Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone

2048:, Tyrone met Essex for a half-hour parley. Tyrone waded his horse into the river whilst Essex stayed on the bank. Tyrone doffed his cap, saluting Essex "with a great deal of reverence". He praised Essex's late father and claimed he was willing to obtain peace from the new Lord Deputy. Tyrone would not give anything in writing, claiming that he feared Spain would cease their alliance with Ireland if evidence appeared that he was negotiating with England. Tyrone once again demanded liberty of conscience, to Essex's contempt. He also demanded a single treaty wherein the Crown would restore confiscated Irish lands to their former owners. Essex was not familiar with Tyrone's wily nature and gullibly accepted Tyrone's proposals. Because their parley was conducted privately, out of earshot of their armies, Essex was later accused of using the parley to conspire with Tyrone. These accusations are far-fetched and obviously defamatory. 1440: 1906: 1780:. O'Donnell was in nearby Ballyshannon when the battle was taking place, but he was ordered by Tyrone not to reinforce Maguire. It was estimated that 300 of Maguire's men were killed. Though Maguire's forces were not directly engaged, FitzWilliam was convinced Maguire's revolt had been stopped. During the battle Tyrone was speared in the leg; the wound served as physical proof of his loyalty to the authorities in Dublin. Bagenal remain suspicious of his brother-in-law and later received intelligence that Tyrone had advised Maguire prior to the battle. Tyrone protested against Bagenal's accusation by claiming that Bagenal and FitzWilliam were conspiring to rob him of the honour he was due. 2296:. The queen had died on 24 March but Mountjoy concealed this news until the negotiations had concluded. Had Tyrone known of Elizabeth's death, he would likely have bargained more aggressively. The primary stipulations of the treaty were that the Gaelic chieftains abandon brehon law, dissolve their private armies and swear loyalty only to the English Crown. These were particularly generous terms. On 8 April Tyrone renewed his submission before Mountjoy and the council in Dublin. This was where Tyrone heard of the queen's death; he apparently wept with frustration. After Tyrone's submission, the remaining confederates followed suit. This marked the end of the Nine Years' War. 2344:, who had replaced Mountjoy as Lord Deputy. As part of the Treaty of Mellifont, Tyrone was given authority over O’Cahan, whom he retained animosity towards due to his desertion during the war. A land rights dispute shortly arose between them, as O'Cahan's surrender to Docwra was under the promise that O'Cahan would retain his land as an independent chieftain. Tyrone maintained that O'Cahan's independence was incompatible with the terms of his own restoration, and insisted on exacting his customary rents from him. Docwra pleaded for O'Cahan's case before the council, but Mountjoy sided with Tyrone. O'Cahan was forced to yield a third of his ancestral lands to the Earl. 2329: 1675:

rebellions because he hoped to be appointed Lord President of Ulster by Elizabeth I, but she recognised Tyrone's ambitions to usurp her as Ireland's sovereign and refused to grant him provincial presidency or similar powers. Canny similarly states that Tyrone aspired to be the "queen's man in Ulster", but was passed over in favour of Henry Bagenal. Darren McGettigan downplays Tyrone's role in the confederacy, stating that "while was crucial to the confederacy, he did not build it, and may have been carried along by events and his own success, much more than some historians realise". McGettigan and Morgan disagree over Tyrone's prominence in the confederacy.

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facing shortages of manpower and supplies. The discovery of the confederacy's letters to Spain affected negotiations, but ultimately the government was willing to accept Tyrone's assurances. After much deliberation and negotiation, a cessation of arms was signed by Tyrone on 27 October. This pardoned certain confederates and give them local autonomy. It also acknowledged a tolerance of Catholicism. The confederacy proved to be unsatisfied with the terms, but this policy was a success in that Tyrone managed to defer English attempts on his territory for more than two years. Tyrone's wife Mabel died a few months after the cessation.

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habitual brazenness and over-reliance on Spanish intervention led to his defeat in the Nine Years' War. Conversely to D'Alton, Morgan notes that Tyrone's flight from Ireland displays a selfishness that is typical of an Irish Gaelic lord. Canny calls Tyrone a "forceful, determined and unscrupulous individual, who would allow nothing, and certainly not loyalty to Gaelic institutional life, to hinder his ambitions". Tyrone's disregard for Gaelic tradition and his Gaelic countrymen became evident following the war's end. Like his predecessors, Tyrone spent his life focused primarily on the pursuit and retention of power.

1356: 2952:(died 15 March 1619) sometime before 16 August 1597. It was a political marriage intended to bring the previously neutral Magennis family into the confederacy. In 1600, with the confederacy facing failure, he began drinking heavily and took his frustrations out on Catherine. He considered divorcing her in December 1605, but allegedly she confronted him and warned that if he didn't stop his abuse, she "would discover him so far as to infer again to rebellion or to lose his head." Catherine reluctantly accompanied Tyrone on his flight. Tyrone's will did not sufficiently provide for her, and she died penniless in 2030: 2612:(1993), which focuses on Tyrone's life up to 1596, restored the Earl to the status he was formerly afforded by contemporary English commentators. Tyrone now overshadows O'Donnell in most modern depictions of the Nine Years' War. Morgan judges Tyrone more harshly than Ó Faoláin, and compared to other historians, he portrays Tyrone as loyal to the confederacy from the beginning. Generally speaking, contemporary historians see Tyrone as a more compelling figure than O'Donnell. They also recognise Tyrone's self-serving reasons for entering the war and blame Tyrone for expediting Gaelic Ireland's decline. 274: 1095:. This affronted Shane, a younger legitimate son of Conn Bacagh, who employed the ambivalent status of Matthew's paternity to affirm his own claim to the chieftaincy. Shane asserted that Matthew's father was actually Alison's husband John Kelly, which would render Matthew illegitimate in both Irish and English systems of succession. In the ensuing conflict, the O'Neill family split into rival septs—the "MacShanes" (Shane's immediate family) and the "MacBarons" (Matthew's immediate family). The English encouraged this conflict as it weakened the powerful O'Neill clan. 64: 1188: 1250:. This was apparently done to suppress his desire for O'Neill chieftainship. He was also awarded a patent to the lands of his grandfather Conn Bacagh. From 1587, the Crown grew suspicious of Tyrone and began attempts at curbing his growing power. Elizabeth I would characterise Tyrone as "a creature of our own"—a noble raised as an Englishman who had nonetheless turned his back on the English court in favour of political independence. During this period, Tyrone regularly bribed government officials and relied on his extensive web of connections. 2717:. Lombard admitted that Tyrone "was not yet always equally solicitous, earnest and zealous in the cause of religion", and claimed that it was the Earl's wartime experiences and the providential nature of his success on the field that molded him into a militant Catholic figure. During his exile, Tyrone interacted with the Pope and partook in traditional pilgrimages, but his religious views were apparently less dogmatic. This hints that Lombard may have exaggerated Tyrone's devoutness. Ultimately, Tyrone left no personal record of his faith. 2528: 2104:. However the Munster expedition ended in failure as shortly afterwards, confederacy commander Maguire was shot and killed by English forces whilst on a nearby reconnaissance mission. Maguire's death was a major loss to the confederacy, and prompted Tyrone to abruptly return to Ulster. Ultimately Tyrone's religious rhetoric could not abolish the deep distrust the Old English had of the Gaelic Irish, and he looked again to Spanish intervention as a means of winning the war. By this time, Philip II had died and was succeeded by his son 1695:. Maguire managed to obtain reinforcements which included 100 men led by Tyrone’s brother Cormac MacBaron and 120 men under the commands of Tyrone's O’Hagan foster-brothers. Tyrone often used his relatives and followers to make war on his behalf and it is unlikely they would have assisted Maguire without Tyrone's permission. Maguire besieged Willis and his men in a church and planned to starve them out, but Tyrone intervened and negotiated their rescue safely out of Fermanagh. This conflict is considered the start of the 2421: 1967:

promised to renounce the title of O'Neill clan chief, to refrain from putting obstacles in the way of victualling the Blackwater fort, and not to correspond with Spain or any other foreign nation. Tyrone presented a document of grievances which listed offences committed by the government against the Irish. Ormonde transmitted this petition, in which liberty of conscience was foremost, to Elizabeth I. On these terms a truce for eight weeks, subsequently renewed to 7 June 1598, was concluded.

