Elizabeth - Foreign Policy (Ireland, Scotland and Wales)

Question 1

O’Neill Rebellion - time and place

Answer 1

Ulster, 1559-66

Question 2

(First) Fitzgerald Rebellion - time and place

Answer 2

Munster, 1569-72

Question 3

(Second) Fitzgerald Rebellion - time and place

Answer 3

Munster, 1579-83

Question 4

Tyrone Rebellion - time and place

Answer 4

Ulster, 1594-1603

Question 5

O’Neill Rebellion - Earl of Essex

Answer 5

• Made to maintain the religious settlement of 1559 and reduce expenditure
• Continued attempts to colonise Ireland by establishing plantations and increasing the English forces there
• Unable to put down the rebellion due to the lack of support from Elizabeth

Question 6

O’Neill Rebellion - Sir Henry Sidney

Answer 6

• 1565 - Sent to end the unrest after Sussex’s failure
• Marched into Ulster and used rival clans to his advantage. O’Neill was murdered by the clans he took refuge with
• Later proposed establishing regional councils across the country in a manner similar to the Council of the North
• Elizabeth refused to send additional finance and he was replaced in 1567

Question 7

(First) Fitzgerald Rebellion

Answer 7

• What was initially a private war between the Earls of Desmond had escalated when Desmond’s cousin, Fitzgerald, appealed for Catholic and foreign backing
• Sir Henry Sidney is recalled to Ireland to end the unrest
• Although the rebellion is stopped, the foreign backing of the Papacy triggers discontent towards colonisation in Munster

Question 8

(Second) Fitzgerald Rebellion

Answer 8

• 1580 - Lord Arthur Gray arrives in Ireland with 6,500 men
• The rebellion had been joined by the Earl of Desmond and had spread to Leinster, Ulster and Connaught
• Dissidents down savagely: a garrison at Smerwick, mostly made up of Spanish reinforcements, is massacred after surrendering
• Cattle slaughtered and harvests burned
• Gray is recalled by Elizabeth because his methods alienate traditional government supporters in Pale. However, he had paved the way for colonisation of Desmond’s lands in Munster and Connaught

Question 9

Elizabeth’s issues with Ireland

Answer 9

• Ireland had to be kept secure in case Spain used it as a base of invasion, but at the same time expenditure had to be kept low
• The deputy in Ireland, Fitzwilliam, couldn’t control disputes between factions in Dublin
• Clan warfare was increasing over accusations of cattle theft, etc.
• Trust in English deputies was declining