How Extensive Was Support For The Rebellion In The Years 1594-1603 Flashcards
Events of the rebellion: 1595
16 February: Tyrone’s brother burns Blackwater fort
13 June: Sir Henry Bagenal’s forces defeated at Clontibret
17 September: Tyrone asks Philip II for support
Events of the rebellion: 1596
12 May: Tyrone pardoned
Events of the rebellion: 1598
14 August: Sir Henry Bagenal’s forces defeat Tyrone at Yellow Ford
October: Munster plantation overthrown
Events of the rebellion: 1597
October: Lord Burgh establishes a garrison at Blackwater; failure of second Spanish Armada
Early stages of 9YW
Focused on English garrison forts on borders of ulster
- English fort at Blackwater attacked by rebels, English commander surrendered
Lord deputy Russell found his troops were outnumbered: 1,100 men
- government responded by withdrawing troops from Brittany (fighting Spanish forces), 2000 promised but only 1616 arrived, many in poor condition
How did the battle of Clontibret begin
May 1595: Irish captured Enniskillen castle, began to besiege Monaghan castle
- sir Henry Bagenal was marshal of English army, attempted to help besieged garrison
- marched with 1750 men from English stronghold of Newry, aim of delivering men and supplies to Monaghan castle
What was the battle of Clontibret
Series of assaults launched by Tyrone on the English troops
When was the battle of Clontibret
May 1595
Events of battle of Clontibret
Bagenal and troops approached Monaghan, ambushed by Tyrone’s men
- forced to fight, used up much of gunpowder they were bringing to supply garrison at Monaghan
- arrived at castle with low supplies
27 May 1595: Bagenal’s army set out back to Newry
- ambushed by Tyrone’s men, 4000 men
- English forced to slow down, increased vulnerability, stopped outside Newry with little ammunition, 31 deaths, 109 wounded, rescued by sea
- Tyrone also ran out of gunpowder
Why was Tyrone’s army successful at Clontibret
Tyrone’s tactics
- well-trained musketmen hidden on both sides of the road, able to fire at Bagenal’s men
Impact of battle at Clontibret
Showed the English that they faced a well-organised Irish force, outnumbered them and could take advantage of knowledge of the terrain to ambush vulnerable English forces
How did the English respond to the failure at Clontibret
Retook Blackwater
Situation at the end of 1595
Stalemate reached
- rebels found that their tactic of capturing and garrisoning small fortresses made them vulnerable, too expensive and dangerous to keep supplying garrisons
- Elizabeth keen to negotiate, cheaper than warfare
Settlement at end of 1596
March: settlement reached
- Tyrone agreed to submit, pay damages, stop demanding freedom of worship for catholics, accept English sovereignty
- English agreed to remove their garrisons
- Tyrone was to keep control in ulster and arrest any rebels who caused trouble
Why did negotiations with England breakdown in 1596
In autumn of 1595 and early 1596, rebels and Philip II had began negotiations, so by May English negotiations broke down
Irish negotiations with Spain 1595/96
September 1595: Tyrone and O’Donnell offered crown of Ireland to Archduke Albert, Spanish Catholic governor of the Netherlands, nephew of Philip II
- wanted army in return
Summer 1596: Philip sent representatives to discuss Spanish invasion
- led to unsuccessful armada in October 1596
- however, rebels encouraged by Spanish support, kept fighting
How did Tyrone’s tactics change from 1596
Adopted more aggressive tactics
Government proclaimed him as a traitor in 1595, had little to lose after this
- claimed he had the right to grant lordships and positions in other regions of Ireland, beyond Ulster
- trying to unite all Anglo-Irish chieftains in Ireland in defence of Catholicism
- said this to reward his supporters and emphasise his control over the rebellion
- James FitzThomas had become alienated from English regime, created Earl of Desmond by Tyrone, in return he joined the rebellion
English approach to Ireland by 1597
English hold was slipping away
- decided to replace Lord Deputy, Sir William Russell, and commander of English army, Sir Henry Norris, with one man: Thomas, Lord Burgh
- Burgh: experienced soldier and administrator, decided best tactic was to try to undermine Tyrone’s power base by attacking his estates in Ulster (Yellow Ford)
Burgh’s plan at Yellow Ford
Initial plan to march into Ulster, aim for Tyrone’s estates at Dungannon
Found himself outnumbered by Tyrone’s forces
October 1597: English offensive halted
Then decided to build new series of fortifications along Blackwater river in ulster
- to provide additional protection to English garrison at Armagh in southern ulster
- provided base for attacks against Tyrone’s stronghold, few km away
What problems did the English face in 1597
October: Burgh died suddenly, lacked a Lord Deputy and army leader
Previous army commander, Henry Norris died
Burgh made a mistake in reverting to the use of small garrison forts
- fortress at Blackwater had garrison of 150 men, defended only by earthworks
Government distracted by Spanish Armada in October 1597
- most experienced military commander in Ireland, sir Thomas Norris, sent to Munster to deal with threat
English army put under command of Anglo-Irish Earl of Ormond
What did Elizabeth do about Blackwater
Council wanted to abandon the fortress but Elizabeth wanted to divide the rebels by offering negotiations
December 1597: Tyrone agreed to a truce, used this to prepare his forces for another attack
Events leading up to yellow ford
June 1598: Tyrone began to besiege Blackwater fort, strong army of 5000d
- ormond tried to respond, had an army of Irish soldiers, couldn’t be trusted to stay loyal
- ormond had to accept help from Bagenal, brought 4,200 men and began a march to Blackwater
When was the battle of yellow ford
11 August 1598
Events at yellow ford
Bagenal and his troops attacked by Tyrone
- English under fire from both sides, musketmen waiting to ambush
- progress slowed by trying to cross the ford, heavy English artillery became stuck in boggy ground near the river
- 300 Irishmen left the English army to join rebels
- surviving Englishmen lost supplies and equipment they were taking