2762:—possibly named Katherine or Feodora. Brian was in the queen's favour and initially appeared to be an useful ally against Turlough Luineach. By late 1574, after being incriminated in a violent conflict with English colonists, Brian and his immediate family were imprisoned, tried for treason and executed. Hugh withdrew any association with his father-in-law by annulling the marriage on grounds of consanguinity. Tyrone's first wife later married Niall MacBrian Faghartach O'Neill. 2828:(sometimes anglicised Joanna; died January 1591) in June 1574, beginning his enduring alliance with the O'Donnells of Tyrconnell. The 1st Earl of Essex announced the marriage on 14 June 1574. In 1579, Hugh repudiated his marriage to Siobhán and prepared to wed a daughter of Turlough O'Neill, with the aim of becoming the O'Neill tanist. The government easily dissuaded Hugh as Turlough's age and ill health meant his death was probably soon anyway. Hugh reconciled with his wife. 2238: 2380:

never actually divorced from. Montgomery wrote to Chichester on 4 March 1607: "the breach between and his landlord will be the greater by means of daughter, his reputed wife, whom he has resolved to leave, having a former wife lawfully married to him." O'Cahan later repudiated his marriage to Rose. Tyrone would ask for Rose's dowry back, but O'Cahan retained it. It is clear that government officials were harnessing O'Cahan's hostility to orchestrate Tyrone's undoing.

1721:"The Irish archbishop of Tuam says that it will be of great importance for the success of the confederacy of Irish Catholics, that Your Majesty should write very affectionately to the earl of Tyrone, whose name is O’Neill to induce him to enter into the confederacy openly. He already belongs to it secretly, and he should be assured that Your Majesty’s aid shall not fail them. The archbishop begs Your Majesty to order a letter to be written to the earl to that effect." 3061: 12800: 1179:. Four years later, war broke out between Shane and the Crown. It was previously considered unlikely that a MacBaron could sway Shane's dominance in Ulster, but in light of these events, the English government began to view Hugh as a significant contender who could bring Ulster under loyalist control. On the contrary, Hugh's main concern was the ruthless pursuit of political and military power, and he intended to remain autonomous and independent. 1333:, Inishowen. Tyrone's mercenary forces, commanded by his Hovenden foster-brothers, proceeded to Inishowen upon hearing of the presence of Spanish fugitives there. Tyrone's instructions to the Hovendens are unknown; ultimately his forces committed the largest single massacre of Armada survivors in Inishowen. FitzWilliam was suspicious of the Earl's activities and refused to believe this news, but it is confirmed in the report of a Spanish escapee. 2134: 1510: 11515: 11460: 2726:

most accomplished Irish politicians of his day. Tyrone was also a skilled negotiator; he typically played the "good cop" to O'Donnell's "bad cop" during meetings with the government. He avoided impulsive decisions and was prepared to use English techniques to fight his enemies. According to historian Edward Alfred D'Alton, for these reasons Tyrone bore little resemblance to the average boastful and talkative Gaelic lord.

1337: 1925:, claiming liberty of conscience as well as political liberty for the Gaelic Irish. They also offered Philip II the kingdom of Ireland in return for military support. It had long been suspected that Tyrone was in league with the Spanish but this was the English government's first piece of hard evidence. In fact Philip II had sent a ship to gather intelligence in March 1594, but the crew died in a shipwreck off 420:, Tyrone was cautious and deliberative. A consummate liar, he is considered an enigma to historians due to the elaborate bluffs he employed to mislead his opponents. Although wartime propaganda promoted Tyrone as a "Catholic crusader", historians believe his motivations were always more political than religious - though he apparently underwent a genuine conversion around 1598. He also held the title 2234:

wounded. The battle was a disaster for Tyrone and nullified years of his wartime success. Tyrone was strongly in favour of another attempt, but he was overruled by O'Donnell who laid blame on Juan del Águila. After the failure at Kinsale, the chance of the confederacy winning the war had passed. According to Carew, a troop of women could have beaten Tyrone's army on its homeward march.

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courtship, the marriage "probably ran its course" and Tyrone would have continued with his concubines. According to Tyrone himself, "because I did affect two other gentlewomen, she grew in dislike with me, forsook me, and went unto her brother to complain upon me to the council of Ireland, and did exhibit articles against me". Mabel died in December 1595, aged around 24 years old.

2577:, compiled in 1636, praise Tyrone: "the person who here died was a powerful, mighty lord, with wisdom, subtlety, and profundity of mind and intellect; a warlike, predatory, enterprising lord, in defending his religion and patrimony against his enemies". Conversely, because Tyrone had deserted his people in 1607, his own generation expressed little admiration for him. 2080:"). Despite his previous apathy towards religion, Tyrone began to position himself as a champion for Catholicism in order to rally further Irishmen to his cause. However, it appears this was a genuine religious conversion. Tyrone declared that "if had to be king of Ireland without having the catholic religion, would not the same accept". He gained support from 1502:, the Marshal of Her Majesty's Irish Army. Around 1589 Nicholas Bagenal described Tyrone as "as so allied by kindred in blood and affinity as also by marriages and fosters and other friendships as if he should be ill-disposed might hap put the crown of England to more charges than the purchase of Ulster should be worth". On 24 October 1590, his son 2740:"He had a strong body, able to endure labour, watching and hunger: his industry was great, his soul large and fit for the weightiest business: much knowledge he had in military affairs, and a profound dissembling heart: in so much as some did prognosticate of him, that he was born either to the very great good or the great hurt of Ireland". 2585:

his wartime ally Hugh Roe O'Donnell. Tyrone's "Machiavellian" nature and his partially-English cultural identity are reasons he was not embraced by Irish nationalists in the same way as O'Donnell, whose traditional Celtic upbringing, sensational prison break saga and tragic early death made him a Gaelic Irish martyr and national hero.

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loyalty to the crown whenever circumstances required. A hollow peace was signed on 24 April. Further negotiations to develop a peace treaty were almost complete by May. Spanish captain Alonso Cobos met with Tyrone, O'Donnell and Cormac MacBaron in early May. After the meeting, the Irishmen agreed to abandon the peace treaty and become

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a failure. He led months of ill-managed operations in the south of Ireland, lost three-quarters of his forces to disease and desertion, and executed of hundreds of his troops for cowardice. Towards the end of July, letters arrived from the queen with peremptory orders to travel northwards and attack Tyrone with all speed.

1737:, which he had been attempting since the late 1580s. Tyrone was charged with involvement in the assassination. He swore his innocence, blamed it solely on the O'Hagans as a revenge murder, and accused the administration of manipulating the evidence against him. FitzWilliam had his doubts, but the council were satisfied. 2624:. Unsatisfied with the tribute or rents entitled to him as O'Neill clan chief, he heavily increased taxes on his subjects. Like his predecessor Shane O'Neill, Tyrone introduced conscription to all men within his country, regardless of their social class. He also tied the peasantry to the land, effectively making them 4984:, pp. 9. In a report from Inishowen prior to the massacre, the Hovendens wrote to FitzWilliam: "O'Donnell is willing to serve against , and hath none of his country as yet come in to him passing thirty horsemen; he hath sent for all his forces, but it is doubtful whether they will come in to him or not" 2280:. Mountjoy continued to pursue Tyrone to no avail. The Earl entered Fermanagh in autumn but was back in Glenconkeyne by December. Whilst in Glenconkeyne, exactly a year after the defeat at Kinsale, he wrote a letter to Philip III asking for a Spanish warship to be sent to Ulster. The English army's use of 1137:, Hugh's foster father, was an English settler with a pre-existing business connection with Conn Bacagh. Hugh was raised by Giles's wife Joan Walshe, and she continued to care for Hugh after Giles's death. Hugh would remain close with his adoptive family throughout the rest of his life. His foster brother 2584:

rehabilitated Tyrone's image in the seventeenth century. This carried into the nineteenth century when Irish nationalists developed a romantic myth around Tyrone, portraying him as a selfless idealist dedicated to the freedom of Gaelic Ireland. Nevertheless, Tyrone tended to be sidelined in favour of

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Chichester was also antagonistic to Tyrone, forcing him to attend Protestant services and accusing him of plotting with Spain. It became clear to Tyrone that the restoration of his earldom meant little. Tyrone's marriage became strained and in December 1605 he considered divorcing his wife Catherine.

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Essex landed in Ireland on 15 April 1599 with an expeditionary force of 16,000 troops and 1,500 horses—the largest English army dispatched to the country. The situation in Ireland was practically unaltered since the battle of the Yellow Ford. Despite his resources, Essex's Irish campaign proved to be

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Motivated by his animosity towards Tyrone, Bagenal encouraged a relief exercise to be sent to the fort. On 14 August, whilst crossing the River Callan, Bagenal's army was attacked by the combined forces of Tyrone, O'Donnell and Maguire. Tyrone had prepared ditches in the ground to obstruct the enemy.

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Tyrone's constant disputes with Turlough were fomented by the English with a view to weakening the clan. In 1584, Tyrone and Turlough were at Strabane to celebrate Easter together. The Dublin government was extremely alarmed at this news and feared that the O'Neill rivalry may be dissolving. By 1587,

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whilst publicly maintaining a loyal appearance. He regularly deceived government officials via bribes and convoluted disinformation campaigns. Via his web of alliances and the heavy taxation of his subjects, he could arm and feed over 8,000 men, leaving him well-prepared to resist English incursions.

