented himself in June accompanied by Rory O'Donnell, who had become chief of the O'Donnells after the departure of his brother Hugh Roe. The English courtiers were greatly incensed at the gracious reception accorded to these notable rebels by King James. Although Tyrone was confirmed in his title and estates, he had no sooner returned to Ireland than he again engaged in dispute with the government concerning his rights over certain of his feudatories, of whom Donnal O'Cahan was the most important. This dispute dragged on till 1607, when Tyrone arranged to go to London to submit the matter to the king. Warned, however, that his arrest was imminent, and possibly persuaded by Rory O'Donnell (created Earl of Tyrconnel in 1603), whose relations with Spain had endangered his own safety, Tyrone resolved to fly from the country.

Related Topics:
King James - Rory O'Donnell

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The Flight of the Earls, one of the most celebrated episodes in Irish history, occurred on September 14, 1607, when Tyrone and Tyrconnel embarked at midnight at Rathmullen on Lough Swilly, with their wives, families and retainers, numbering ninety-nine persons, and sailed for Spain. Driven by contrary winds to take shelter in the Seine, the refugees passed the winter in the Netherlands, and in April 1608 proceeded to Rome, where they were welcomed and hospitably entertained by Pope Paul V. Tyrconnel died there the same year.

Related Topics:
Flight of the Earls - September 14 - 1607 - Lough Swilly - The Netherlands - Rome - Pope Paul V

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1613 Tyrone was outlawed and attainted by the Irish parliament, and he died in Rome on the 20th of July 1616. He was four times married, and had a large number both of legitimate and illegitimate children. Throughout his exile he was active in plotting a return to Ireland, toying variously both with schemes to oust English authority outright and with proposed offers of pardon from London. Upon news of his death, the court poets of Ireland engaged in the Contention of the bards.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~