O'Niell

Question 1

what is the context behind this rebellion ?

Answer 1

.war between Spain and England reinforced Catholic identity.

. Conn o niell surrender and regrant land, and became the Earl of Tyrone - English law and admin , and therefore came under the system of primogeniture, rather than tanistry, - lands passed to Mathew ( killed in 1558), and then to Brian (killed in 1562),and Shane oniell vies for position of Tyrone - declares himself THE O NIELL which was traditional Gaelic Title

. Raleigh and Spencer exploration and plantations

Question 2

what were the aims of the rebellion?

Answer 2

.gain Earl of Tyrone and the control of Ulster

. prevent English expansion/ religious change

Question 3

What kind of support ?

Answer 3

. 1000 redshanks (Scottish)
. Irish support

• english used o donnels and mccdonalds (potentially paid them to kill o niell )

Question 4

what is the narrative of rebellion?

Answer 4

. Red Sagmus battle where Suffolk was defeated

. War of Facet Moor - O’Donnell defeated Shane and McDonalds killed Shane

Question 5

What was the Government response ?

Answer 5

. Elizabeth offers to disregard other O’Neill’s claim to earl of tyrone, and acknowledge Oniells, if oniells swear loyalty to the crown, but o niell refuses to swear loyalty to lord deputy susses, who had threatened o niells life and expanded lands

. Sussex depended on the Kildares and the O Donnels to help put down rebellion

. 700 troops under Randolph and later on, after two year treaty, 1000 men under Sidney

. used scorched earth tactics and directly destroyed oniells land

. Peace negotiation, and oniell expecting formal documentation that never arrived

.Attempts at a banquet poisoning

Question 6

what increased the threat?

Answer 6

.could say there was a vacuum - ONiell was allowed to take Ulster and Tyrone as no ither contenders (murder of mathew and brian) and Hugh oniell was in the Pale

. Spanish taking an interest in ireland

. Guerilla warfare

. Stole 30,000 cattle and attacked the odonnels