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Tyrone feigned support for the Crown through the 1580s and early 1590s. On visits to Dublin, he would attend Protestant services with the Lord Deputy. Tyrone's 1591 marriage ceremony was performed by a Protestant bishop, per the request of Tyrone's Protestant bride Mabel Bagenal. She later converted

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Tyrone was born to Catholic parents, but raised amongst Protestants since the age of 8. Though the Hovenden family were the "least Protestant of the New English settlers", Tyrone's education in the Pale certainly would have anglicised him. but would not necessarily have led to an identity crisis. In

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with Chichester when news of the vessel's arrival reached him. He seems to have come to an immediate snap decision; it was afterwards recollected "that he took his leave of the lord deputy in a more sad and passionate manner than he used at other times". Tyrone left for Dungannon to collect his wife

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temper. He snatched a document from O'Cahan's hands and tore it up in front of Chichester. Tyrone's violent behaviour towards O'Cahan greatly damaged his cause. The government, unable to come to any definite conclusion, referred the matter to the king's decision, and Tyrone promised to go to London.

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claims that O'Donnell naively urged Tyrone to attack. In reality, it was the pressure from the beleaguered Spaniards that wore down Tyrone. With his reputation on the line, the Earl reluctantly (and uncharacteristically) yielded to the Spanish officers and resolved to make an immediate joint attack.

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the new monarch of Ireland. After these developments, Tyrone and O'Donnell began to deliberately derail peace negotiations and provoke war in previously peaceful parts of the country. It became clear to the English that Tyrone intended the war to be not just a war for Ulster, but for all of Ireland.

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After Hugh Roe O'Donnell's inauguration as O'Donnell clan chief, Tyrone and O'Donnell executed a pincer movement against Turlough. With an overwhelming alliance against him, in May 1593 Turlough was forced to surrender his lordship of Tír Eoghain and name Tyrone as his tanist. Turlough would receive

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Now returned to his province of birth, Hugh began engaging the support of neighbouring Irish Gaelic families, including the O'Hagans, the O'Quinns and his own family the MacBarons. According to Sidney, these families "much repined that the great and regal estate of the O'Neill... should be so broken

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had none of the heroic qualities shown by Tyrone, Hugh Roe O'Donnell and Hugh Maguire during the Nine Years' War. Expressing hope for the future of the Irish people, Mac Dhunlèibhe closes by asking where are the Irish clan warriors who charged out of the mist and slaughtered the enemy armies at the

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Although Tyrone lacked the magnetism and charisma of his son-in-law Hugh Roe O’Donnell, he was possessed of a considerable charm that produced confidence in others. This allowed him to build a wide range of contacts, including Old English, Gaelic Irish and New English figures, making him one of the

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By September, the supposed plot involving Tyrone and Spain was known to the government. Historians are undecided on whether this plot actually existed. Information reached clan chief Cuconnacht Maguire that the government was intended to arrest Tyrone if he went to England. Maguire sent a vessel of

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Though the government had no evidence to charge Tyrone with, they suspected his intention to raise up a fresh rebellion, and in April 1607 the Earl was summoned to Dublin to answer O'Cahan's plaint. O’Cahan had received loans to fund his case. During their meeting in court that May, Tyrone lost his

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in the extreme south of the country. Tyrone was displeased at the small size of the force and the fact that they had landed in the south—moving his army there would mean leaving Ulster unprotected. Mountjoy rushed to contain the Spanish, but it was not till the beginning of November that Tyrone was

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On 5 November 1599, in a strong position after Essex's failed campaign, Tyrone issued a public proclamation declaring a holy war against England. He sent a list of 22 proposed terms for a peace agreement to Queen Elizabeth, including a request on the status of future English viceroys. This amounted

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A more formal meeting occurred later on at the same ford, with six men on each side attending. Ultimately an informal truce of six weeks was arranged. Tyrone retired to Tír Eoghain, and a humiliated Essex returned to England to face his queen. Elizabeth I was displeased by the favourable conditions

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The English government had their suspicions that Tyrone was plotting against them, but he repeatedly proved his loyalty in battles against Irish uprisings. His fellow Gaelic chiefs understood that Tyrone secretly belonged to their cause but hid his true allegiance. By this time, Tyrone had formally

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Wartime propaganda depicted Tyrone as a "Catholic crusader", though many of his contemporaries had their doubts regarding the sincerity of his religious convictions. It is generally believed that his preoccupations were political rather than religious. In response to Tyrone framing the Nine Years'

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In late 1615, Tyrone fell ill with a fever and never recovered. His eyesight failed him at the start of 1616. Tyrone died in Rome on 20 July 1616. His elaborate funeral was paid for by the Spanish ambassador and attended by cardinals, foreign ambassadors, dignitaries, and many Irish nobles. He was

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The Crown's army swept the country. The English forces began to close in on Tyrone—Mountjoy from the south, and Dowcra and Chichester from the north. Mountjoy destroyed the traditional O'Neill inauguration stone at Tullyhogue. With queen Elizabeth in bad health, Tyrone may have been set on holding

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24 December 1601] 1602, Tyrone's force of 5,000 men took their position and advanced in a driving thunderstorm. As soon as they were spotted, Mountjoy ordered his men to attack. Tyrone retreated but Mountjoy's cavalry routed the fleeing soldiers. 1,200 men were killed and another 800 were

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Tyrone's strategy became more combative once he had received promises that a large-scale Spanish military expedition would be incoming. He imported regular shipments of munitions and his ally Fiach O'Byrne engaged in a series of skirmishes against Lord Deputy Russell's troops. Tyrone intentionally

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According to Dunlop, "for the next two years it is impossible to describe the relations between Tyrone and the government as those either of settled peace or open war". In April 1596, Tyrone received promises of help from Spain and thereafter chose to temporize with the authorities, professing his

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Jerrold Casway notes that this "whirlwind courtship" is unlike Tyrone's other marriages, which otherwise always had political motives. It is possible Tyrone's judgment was impaired by his feelings. Mabel was young and attractive, and clearly enamoured by the attention she received from Tyrone. She

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Tyrone quickly became disillusioned with his exile and yearned to return to his position in Ireland. He did not give up the possibility of return and toyed variously both with schemes to oust English authority outright and with proposed offers of pardon from London. When the former Crown loyalist

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On 22 December 1602, Tyrone offered his submission on his own terms, but this was firmly rejected by the queen. She insisted that Tyrone's title should be stripped from him and that his lands should be reduced. Early in 1603, Mountjoy opened negotiations with Tyrone. Tyrone made his submission to

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prepared a case to prove that O'Cahan's lands were legally vested in the Crown, and he also acted as O'Cahan's counsel during the proceedings. Montgomery also encouraged O'Cahan to leave his wife, Tyrone's daughter Rose (widow of Hugh Roe O'Donnell), and return to his first wife Mary, who he was

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to accepting English sovereignty over Ireland as a reality while hoping for tolerance and a strong Irish-led administration. The Dublin government were frightened upon receiving the proclamation. It was decided that any further meetings would be unseemly and futile, and the proposal was ignored.

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Tyrone skirmished with Essex's forces as they approached the borders of Ulster, but this was nothing like a general engagement. Essex's numbers had dwindled to only 4,500 and Tyrone, whose army far outnumbered Essex's, refused to give battle. Tyrone sent his counsellor Henry O'Hagan to request a

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More allegations emerged in 1594. Captain Willis, Sir Edward Herbert and Joan Kelly claimed Tyrone was ordering the Irish raids. In March, it appeared that Tyrone was behind the burning of Bagenal's lands. The same month, government commissioners concluded that a confederacy had been established

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Once in open rebellion with the Crown, Tyrone publicly declared that his ultimate objective was to support the freedoms of Catholics by establishing the religion throughout Ireland. This proclamation was predominantly to widen support for his confederacy nationally and abroad, rather than as an

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Tyrone sought to delay the war in order to buy time for the arrival of Spanish troops. In September 1595, he sent overtures of submission to the Crown, and a ceasefire was enacted whilst the settlement could be negotiated. This timing was advantageous to the Crown, as the queen's Irish Army was

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to confront him in person. During the proceedings, which occurred 14–28 June, the main charge was foreign conspiracy. FitzWilliam and Bagenal favoured the Earl's arrest. Three councillors were already well-disposed to Tyrone; the rest felt threatened by his power in Dundalk. Certain councillors

1541:, the Marshal's younger sister. This was only months after the similarly-timed deaths of Bagenal's father and Tyrone's late wife. Tyrone professed his love and asked for Mabel's hand in marriage. Alarmed, Bagenal kept Mabel out of Tyrone's reach by sending her to live with his brother-in-law in 1473:

