Anne Sarsfield, Viscountess Sarsfield facts for kids
Anne Sarsfield, Viscountess Sarsfield was an important Irish noblewoman who lived in the late 1500s and early 1600s. She was born Anne Bagenal. It's important not to confuse her with her niece, who was also named Anne Bagenal.
Anne's Family Background
Anne was the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bagenal. He was an English adventurer who had to leave England and moved to Ireland. There, he became a friend of the powerful Irish leader Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone. Sir Nicholas then settled in a place called Newry. Anne's mother was a Welsh woman named Eleanor Griffith.
Anne had several brothers and sisters. Her brother, Sir Henry Bagenal, became a very important military leader in Ireland, known as the Earl Marshal of Ireland. Her sister, Mabel Bagenal, married Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone. This marriage was interesting because Hugh O'Neill's forces later fought against the English. Sadly, they killed Anne's brother, Sir Henry, in a big battle called the Battle of the Yellow Ford in 1598. This happened during a major conflict known as Tyrone's Rebellion.
Anne's First Marriage
Anne's first husband was Sir Dudley Loftus. He was the oldest son of Adam Loftus, who was a very important religious leader as the Archbishop of Dublin. Adam Loftus was also a powerful political figure in the Irish government.
Marriages like Anne's were common among the new Protestant families who were gaining land and power in Ireland. These marriages helped to strengthen their families' positions. Anne and Dudley had five children together, including Sir Adam Loftus and Nicholas Loftus.
Anne's Second Marriage
After Dudley Loftus passed away in 1616, Anne married again. Her second husband was Dominick Sarsfield, 1st Viscount Sarsfield. He was a leading judge in Ireland and became the Chief Justice of the Irish Common Pleas.
Dominick Sarsfield came from an old Irish family called the Old English, who had strong connections to the Catholic faith. He was known for being a very determined person. However, as a judge, he faced problems with his work and was eventually removed from his position in 1633. Even though Dominick had become a Protestant, his son from his first marriage, William Sarsfield, 2nd Viscount Sarsfield, later became a Catholic.
