James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde

James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde, (October 19, 1610–July 21 1688), was an Anglo-Irish statesman and soldier. He is best known for his involvement in the Irish Confederate Wars of the 1640s, when he commanded the English Royalist forces in Ireland.

Rebellion and Civil War

Ormonde already had a reputation in Ireland. His active career began in 1633 with the arrival of the Earl of Strafford, by whom he was treated with great favour. Writing to the king, Strafford described Ormonde as "young, but take it from me, a very staid head", and Ormonde became Strafford's chief friend and supporter. Wentworth planned large scale confiscations of Catholic owned land (see Plantations of Ireland), something that Ormonde supported but which infuriated his relatives and drove many of them into opposition to Wentworth and ultimately into rebellion. In 1640, during Strafford's absence, he was made commander-in-chief of the forces, and in August he was appointed lieutenant-general.

Related Topics:
The Earl of Strafford - Plantations of Ireland

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On the outbreak of the Irish Rebellion of 1641, Ormonde found himself in command of government forces based in Dublin. Almost all the rest of the country was taken by the Catholic rebels, who included Ormonde's Butler relatives. However Ormonde's bonds of kinship were not entiely severed. His wife and children were escorted from rebel held Kilkenny to Dublin by Richard Butlers, Lord Mountagarrett (Ormonde's cousin). Ormonde mounted several expeditions from Dublin to try and clear the surrounding area of rebel forces. First he relieved Naas, and then the northern part of the Pale in 1642. The lords justices, who were suspected him because he was related to many of the Irish rebels, recalled him after he had succeeded in relieving Drogheda. He received the public thanks of the English parliament and a jewel of the value of £620. On 15 April 1642 he won the battle of Kilrush against Lord Mountgarret. On 30 August 1642 he was created a marquess, and on 16 September 1642 was appointed lieutenant-general with a commission direct from the king.

Related Topics:
Irish Rebellion of 1641 - Kilkenny - Naas - Pale - Drogheda - 15 April - 1642 - Battle of Kilrush - 30 August - 16 September

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On 18 March 1643 he won the Battle of New Ross against Thomas Preston, afterwards Viscount Tara. However, Ormonde was now in a very difficult situation. In September, the civil war in England broke out, leaving the Ormonde without reinforcments from England. Ormonde, in view of the successes of the rebels (who held two thirds of the country) and the uncertain loyalty of the Scots Covenanters in Ulster who had landed an army there to put down the Irish rebellion in 1642, by agreed to the "cessation" by which the greater part of Ireland was given up into the hands of the Irish Catholic Confederation, leaving only small districts on the east coast and round Cork, together with certain fortresses in the north and west then actually in their possession, to the English commanders. This truce was vehemently opposed by the Lords Justices and the Protestant community in general in Ireland. He subsequently, by the king's orders, despatched a body of troops into England to fight on the [[Royalist side in the Civil War there. These troops were shortly afterwards routed by Thomas Fairfax at the Battle of Nantwich (26 January 1644. Ormonde was appointed in January 1644 Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, with special instructions to do all in his power to keep the Scotch army occupied. He was also given the King's authority to negotiate a Treaty with the Irish Confederates, which would allow their troops to be sent to fight for the King in England.

Related Topics:
18 March - 1643 - Battle of New Ross - Thomas Preston - Tara - Civil war - England - Scot - Covenanters - Ulster - Catholic Confederation - Cork

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