In January 1590, Hugh Roe O'Donnell made a failed prison break attempt. The same month, Tyrone's wife Siobhán (Hugh Roe's elder half-sister) died. In December 1591 Tyrone successfully aided Hugh Roe O'Donnell's (and ironically, the MacShanes') escape. He had bribed FitzWilliam - one of the most

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In May 1593 the couple clashed over the assassination of Phelim MacTurlough O'Neill - "the countess clapping her hands together was sorry, as should seem, of that which happened, to whom the earl in English spoke with vehemency". Casway believes that despite the romantic circumstances of their

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It was anticipated that Tyrone would seize this opportunity to overrun the Pale. Instead, on 22 December, he submitted himself to the Earl of Ormonde at Dundalk, and "upon the knees of his heart professed most hearty penitence for his disloyalty, and especially his foul relapses thereinto". He

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took over as Lord Deputy. Burgh refused to entertain Tyrone's excuses and on 6 June, English forces launched a surprise attack on Tyrone between Newry and Armagh. Tyrone withdrew across the Blackwater. On 14 July Burgh captured the Blackwater fort. Tyrone "hanged twenty of his knaves that were

1769:, but the Earl had brought far fewer troops than he had promised. The two commanders detested each other and there was a nervous awkardness between their troops. Bagenal proposed several plans of attack but these were all vetoed by Tyrone. On 7 October, they marched separately to the ford near 1351:

characterised Tyrone as reluctantly ordering the massacre to keep in the English government's good graces. Contemporary sources seem to imply that the massacre was carried out on the actions of the O'Donnell clan, who counselled O'Neill's troops, though this is possibly misdirection by Tyrone.

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However, Tyrone was also a ruthless politician not opposed to murdering his opponents for political gain. He was willing to put himself in danger during his many travels to Dublin. Tyrone was overly ambitious in his war aims, particularly since he had not been formally trained in warfare. His

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The confederacy's success at the battle was the greatest victory by Irish forces against England, and it sparked a general revolt throughout the country, particularly the south. Tyrone has been criticised for failing to immediately capitalise on this victory. He let three months elapse before

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has suggested Tyrone was reluctantly pushed into rebellion. Hiram Morgan represents Tyrone as a master strategist who was complicit from the start. James O'Neill agrees that Tyrone was the chief architect of the rebellion. According to John Dorney, Tyrone originally distanced himself from the

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However historians Canny and Thomas O'Connor believe that Tyrone underwent a genuine religious conversion in the late 1590s. It was reported in August 1598 that O’Neill’s men made confession before battle. O'Connor believes that Tyrone's sentimental address at the 1599 parley of Dungannon is

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The aging chief Turlough had yet to choose a tanist, and the position was contested by Tyrone and his MacShane cousins. Tír Eoghain's population favoured the MacShanes, but outside the kingdom they were disliked due to their father's cruelty towards the various smaller neighbouring kingdoms.

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behind, to Catherine's distress. According to an English account, " being exceedingly weary slipped down from her horse and weeping said she could go no further." Tyrone responded by threatening her with his sword "if she did not pass on with him and put on a more cheerful countenance".

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Henry Bagenal was outraged at the marriage. He refused to pay his sister's dowry, even two years after the marriage, and also had Tyrone's previous divorce investigated, though it was found to be valid. Because of this dramatic episode and their roles as opposing commanders during the

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in 1608, it briefly raised hopes of a return. Tyrone's nephew Eochaidh O'Hanlon played a leading role in the rebellion. In 1613 the English government briefly discussed with Tyrone a potential reconciliation. Two years later rumours heightened that Tyrone would return to Ireland. The

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was ordered to Ireland at the head of a considerable force for the purpose of subduing Tyrone. Tyrone anticipated this and struck the first blow by invading and burning Louth. When Norris arrived at Waterford on 4 May 1595, Tyrone had already succeeded in taking the Blackwater Fort.

1800:, who was sworn in on 11 August. To the surprise of the council, Tyrone appeared in Dublin four days later to tender his submission. Russell allowed Tyrone to leave in safety, but he later realised his mistake and unsuccessfully shifted blame to the council. The queen was furious. 2288:. Whilst in hiding, Tyrone was able to rely on fellow Irish lords to provide him with provisions and intelligence. In January 1603, Mountjoy admitted to Cecil that capturing the Earl would be up to chance. Despite his efforts, Mountjoy could not convince anyone to betray Tyrone. 2704:

indicative of a "conversion experience" and goes beyond simple propaganda rhetoric. In his address, Tyrone candidly admitted his initially secular motives on entering the war and described Roman Catholicism as the one true religion. In the same year Tyrone went on pilgrimage to

2595:(1942) is the most influential modern work on Tyrone. It attracted a large readership but is today considered inaccurate and overdramatised. Particularly, Ó Faoláin claims that Tyrone grew up in England (instead of the Pale) and he overtly romanticises Tyrone's second marriage. 1753:

feared Tyrone's arrest would only exacerbate the growing conflict in the north and could lead to a Gaelic invasion of the Pale. Ultimately Tyrone managed to avoid arrest. When Elizabeth I was later briefed on the proceedings, she concluded that Tyrone should have been arrested.

2643:

and ammunition from Britain. Firearms were the primary weapon in Tyrone's army. Across late 1594 and early 1595, he bought £8,000 worth of gunpowder, lead and firearms from Scotland. The Crown allowed Tyrone to obtain six tonnes of lead, ostensibly to weatherproof his hall in

1127:, County Dublin—a property formerly belonging to Conn Bacagh. The Crown sought to keep the children safe from harm and to raise them in the English manner, so that they would be more sympathetic to the English administration once they came of age and took their places in the 1896:

Turlough Luineach died in September, making Tyrone officially O'Neill clan chief under brehon law. According to Norris, "the coming to the place of hath made much prouder and harder to yield to his duty, and he flattereth himself much with the hope of foreign assistance."

1986:

Tyrone's pardon was granted on 11 April 1598. However the Earl felt that the Crown would eventually supersede his authority in Ulster. When the truce expired in June, Tyrone resumed hostilities. He besieged the Blackwater fort and threatened to starve out the inhabitants.

2148:, Essex's successor as Lord Deputy, arrived in Ireland. He was a protégé of Essex and similarly a favourite at court. Mountjoy posed a major threat to Tyrone as he began immediately revitalising and restoring confidence in the English army. He assigned veteran soldiers 2320:

Under a new patent almost as extensive as the one he had been given in 1587, Tyrone was confirmed in his title and core estates. He was also bold enough to request the lord presidency of Ulster, but was only allowed lieutenancy of Tyrone and Armagh. Rory was made 1st

2712:

refuted charges against Tyrone's past: "During his tutelage under the English, never thought or professed anything other than what was orthodox in religion". According to Lombard, O’Neill attended daily mass, even in the field, and regularly confessed and received

2256:

O'Donnell went to Spain to seek further assistance, where he died soon afterwards of a sudden illness. With a shattered force, Tyrone made his way once more to the north, where he renewed his policy of ostensibly seeking pardon while warily defending his territory.

2182:, where Tyrone had entrenched himself, compelling him to retire to Armagh. A large reward was offered for the Earl's capture, dead or alive. Tyrone was in a desperate position. Upset with setbacks, he began drinking heavily and took his frustrations out on his wife 2383:

Tensions between Tyrone and the English government escalated. Tyrone's continued correspondence with Spain broke his promises made at Mellifont. In 1607, the 1st Earl of Tyrconnell accidentally exposed a plot, involving Tyrone and Spain, during a conversation with

1880:

technique caused extreme concern. The English recorded 31 killed and 103 wounded, though Irish sources have claimed that the English losses were significantly higher. The Irish victory shocked and demoralised the English and was a severe setback early in the war.

2220:

The Irish presence at Kinsale trapped the English army between them and the Spaniards. Juan del Águila urged a prompt combined attack on the English lines. Tyrone and O'Donnell seem to have initially agreed on starving out the besiegers. O'Donnell's biographer

1748:. According to the Sheriff of Monaghan, a large group of Irish noblemen including Tyrone, Maguire and O'Donnell had taken treasonous oaths in support of Spain. FitzWilliam summoned Tyrone to Dublin, but Tyrone refused and made excuses, so the council went to 2663:-style. In contrast, contemporary English sources claimed that Tyrone was "brought up in military exercises and employments", and lamented how Tyrone was "educated in our discipline and naturally valiant worthily reputed the best man of war of his nation". 1764:

Maguire's attacks provoked a large-scale military expedition to be led by Bagenal. Tyrone was able to deflect the past allegations and prove his loyalty to the Crown by agreeing to assist Bagenal. On 26 September he joined Bagenal and his army at

2347:

In February 1605 Arthur Chichester became Lord Deputy. Chichester's attitude towards the Gaelic lords was markedly more aggressive. He abolished brehon law and removed the authority that senior lords had over junior nobles—making O'Cahan a

1529:

In autumn 1590, Lord Hugh Roe MacMahon was executed on FitzWilliam's orders; MacMahon's land was confiscated, divided and allotted to English servitors rather than the Gaelic Irish. Tyrone, who had owned part of MacMahon's lands under

2658:

Tyrone's forces were very poor at siege warfare, as evident by their many failures to capture the occupied Blackwater fort. Tyrone had not been formally trained in regular warfare, hence why most of his successful battles were fought

2021:

was one of Tyrone's early allies. In a letter prior to his arrival in Ireland, he declared his intentions as Lord Deputy: "by God, I will defeat Tyrone in the field, for nothing worthy of her Majesty's honour hath yet been achieved".

