Tyrone Rebellion Set 1

Question 1

What were the long-term problems in Anglo-Irish relations?

Answer 1

1. The Tudor monarchs claimed that they had the right to rule Ireland. 2. England controlled Dublin and its Pale through a Lord Deputy. 3. The English wanted to anglicise all of Ireland’s laws and customs.

Question 2

What did Irish chieftains agree to do in 1541?

Answer 2

They agreed to recognise Henry VIII’s right to be the king of Ireland

Question 3

What did Mary I do in response to the semi-independence of Anglo-Irish nobility?

Answer 3

She appointed the Earl of Sussex as the English Lord Deputy.

Question 4

What did the Earl of Sussex do as Lord Deputy?

Answer 4

He fortified the Pale, and encouraged English settlers to move into the areas just outside the Pale. The plan was to ‘civilise’ the Irish by introducing English laws and customs.

Question 5

What did Elizabeth I face as a Protestant queen?

Answer 5

She faced the potential threat of an Irish-Catholic rising against her rule.

Question 6

What did Elizabeth I do in response to this threat?

Answer 6

The English government tried to establish councils to govern the regions of Connaught and Munster. Additionally, traditional Irish regions were subdivided into English-style counties that were run by sherrifs.

Question 7

What was composition?

Answer 7

Landowners had to pay money to the English, to cover the cost of garrisons. Landlords also had to give money to the Irish chieftains to pay for their private army and household. Composition was used as a technique, by the English government increase their hold over Ireland.

Question 8

Why did the plantation in Ulster fail, in the 1570’s?

Answer 8

The plantation failed because it was resisted by, both, the O’Neills and the O’Donnells, uniting them against a common enemy.

Question 9

What happened as a result of the resistance to the plantations?

Answer 9

The English responded with violence. In 1574, 200 members of the O’Neill clan were massacred at a feast that they had been invited to by the English; in 1575, 500 members of the O’Donnell clan were killed in a surprise raid.

Question 10

What was the Policy of conciliation?

Answer 10

It was a peaceful method where a compromise was reached between the English and the Anglo-Irish.

Question 11

What title did Hugh O’Neill accept as part of the English conciliatory approach?

Answer 11

He accepted the English title, Earl of Tyrone, in 1585.

Question 12

How was the initial plantation in Ulster created?

Answer 12

The leader of the MacMahon clan was executed in 1590, his lands were taken by the Crown, and then were distributed to English settlers like Sir Henry Bagenal.

Question 13

Why was English support important to Tyrone?

Answer 13

It was important to him because the support allowed him assert himself as O’Neill’s heir, instead of Turlough O’Neill, who was actually next in line to be chieftain.

Question 14

Why was Tyrone a threat to English rule in Ireland?

Answer 14

He became a potential obstacle to complete English dominance of Ulster.

Question 15

What happened to Hugh Roe O’Donnell In 1587?

Answer 15

He was kidnapped and imprisoned in Dublin Castle, by the English, because his father refused to obey English rule.

Question 16

What happened in May 1593?

Answer 16

Hugh Maguire launched an attack of Englush officials in Sligo. Tyrone was asked by the Lord Deputy to arrest Maguire, but, Tyrone refused.

Question 17

Why did Tyrone end up arresting Maguire in October 1593?

Answer 17

He was forced to co-operate with Sir Henry Bagenal, who was in charge of the English forces in the region.

Question 18

Why was Philip II of Spain unable to help Tyrone in 1593?

Answer 18

He was dealng with trouble in the Netherlands.

Question 19

What happened in June 1594?

Answer 19

O’Donnell and Maguire besieged the English-held Enniskillen Castle: in August, Maguire and Tyrone’s brother ambushed an English relief force heading for the castle, killing 56 soldiers.

Question 20

What did Tyrone do in August 1594?

Answer 20

Tyrone promised the new Lord Deputy of Dublin, Sir William Russell, that he would restore peace in Ulster and co-operate with the English government. In return, Tyrone wanted complete control of Ulster.

Question 21

Did anyone believe Tyrone’s promises?

Answer 21

Russell was prepared to believe Tyrone and allowed him to keep his private army, however, Elizabeth’s government was not ready to give Tyrone the control he wanted because they distrusted his intentions.

Question 22

How large was Tyrone’s army in 1595?

Answer 22

Tyrone had an army of 1000 cavalry, 4000 musketmen and 1000 pikemen.

Question 23

Who did Tyrone have support from in Ireland?

Answer 23

He had support from his sons-in-law, O’Donnell and Maguire, James FitzThomas and Florence MacCarthy.

Question 24

What did Philip II agree to do in 1596?

Answer 24

He agreed to send second armada to Ireland. The Spanish fleet consisted of 100 ships, and there was an additional fleet that was sent to attack England.

Question 25

Did Spanish intervention in Ireland continue after the death of Philip II in 1598?

Answer 25

Philip III was prepared to continue the policy of intervention in Ireland. He though that sending troops to Ireland would force Elizabeth to withdraw her troops from the Netherlands.

Question 26

What happened in January 1601?

Answer 26

The troops that Philip III had sent encountered problems on their way to Ireland. When the Spanish army arrived in Kinsale, there were only 3400 men left out of the 6000 that were sent by Philip III.

Question 27

Was Spanish support for Tyrone’s rebellion significant?

Answer 27

Spanish support for the rebellion was significant as they were prepared to provide money and troops. However, the support was temporary and limited because the Spanish kings were busy fighting the Dutch Protestant rebels.