Interpretation - Tyrone's rebellion

Question 1

What were the main aims of Tyrone’s rebellion?

Answer 1

Political, Social/Economic, Religious

Question 2

What were the political causes of Tyrone’s rebellion?

Answer 2

• Dislike of English rule
• Took advantage war between Spain and England.
• Dislike of increased power of English settlers & threat to Ulster.
• O’Neill believed not rewarded enough for defending Elizabeth’s policy on garrisons.
• Had enough of English intervention.

Question 3

What were the social/economic causes of Tyrone’s rebellion?

Answer 3

• The plantations provoked ill-feeling, new owners raised rents & took land to which they were not entitled.
• Dislike of English taxes.

Question 4

What were the religious causes of Tyrone’s rebellion?

Answer 4

• Irish Catholics abhorred Protestant religion

- Believed Elizabeth and all Protestants were heretics.

Question 5

How far was Tyrone’s rebellion simply a protest against increased government interference?

Answer 5

Elizabeth neglected Ireland:

• War with Spain meant money was short, therefore expenditure on Ireland was low
• The deputy in Ireland, Fitzwilliam too old to keep order, led to factional disputes in Dublin
• The allowed clan warfare to develop, with cattle-raiding and summary executions
• Hugh O’Neil, Earl of Tyrone, came to power in Ulster and began to train an army. He was in contact with Spain from 1590 and after aiding English garrisons in the early 1590s changed sides as he did not feel he was sufficiently rewarded.
• England needed to secure Ireland against Spain and prevent the Spanish from using it as a base from which to invade England. However Tyrone was able to raise the whole country English rule

Tyrone’s motives appear relatively clear:

• Expel the English settlers and government
• Achieve independence

Question 6

Why was Tyrone’s rebellion so difficult to suppress? - Strength of Tyrone

Answer 6

Strength of Tyrone’s rebellion was the main factor behind the difficulty in putting the rebellion down:

• First national rebellion in Ireland, gave Tyrone widespread support
• Tyrone’s control over Ulster gave good supply of resources for his troops
• Forces well trained & led by men who had been trained and served in Elizabeth’s armies
• Reinforcements from mercenaries from Scotland
• Tyrone a competent leader, good knowledge of the countryside so could conduct a guerrilla-based campaign when it suited him.

Question 7

Why was Tyrone’s rebellion so difficult to suppress? - Elizabeth’s actions

Answer 7

Elizabeth’s actions and policies that were the main reason why the rebellion was so difficult to suppress:

• War with Spain meant that expenditure on Ireland had to be kept low, but the area needed to be secured so that it could not be used as a base by Spain to invade England
• Ireland had been increasingly neglected by Elizabeth and her council
• The Lord Deputy, Fitzwilliam, was old and unable to control the factional disputes
• The council was divided over strategy, with Elizabeth wanting peace and other advisors arguing for a more aggressive policy to deal with the threat
• The appointment of Essex was a mistake; wasted time and troops in needless manoeuvres
• Essex dared not risk battle with Tyrone as he only took 4000 troops with him
• Essex did not make good use of the vast amount of resources given to him; this is seen by how quickly Mountjoy, his replacement, was able to resolve the issue
• Speed in which Mountjoy ended rebellion suggests in was Elizabeth’s mistakes

Question 8

Was Tyrone’s rebellion a threat? - Serious threat

Answer 8

• It was the first rebellion in Ireland that was able to rouse nearly the whole population in support.
• The element of nationalism was a new feature and a direct challenge to the Tudor state. This meant the rebellion had wide-spread and large-scale support.
• Tyrone was able to take much of Ireland and was close to forcing English forces back to the area around the Pale and other southern counties
• Tyrone controlled the resource-rich county of Ulster. He also had well-trained troops some of whom had served in Elizabeth’s armies. He was reinforced by Scottish forces
• The arrival of Spanish troops made the rebellion a greater threat, which could endanger English national security
• Tyrone was able to defeat the English forces and Yellow Ford
• Elizabeth made the major mistake of sending Essex as commander. He wasted time, resources and was unwilling to risk confrontation.
• The context made it a greater threat as, despite defeating the Spanish armada in 1588, the Spanish were still looking for the opportunity to attack
• War with Spain also meant Elizabeth was unable to fund forces in Ireland to the level needed

Question 9

Was Tyrone’s rebellion a threat? - Less of a threat

Answer 9

• The rebellion was far away from London and was therefore not a direct threat
• Once Elizabeth sent Mountjoy the rebellion was put down with relevant ease
• Mountjoy was also skilful and better at conciliating the Irish and therefore won back support
• Many in Ireland had become fed up with the power of Tyrone