1875:

In a report to the Lord Deputy, Norris warned that the proficiency of the Irish rebels was far greater than expected: "their number greater, their arms better, and munition more plenty". The discipline and co-ordination of Tyrone's

6154:. "There was already the kindling of conspiracies between Spain and Ireland in 1592–3, but the spark that ignited discontent into rebellion was the appointment of Captain Humphrey Willis as sheriff of Fermanagh in spring 1593." 1258:

Per an arrangement with the Crown, Hugh agreed to defend the Pale's borders from fellow Ulstermen in exchange for soldiers. This arrangement allowed him to extend his influence over southeastern Ulster. In 1580, during the

1957:

In a parley with Norris at Dundalk in January 1597, Tyrone admitted to writing letters to Spain but placed the blame partly on O'Donnell. He agreed to a further parley in March but made excuses to postpone it. On 22 May,

9783: 8529: 1218:, but in 1574 he hastily annulled the marriage when his father-in-law was implicated in a bloody conflict and tried for treason. The same year, Hugh established his most important and longlasting alliance by marrying 1448: 1637:, who had exposed to FitzWilliam that the Earl was making treasonous dealings with the Spanish. Tyrone reputedly hanged Gavelagh over a tree with his bare hands—though other sources claim the executioner was from 1291:

praised him as "the only Irish nobleman that hath done any service and drawn blood since my coming". Tyrone feared that the Dublin government might appoint a sheriff in Tír Eoghain, which would weaken his power.

1098:

Matthew was killed in 1558 by the O'Donnelly clan, Shane's foster family, placing his sons Brian and Hugh in a dangerous situation. The continuing support for their claims came from the English administration in

1829:

According to John Dorney, if Tyrone did not go into open rebellion once the English encroached onto Tír Eoghain, he could have risked estranging his followers and allowing another O'Neill clansman to oust him.

1141:

became his chief advisor and accompanied him on his flight in 1607. Brothers Henry and Richard led Hugh's troops in the late 1580s, though another brother Walter died opposing the Irish confederacy in battle.

2655:. Many of his soldiers were being trained by veterans returned from the Spanish army. Tyrone also had several Spanish and English military advisors in his pay, the Spanish ones having been sent by Philip II. 2316:

was outraged "to see that damnable rebel Tyrone brought to England, honoured, and well liked... now smileth in peace at those who did hazard their lives to destroy him". Tyrone even went hunting with James.

1352:

Government officials reported that Tyrone heavily reprimanded Hugh McManus O'Donnell for betraying the Spaniards and their refuge, and he contemptuously told O'Donnell to seek dwelling in another country.

1149:

amongst English people, Hugh gained a knowledge of English customs and politics, mainly through his attendance at the Irish Parliament and the court in England. He was able to secure allies such as the

2499:

The pope granted Tyrone a monthly pension of a hundred crowns, a house (called the Borgo Vecchio) rent free, together with an allowance of bread and wine for ten persons. Philip III added four hundred

3244:(1989), which is concerned largely with his third marriage to Mabel Bagenal; Friel describes the marriage as a genuine if ill-fated love affair. In its original production, Tyrone was played by actor 2524:

saw his son Conn Ruadh become the subject of an uprising—the Crown quickly relocated Conn Ruadh to England in order to terminate the uprising. English spies were monitoring Tyrone during this period.

1630:

Turlough had established an alliance with the MacShanes. In 1588 Tyrone and Hugh McManus O'Donnell launched an attack on Turlough, but they were defeated at Carricklea to the satisfaction of Perrot.

2696:

authentic statement of belief. In fact, during 1596 peace negotiations the religious nature of his demands came as a surprise to the Dublin government; though he was willing to drop his demand for

1995:

launching a major attack into Munster. However, it is possible Tyrone sustained heavy losses from the battle. One estimate puts Irish losses at the battle of the Yellow Ford at around 200 killed.

3331:

earl between their grandfather's death in 1559 and his own assassination in 1562. He never claimed the earldom and did not call himself earl. He may not have been of age to take his seat in the

10455: 2479:

On 29 April, Tyrone and Tyrconnell were welcomed into Rome by a large concourse of ecclesiastics. The two earls met the pope the next day. The journey to Rome was recorded in great detail by

1470:, along with two MacShanes, Art and Henry. Tyrone was outraged, describing the ordeal as "the most prejudice that might happen unto me", and lobbied fruitlessly for his son-in-law's release. 3138:

laments the loss of the Irish clan chiefs who led their clansmen in war and provided "leadership of the old and true Gaelic kind". Mac Dhunlèibhe comments that the 19th-century fighters for

4412:. "The eldest, Feardorcha, was the most controversial. Shane, notoriously, charged that he was not an O'Neill at all, but the son of Alison and John Kelly, a blacksmith of Dundalk ..." 11070: 1893:

advised a compromise, writing that Elizabeth "would be content to see what was in the traitor's heart, and what he would offer". Tyrone insisted on a general pardon but this was refused.

1821:. More significant however was the presence of Tyrone at the assault. The evidence against Tyrone became too great to ignore, and the government deemed an immediate attack essential. Sir 4996:, p. 13. " penance for his sins, the weightiest of which was a cruel raid on the wrecked Spaniards of the Armada, whom he slew in Innishowen, at the bidding of deputy Fitzwilliam". 1604: 1679:

allied with chiefs O'Donnell and Maguire via their marriages to his daughters. O'Donnell married daughter Rose in December 1592, and Maguire married daughter Margaret around May 1593.

2632:'s total tax revenue was about £31,000. Although that figure had certainly increased since then, in financial terms Tyrone was in a position to challenge the English administration. 12377: 11475: 3378:

Jerrold Casway states it is possible that Rose's mother was Tyrone's first wife. Darren McGettigan believes Rose's mother was a concubine of Tyrone. In 1606, Rose was described by

2963:(18 October 1599 – 27 January 1641) who was recognised by the Spanish court as the successive Earl of Tyrone ("El Conde de Tyrone"). He entered the Spanish army and was killed in 8079: 2217:. The two chieftains reluctantly marched separately from the north, through territories defended by Carew, in the depths of a severe winter. They gained little support en route. 9791: 1649:

by alleging that Gavelagh was guilty of various crimes. Tyrone was placed under house arrest but released by letters of commendation from FitzWilliam and the Dublin government.

12387: 1534:, was passed over in favour of Henry Bagenal. Furthermore, Tyrone's authority was directly challenged when Henry Bagenal was named chief commissioner of Ulster on 18 May 1591. 8521: 3101:

owned a reputed nineteenth-century portrait of Tyrone, from an original in the Vatican. It is apparently developed from a "true likeness" of the Earl. In the 19th century,

1230:

after joining him in an abortive attack on Turlough. By the early 1570s, Hugh was using his combined support from the Pale and Ulster to put Turlough under heavy pressure.

1622:, the ancient ceremonial site where the O'Neill chiefs were traditionally inaugurated. It turned out that Turlough had not died but had only fallen into a brief coma from 347:

sympathetic to the English government, by the 1570s he had built a strong network of both British and Irish contacts which he utilised for his pursuit of political power.

10903:

The fate and fortunes of Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, and Rory O'Donel, earl of Tyrconnel; their flight from Ireland, their vicissitudes abroad, and their death in exile

10232: 12945: 2521: 401:

Due to increasing hostility against Tyrone and his allies, in 1607 he made the "snap decision" to flee with his countrymen to continental Europe in what is known as the

1396:. Tyrone also helped stranded nobleman Don Antonio Manrique escape Ulster. Ultimately about a dozen Spaniards remained in Ireland. Despite their desire to return home, 2628:, increasing production of materials and guaranteeing his supply of labour. Eventually he was generating revenue of £80,000 per year. For comparison, in the 1540s the 1733:

On 14 May 1593, Phelim MacTurlough O'Neill, a client of Henry Bagenal, was assassinated by the O'Hagans, Tyrone's foster family. This murder permitted Tyrone to annex

1691:

was appointed by FitzWilliam as Sheriff of Fermanagh; he entered Fermanagh with at least 100 men and began pillaging and raiding, to the fury of Fermanagh's chieftain

12336: 9911: 8693: 2308:, Hugh Roe O'Donnell's younger brother and successor. They arrived at London on 4 June. Tyrone and Rory presented themselves to Elizabeth's successor, King James, at 1954:

finally sailed from Lisbon in October 1596. Unfortunately for Tyrone, the armada ended in failure when it was met with a sudden storm which claimed over 3,000 lives.

