Back to the video list: History of the British Isles
There have been several Anglo-Irish clashes over the centuries. In this context the Nine Years' War in Ireland was a significant event. The decisive English victory secured the English / British rule over Ireland for the next centuries, even though more Irish uprisings should follow.
Video
Overview
- Date: Aug 1594 – Mar 1603
- Location: Ireland
- Start: Irish attack in the Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits
- End: Surrender of the Irish leader Hugh O‘Neill
Parties & Persons Involved
- England
- Irish Clans
Background
- The Normans / English take possession of Ireland during the 12th century
- In the following centuries the Normans assimilate to the Irish & the Irish Clans & Earls gain power
- Distribution of power in Ireland in the 16th century:
- England controls the area around Dublin (The Pale)
- Rural Ireland is under the control of Irish clans
- English ambitions to extend the own area of influence over the Dublin region
- Hugh O‘Neill, head of the most powerful clan, has personal ambitions to improve his influence
- England is at war with Spain (1585 – 1604)
History
Irish Successes
- 1592 – 1594: The clans O‘Donnell & Maguire resist the English administration & attack English outposts
- Aug 1594: O‘Donnel & Maguire win the Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits
- O‘Neill joins the rebellion
- Mar 1495: O‘Neill & O‘Donnell wins the Battle of Clontibret
- Aug 1598: O‘Neill wins the Battle of the Yellow Ford
- O‘Neill appoints allies as earls & chieftains across Ireland, i.e. Fitzthomas as Earl of Desmond
- There are rebellions all over Ireland & the English settlements in Munster (south) are entirely destroyed
- The cities & the Dublin region remain loyal to the English crown
The Earl of Essex
- Mar 1599: Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex is announced Lord Deputy of Ireland & lands with approx. 17,000 troops
- Apr – Aug 1599: Essex brings the south under English control & launches expeditions to the north
- Aug 1599: O‘Donnell wins the Battle Curlew Pass
- 1599: Essex negotiates a ceasefire with O‘Neill
- Sep 1599: Essex leaves Ireland for England without permission; later he is tried in London
English Victory
- Jan 1600: Lord Mountjoy is appointed Lord Deputy & George Carew Lord President of Munster
- From 1600: Mountjoy’s forces invade Ulster & destroy rebel territories
- Consequence of the invasion of Ulster: Famine in Ulster & tying up Irish forces
- Nov 1600: Carew wins the Battle of Aherlow against Fitzthomas (Earl of Desmond)
- Jun 1601: Fitzthomas & Florence MacCarthy are arrested
- Oct 1601: Spanish forces land near Kinsale
- Mountjoy lays siege on Kinsale
- Jan 1603: Mountjoy wins the decisive Battle of Kinsale against the Spanish forces, O‘Neill & O‘Donnell
- 30 Mar 1603: O‘Neill surrenders
Consequences & Impact
- The war costs approx. 100,000 lives, esp. because of starvation
- 1603: The Treaty of Mellifont brings peace & a new order to Ireland:
- O‘Neill remains his core territory
- O‘Neill swears allegiance to the English crown
- Introduction of English Law
- English becomes official language
- Deep mistrust remains between the Irish lords & England
- 1607: O‘Neill, O‘Donnell & other Irish lords leave Ireland & fail to enlist Spanish military support (Flight of the Earls)
- 1608: The territories of the emigrated Earls are confiscated for English settlers (Plantation of Ulster)
- The English & later British rule in Ireland is secured for the next 3 centuries (despite further rebellions)