12382: 2396:

eighty tons into the north of Ireland to facilitate an escape. Tyrconnell already planned to leave, and he convinced Tyrone to flee to Spain with him. Tyrone was at

12372: 6557: 2084:, who entitled him "Captain General of the Catholic Army in Ireland". In late 1599 and early 1600, the Earl was in Munster on pilgrimage. He supported the claim of 367:

whilst covertly commanding the very troops they were fighting against. After years of playing both sides, he finally went into open rebellion in early 1595 with an

2456:

and not to proceed to Spain itself. The hopes of the earls for military support foundered as Philip III, on the verge of bankruptcy, sought to maintain the recent

1384:

became shipwrecked at Streedagh Strand in County Sligo. Tyrone himself assisted three sick officers and many commoners. One of the latter included ordinary seaman

10262: 8265: 4576: 2436:

on a voyage bound for Spain. Accompanying them were their wives, families and retainers, numbering ninety-nine persons. This effectively marked the collapse of

12357: 3306:

Early historians assumed Tyrone's birthdate to be within the 1540s. Modern historians believe he was born circa 1550, based on references in the state papers.

5075: 2651:

Tyrone could arm and feed over 8,000 men—impressive for a Gaelic lord. They were trained and equipped with the latest European weapons and tactics, including

5811: 4090: 9879: 5281: 13141: 2325:. Whilst Tyrone was in England, he sent a letter to Philip III offering to take up arms for Spain if peace negotiations between Spain and England failed. 17: 11050: 1725:

Subsequently Maguire launched raids across Connacht. Tyrone's nephews—sons of his brother Art MacBaron—also engaged in campaigns against loyalist clans.

1474:

corrupt Lord Deputies of Tudor Ireland - with £1,000 to aid in O'Donnell's escape. Henry split from the others in Dublin; O'Donnell and Art fled to the

9255:. "Shortly before 8 October 1596 he married Margaret O'Neill, daughter of Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, with whom he had three sons and six daughters." 7521: 3382:

Niall Garve O'Donnell as illegitimate, though all of the children of Tyrone's annulled first marriage were considered illegitimate by English society.

1567:

was summoned. Jones was reluctant to perform the marriage, but after being assured of Mabel's free consent, the couple were married on 3 August 1591.

1403:

It seems Tyrone never recruited any of these Spaniards as soldiers. His decision may have been affected by the hostility the English had towards Lord

10698: 6083: 2268:

English forces managed to destroy crops and livestock in Ulster in 1601–1602, especially in the lands of Tyrone's principal vassal (and son-in-law),

7233: 3867: 11937: 10727: 1797: 1466:

Lord Deputy Perrot ordered young O'Donnell's kidnapping in 1587 in hopes of destroying the O'Neill-O'Donnell alliance. O'Donnell was imprisoned in

3992: 13146: 11059: 4048: 3543: 2052:

allowed to Tyrone and by Essex's treatment of him as an equal. Tyrone broke off the truce on hearing of Essex's arrest, though English statesmen

2017:

of the queen, reluctantly took on the role to strengthen his reputation. Essex had an existing connection with Ireland and Tyrone, as his father

2118:

operated as his representative at the Spanish court. Shortly after Tyrone's return to Ulster, he learnt that a Spanish ship had arrived bearing

1950:

gave the English government the impression that peace was imminent as misdirection from the impending Spanish expedition. After much delay, the

1653:

a pension of £2,000 and the right to officially remain O'Neill chief until his death. The Earl had effectively become the ruler of Tír Eoghain.

11856: 11813: 5553: 1645:, given Tír Eoghain's population were sympathetic to the MacShanes. Tyrone proceeded to London where he sufficiently defended himself against 12836: 8202: 5348: 11527: 3344:

This family tree is based on genealogies of the MacDonnels of Antrim and the O'Neills of Tyrone. Also see the lists of children in the text.

2272:. This led to O'Cahan's surrender and withdrawal from Tyrone in July 1602, which drastically weakened the Earl's power. In June 1602 Tyrone 1575:

of the Elizabethan Wars". Historians believe that Tyrone would have recognised the advantages of marrying into the powerful Bagenal family.

10029: 8120: 7701: 5963: 5039:"La Lavia, La Juliana and the Santa Maria de Vison: three Spanish Armada transports lost off Streedagh Strand, Co Sligo: an interim report" 1618:

It is clear that Tyrone aspired to the position of O'Neill clan chief. In March 1583, news spread that Turlough had died. Tyrone rushed to

11576:

Jefferies, Henry A. (2000). "Hugh O'Neill, earl of Tyrone, c. 1550–1616". In Dillon, Charles; Jefferies, Henry A.; Nolan, William (eds.).

5825:. "O’Neill views the Earl of Tyrone as the chief architect of the rebellion and the chief progenitor of a military revolution in Ireland." 5389: 5237: 3262:

with music by the composer Michael Holohan, is based on Tyrone's career. It commemorated the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls.

3043: 3036: 3026: 3015: 2862: 2847: 2836: 2798: 10059: 9998: 11536: 11480: 7404: 1490:, there has been speculation as to whether Tyrone had the O'Byrnes kill Art when they found him, to remove him as a political opponent. 13096: 8065: 1091:

and his father Matthew. Matthew was born from an affair between Conn Bacagh and Alison, but was accepted by Conn Bacagh as his son and

11439: 9242:

Oxford dictionary of national biography : in association with the British Academy : from the earliest times to the year 2000

1856:. The battle spanned multiple days as Bagenal's forces attempted to outrun Tyrone's. During the battle, Tyrone entered a melee with a 12986: 12971: 11082: 10081: 5490: 3077: 2305: 2160: 1314:

ordered the execution of Spanish survivors. Tyrone's response to the Armada is unclear - his mercenary forces massacred survivors in

387: 8346: 2865:

1608), who married Brian McHugh Og MacMahon. According to historian George Hill, she is the same woman who married Sir Ross McMahon.

2340:

Tyrone returned to Ireland at the end of August and began rebuilding his estates, an easy task under the reserved government of Sir

12976: 12622: 12612: 6969: 4446: 3183: 3091:. Dunlop believed that this portrait was "made in decrepitude at Rome". Another illustration of Tyrone is from Primo Demaschino’s 2949: 2840: 2183: 214: 8470: 1226:. The O'Donnell and O'Neill clans had traditionally been mortal enemies for centuries. Hugh O'Neill gained good standing with the 473: 12930: 12617: 12417: 12362: 11351: 10431: 2782:

December 1601); he has been described as illegitimate because Tyrone annulled his marriage to Conn's mother. He was wounded near

2333: 2149: 1268: 1202:. Hugh's wardship formally ended the following November when he sued out his livery, returning to Ulster under the protection of 660: 484: 336: 254: 11111: 5015: 3820: 2507:

and his fellow earl Tyrconnell died of a fever. Tyrone continued to petition Philip III for his assistance, but had no success.

390:

in Ulster. Tyrone was not able to secure Spanish reinforcements until late 1601. The confederacy was decisively defeated at the

13136: 13047: 12607: 12240: 12079: 11709:

O'Neill, James. The Nine Years War, 1593–1603: O'Neill, Mountjoy and the Military Revolution (Four Courts Press, Dublin, 2017).

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Duffy's Hibernian Magazine: A Monthly Journal of Legends, Tales, and Stories, Irish Antiquities, Biography, Science, and Art

5750: 4363: 2571:. Tyrone's presence in Europe was a constant source of concern for the English, and his death came as a welcome relief. The 1380: 12049: 10782: 10351: 10299: 9897: 8679: 2885: 2868: 2709: 2708:

in Munster. In a 1600 memorandum to Pope Clement VIII, as part of the "Faith and Fatherland" campaign, Catholic Archbishop

2504: 1439: 974: 939: 235: 231: 12260: 2328: 12402: 12002: 10121: 7210: 6543: 6413: 5776: 4025: 2357: 2111:

Tyrone stimulated the Irish-Spanish alliance by sending his son Henry to Spain in April 1600. At this time controversial

2053: 1207: 566: 495: 94: 11751:

Annála Rioghachta Éireann. Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters ... with a Translation and Copious Notes

11494: 8551:

O'Clery, Michael; O'Clery, Cucogry; O'Mulconry, Ferfeasa; O'Duigenan, Cueogry; O'Clery, Conary; O'Donovan, John (1856).

8326: 7290: 4153: 2167:. Docwra persuaded several unsatisfied confederacy members to defect to the English. These Irish soldiers, particularly 1991:

Half of Bagenal's 4,000 men were killed, including Bagenal himself, who was struck by a bullet after lifting his visor.

13091: 13086: 12412: 12121: 11219: 11013: 10254: 9950: 9925: 9819:

What did they really look like? An Iconography of the O'Donnells of Tyrconnell: myth, allegory, prejudice, and evidence

8501: 2794: 2145: 2138: 2033: 2018: 2010: 1790: 1707: 1420: 1227: 1088: 696: 383: 227: 4656: 2200:

As 1601 began, Philip III was focused on dispatching an expedition to Ireland in order to improve his position in the

13116: 13111: 12829: 12532: 12422: 12032: 11728: 11664: 11637: 11569: 11280: 11264: 10966: 10671: 10584:

The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant

10444: 10402: 8251: 7020: 4746: 4689: 4584: 3324: 2341: 2201: 1890: 1311: 800: 514: 9092: 3738: 12693: 11504: 11325: 6423: 3019: 2700:. His wartime appeals to Spain typically highlighted the persecution Ireland suffered as a fellow Catholic nation. 2312:. The English courtiers were greatly incensed at the gracious reception accorded by James to these notable rebels. 2153: 1714: 1692: 10992: 9381: 6133: 2676:

War as one of religious freedom, the 2nd of Earl of Essex quipped "thou carest for religion as much as my horse".

2125:

with letters from Philip III. The ship carried considerable supplies of money and ammunition for the confederacy.

12173: 11335: 10553:

Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant

8908: 4072: 3902: 3369:, however by this time Tyrone had already remarried to Siobhán. Conn's birthdate was prior to Tyrone's annulment. 2980:– in or after 1622), also known as Conn na Creige. He was left behind at the time of the flight, was educated at 2503:

a month. Compared to his arrangements in Ireland, this was a miserly lifestyle. In late 1608, both Tyrone's heir

1942: 9865: 5263: 1963:

appointed for the defence of the sconce", and returned to besiege the fort. Burgh died from illness in October.

1905: 1717:, the royal secretary. Idiáquez's notes to Philip II reveal Tyrone's relationship with the emerging confederacy: 1706:

sent letters to Philip II of Spain requesting urgent reinforcements from the Spanish army. They tasked Catholic

13126: 12981: 12437: 12021: 9266: 6165: 5836: 5121: 3694: 3289: 3192: 2960: 2544: 2371:, exacerbated the conflict between Tyrone and O'Cahan by encouraging O'Cahan to renew his suit against Tyrone. 2204:. In October 1601, the long-awaited aid from Spain appeared in the form of an army under Spanish commander Don 1814: 1553: 1103:, which was anxious to use the support of the MacBarons to break the independent power of the O'Neill lords of 368: 239: 12326: 8552: 7766: 7545: 5654: 12935: 12698: 11876: 11694: 11189: 11037: 9286: 8189: 8107: 7688: 7572: 7471: 5477: 5376: 5335: 5268: 5038: 4723: 4433: 4396: 4368: 4077: 3997: 3643: 2805:

in 1587. They married in December 1592 and separated in 1595 due to her "barrenness". She later remarried to

2376: 2284:

tactics led to famine across 1602–1603, with conditions so extreme that the local population were reduced to

2230: 1959: 1385: 12667: 7531: 2428:"The Flight of the Earls" occurred on 14 September 1607, when Tyrone and Tyrconnell embarked at midnight at 1206:

Sidney. Sidney granted Hugh territory in Oneilland, intending to keep Turlough from crossing south past the

13106: 13006: 12915: 12822: 12662: 12627: 12602: 12492: 12477: 12367: 11971: 10605: 9849:

Reputed portrait of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, from an original in the Vatican, courtesy of Lord Dunsany

9466:

An historical account of the plantation in Ulster at the commencement of the seventeenth century, 1608-1620

3210: 2991: 2372: 1696: 1580: 1459: 1393: 305: 13131: 11211:

Civil War and Restoration in the Three Stuart Kingdoms: The Career of Randal MacDonnell, Marquis of Antrim

10763:

An historical account of the Macdonnells of Antrim: including notices of some other septs Irish and Scotch

10689: 6592: 6075: 3292:

was recognised by the Spanish court as his successor, and granted the equivalent title El Conde de Tyrone.

3068:

According to historian James Kane, the only authenticated likeness of Hugh O'Neill is part of a fresco in

2440:. Tyrone was clearly agitated during the departure. Due to time constraints he left his five-year-old son 12940: 12803: 12657: 12577: 12567: 12497: 12255: 11870: 11745: 10610: 10578: 9813: 9076: 7243: 3877: 2854:

sometime before 4 March 1595 - possibly in 1590. Through Sarah, Tyrone is an ancestor to the Anglo-Irish

2516: 2085: 1542: 1123:. They were moved into the care of the Anglo-Irish Hovenden family and were raised at their household in 9464: 1158:. He would have received a basic education, either by attending grammar school or from private lessons. 13042: 13037: 13021: 12527: 12522: 12482: 12442: 12432: 12265: 12225: 12127: 12072: 11749: 11720: 11648: 11315: 11288: 10718: 10648: 10426: 8506:. University of Toronto. London: Irish Texts society by Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent. p. 136. 4010: 2970: 2806: 2573: 2441: 2364: 2269: 1865: 1852:

by an army led by Tyrone. The English column had been sent to relieve the besieged English garrison in

1608: 1482:. O'Byrne's search party found the two men buried in snow and close to death. O'Donnell recovered from 1431:

to fight the MacShanes. In turn, he supported O'Donnell in a succession dispute within his own kingdom.

1359: 1172: 518: 480: 243: 7551: 4058: 3553: 2680:

fact, his background gave him the advantage of having allies from both British and Irish backgrounds.

2539:

During his time in Rome, Tyrone attended papal ceremonies, visited catacombs and relics, ascended the

12587: 12562: 12552: 12467: 12341: 11489: 8522:"All chieftains great and small – An Irishman's Diary about Hugh O'Neill (and some of his followers)" 5908: 3163:, depicts Tyrone as a man whose loyalties are magically divided between the Queen of England and the 3144: 3135: 2755: 1981: 1770: 1301: 1215: 372: 317: 12652: 12321: 12306: 11493: 4179: 2472:. Tyrone and his fellow nobles left their younger children behind in Leuven under the care of Irish 13101: 13055: 12582: 12537: 12472: 12141: 11310: 10346:(New ed.). Dublin: University College Dublin Press for the Historical Association of Ireland. 6412: 5812:"Tenace on O'Neill, 'The Nine Years War, 1593-1603: O'Neill, Mountjoy and the Military Revolution'" 5650: 5545: 3102: 2222: 2168: 1646: 1634: 1260: 1151: 1111:

organised the retrieval of the two boys, and for a brief time they stayed at his Dublin residence.

12647: 8184: 7220: 7030: 5330: 12462: 12457: 12447: 12407: 12199: 12152: 11842: 11336:"Disrupting Mythological Foundations of Identity: Hugh O'Neill, Making History, and the Troubles" 10436: 10394: 9784:"Priest penetrates Vatican secrecy in quest for lost portrait of Irish rebel leader Hugh O'Neill" 7913: 7526: 7238: 5471:

Clarke, Aidan; Barry, Judy; O'Byrne, Emmett (October 2009). McGuire, James; Quinn, James (eds.).

4759: 4053: 4035: 3872: 3548: 2813: 2568: 2457: 2313: 1479: 787: 522: 12557: 12235: 10021: 8102: 7683: 7033:. "... he executed a lieutenant, and he had every tenth man in the rank file put to death." 4666: 2825: 1219: 838: 198: 12672: 12547: 12542: 12204: 12112: 11297:. Translated by Byrne, Matthew J. College Road, Cork, Ireland: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts 10911: 10897: 10761: 5371: 5229: 4163: 3084: 3001:– 16 August 1617), who was found hanged in his room in Brussels under suspicious circumstances. 2896: 2557: 1741: 1710: 1374: 1203: 380: 161: 11355: 11122: 10915: 10051: 9990: 4718: 2588: 2029: 1549: 1355: 494:–1558) and his wife Siobhán Maguire (died 1600). Hugh's paternal grandparents were clan chief 13121: 13076: 12996: 12184: 12065: 11432:

The Will and Family of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone [with an Appendix of Genealogies]

10794: 10772: 10574: 10547: 8589: 7390: 6159: 3914: 3240: 3160: 2802: 2697: 2601: 2561: 2488: 2171:, emboldened the English troops and allowed Docwra to significantly weaken Tyrone's forces. 2115: 1922: 1921:. In letters to the king—intercepted by Russell—they promoted themselves as champions of the 1822: 1703: 1564: 1451: 1424: 1276: 1223: 417: 376: 2936:– December 1595) in July 1591. They married on 3 August 1591 and had no offspring together. 2076:

Tyrone's main goal was now to win over Ireland's English-speaking Catholic population (the "

1545:. Nevertheless, Tyrone found excuses to visit Mabel, and in July he convinced her to elope. 13081: 13016: 12950: 12869: 12750: 12572: 12316: 12230: 12209: 12179: 11907: 11884: 11430: 10557: 10319: 10135: 10089: 9977:

The Wiles of the World Caran an t-Saohgail: Anthology of 19th-century Scottish Gaelic Verse

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Tyrone met with Maguire in early August—within weeks Maguire launched raids into Monaghan.

1623: 1416: 1284: 1239: 1199: 1067: 477: 10744:. Belfast: The Institute of Irish Studies. Queen's University of Belfast. pp. 37–60. 10656: 10551: 9579: 9577: 5472: 3638: 3089:

The Fate and Fortunes of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, and Rory O'Donel, Earl of Tyrconnel

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and was inaugurated as O'Donnell clan chief in May 1592. While it is believed Art died of

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Through the early 1590s, Tyrone secretly led rebellions against the Crown's advances into

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Henry, Gráinne (1997). "Ulster Exiles in Europe, 1605–1641". In Mac Cuarta, Brian (ed.).

8340: 3307: 3139: 2468:, and on 28 February 1608 he and his companions, now reduced to thirty-two persons, left 2415: 2265:

acceded to the English throne—he had diplomatic relations with James earlier in the war.

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Their combined forces moved on Maguire's positions on 10 October in what is known as the

917: 402: 395: 12311: 11911: 11888: 11836: 11714: 11653: 11375: 11183: 10951: 10901: 10417: 9245:. Internet Archive. Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press. p. 196. 6963: 4428: 3409:. It is clear that he died sometime before the publication of Philip O'Sullivan Beare's 13011: 12991: 12397: 12392: 12245: 12117: 12088: 11993: 11978: 11955: 11850: 11807: 11414: 11274: 11167: 10840: 10535: 10510: 10206: 9574: 9571:. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003. p. 3006 9260: 9240: 8478: 5886: 5054: 3619: 2689: 2664: 2581: 2512: 2322: 2093: 1951: 1910: 1745: 1597: 1593: 1557: 1428: 1397: 465: 328: 175: 12637: 10821:"The Hovendens: Foster Brothers of Aodh O'Neill, Prince of Ulster (Earl of Tireoghan)" 10582: 10387: 8913:. Vol. Half-volume III. London: The Gresham Publishing Company. pp. 129–130. 2205: 1918: 1670:

during 1593-4, but historians disagree as to his true motivations during this period.

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where he was raised by an English family. Although the Crown hoped to mold him into a

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Vicissitudes of an Anglo-Irish Family 1530-1800: A Story of Irish Romance and Tragedy

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between the Ulster lords, and that Tyrone was the leader. Tyrone was involved in the

1777: 1475: 1404: 1280: 1155: 425: 360: 273: 9281: 3072:. Painted circa 1610, the fresco depicts his attendance at the 1608 canonization of 3010:

Tyrone also had many illegitimate children, or children of unknown maternal origin:

1322:. Tyrone may have been playing a "double game", as is common throughout his career. 12780: 12765: 12755: 11764: 11406: 11314: 11127: 11042: 10859: 10801: 10601: 10467: 10341: 9291: 9188: 8601: 8194: 8112: 7918: 7693: 7577: 7476: 6604: 5922: 5660: 5482: 5381: 5340: 5273: 5050: 4728: 4438: 4373: 4082: 4002: 3910: 3259: 3164: 3155: 2882:. She was younger than her sisters Sarah and Mary, and older than her brother Hugh. 2855: 2560:. He was buried beside his son Hugh, his ally Tyrconnell, and Tyrconnell's brother 2195: 2004: 1514: 1499: 391: 12301: 12285: 12250: 10160: 9512: 9156: 8550: 7567: 7466: 2178:

with the intention of conducting a winter campaign against Tyrone. There was some

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Los Irlandeses y la Monarquia Hispanica (1529-1800): Vinculos in Espacio y Tiempo

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Morgan, Hiram (2013). Peduelo Martin, Eduardo; Rodriguez de Diego, Julia (eds.).

10853: 10739: 10290: 10112: 9902: 9870: 9787: 9407: 8684: 8628: 8256: 8070: 7395: 6548: 6138: 5777:"ORIGINAL LETTER FROM HUGH O'NEILL RELATING TO THE EXECUTION OF HUGH NA GAVELAGH" 5744: 4381: 3073: 2985: 2368: 2293: 2122: 2097: 2089: 1688: 1619: 1561: 1392:, who was kept on as Tyrone's footman and manservant throughout the whole of the 1176: 1128: 1051: 421: 31: 12275: 10285: 9660: 7103: 5076:"A race against time to save Spanish Armada wrecks before they are lost forever" 3248:. In the 2007 production, for the 400th anniversary of the Flight of the Earls, 2213:

able to put his army in motion. In December his army united with O'Donnell's at

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arrived at Turvey and pretended to kidnap Mabel. They rode to Warren's house in

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Kinsale: The Spanish Intervention in Ireland at the End of the Elizabethan Wars

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Matthew, H. C. G. (Henry Colin Gray); Harrison, Brian; British Academy (2004).

7411: 3320: 3127: 2851: 2733: 2629: 2437: 2349: 2281: 1818: 1671: 1307: 1247: 1138: 1134: 1039: 1027: 469: 413:. Despite his plans to return to and retake Ireland, he died during his exile. 301: 286: 54: 12137: 11898: 11385: 10565: 10107: 6036: 3843: 2599:

was so popular that it was used by Brian Friel as the basis for his 1989 play

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believed they would be better used as interpreters and emissaries for Tyrone.

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of the O'Neill clan. He had four wives, many concubines and various children.

332: 124: 13070: 12724: 12107: 11540:. Vol. 20 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 107–111. 11531: 11521: 11471: 11466: 11292: 11247: 11205: 11163: 10938: 10836: 10640: 10592: 10506: 10481: 10422: 10374: 10202: 9366: 9136: 8973: 8613: 8605: 8320: 7284: 6616: 5882: 3952: 3665: 3615: 3178: 3109: 2926: 2652: 2640: 2336:'s antagonism towards Tyrone was a contributing factor to the latter's flight 2163:, at the head of a considerable army, took up a position at Tyrone's rear in 1877: 1857: 1572: 1538: 1522: 1518: 1503: 1467: 1100: 509:, a blacksmith's wife. Siobhán was a daughter of Cúconnacht Maguire, Lord of 457: 364: 356: 206: 130: 12331: 11257:

The Nine Years War, 1593-1603: O'Neill, Mountjoy and the Military Revolution

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to recruit Catherine as a double agent, but she dismissed this out of hand.

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Tyrone lost his support from the council when Mountjoy died in April 1606.

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On 24 June Tyrone was proclaimed a traitor at Dundalk. The queen's advisor

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By late April, there were more allegations against Tyrone from Irish lords

1642: 1638: 1348: 1340: 1330: 1319: 1192: 1108: 394:, and Tyrone surrendered to Mountjoy in April 1603 with the signing of the 344: 148: 69: 11046: 9314: 9295: 8198: 8116: 8066:"Flight of the Earls?: changing views on O'Neill's departure from Ireland" 7697: 7581: 7480: 5486: 5385: 5344: 5277: 4732: 4442: 4377: 4086: 4006: 2237: 1917:

Tyrone and O'Donnell opened communications with Philip II and his general

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The Great O'Neill: A biography of Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone, 1550–1616

10418:"O'Neill, Hugh [Aodh O'Neill], second earl of Tyrone (1583–1616)" 6071: 5926: 5225: 3245: 3235: 3205: 2483:. In November 1607 the flight was proclaimed as treasonous by James I. A 2473: 2461: 2420: 2285: 2045: 2041:

parley. Essex stubbornly agreed only after Tyrone had asked three times.

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Tyrone's Rebellion: The outbreak of the Nine Years' War in Tudor Ireland

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to meet Tyrone. Mabel wished for a Protestant marriage ceremony, and so

12859: 12509: 12147: 11499: 11350: 10977: 10472: 9613: 9583: 9098: 9086: 9039: 8325:. Translated by Walsh, Paul. CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts Edition. 6418: 2783: 2759: 2448:

Driven by contrary winds to the east, the refugees took shelter in the

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In the north, Tyrone also had to contend with his "grievous enemy" Sir

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Furthermore, the MacShanes had lost a valuable ally in their kin, the

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Hugh O'Neill with one of his wives, his father, and selected relatives

359:, younger sister of the Marshal of the Queen's Irish Army. During the 12760: 12734: 12102: 11604: 11410: 11399: