Battle of Affane facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of Affane
Part of the Private war between Fitzgeralds and Butlers
Date 8 February 1565 Location Affane, County Waterford, Ireland ACoordinates: Unknown argument format Result Butler victory
Belligerents
FitzGerald Dynasty	Butler Dynasty
Commanders and leaders
Earl of Desmond	Earl of Ormonde
Strength
c. 180 horse, 3-400 heavy infantry, hundreds more lightly armed infantry.	?
Casualties and losses
c. 300 killed	c. low

The Battle of Affane (in Irish: Cath Áth Mheáin) was a fight in County Waterford, Ireland, in 1565. It was between the armies of the Earl of Desmond and the Earl of Ormond. The Desmond forces lost badly. This battle was one of the last "private wars" fought in Britain or Ireland. A private war means a battle fought between powerful families, not between countries.

Why They Fought: A Private War

For a long time, two powerful families, the Fitzgeralds of Desmond and the Butlers of Ormond, controlled much of southwest Ireland. This had been going on since the 1200s.

The Fitzgeralds had huge lands across Kerry, Cork, and Waterford. The Butlers controlled areas in Tipperary and Kilkenny. These two families often raided each other's lands. They wanted to gain more control and expand their territory. In the 1560s, these small fights turned into a big war.

In 1560, the mother of the Earl of Ormond, Joan FitzGerald, Countess of Ormond, married the Earl of Desmond. She hoped this marriage would bring peace between the families. For a short time, it worked. But when she died in 1564, the fighting started again.

In January 1565, the Earl of Desmond led his army into an area called "The Déise" in County Waterford. He wanted to collect taxes from the people there. This old way of collecting taxes was called "coign and livery." Sir Maurice Fitzgerald, a local leader who depended on Desmond, asked his cousin, the Earl of Ormond, for help. Ormond gathered his men to stop Desmond's army. They met at Affane, a crossing point over the Finisk River. This river is near Lismore.

The Battle Begins

Desmond's army included his own family members, plus other Irish clans like the O'Connors and O'Briens. Ormond's army was made up of his family's followers and other local fighters.

Desmond left Lismore early in the morning with about 80 to 100 horsemen and 300 to 400 foot soldiers. He also had hundreds of other followers. He marched to Bewley and demanded taxes from Maurice Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald wanted to talk things over, but Desmond insisted on his own rules. They could not agree.

Desmond set up camp and prepared for a fight. He sent some of his men to burn houses and get wine. Ormond's forces then appeared from the mountains. A local person told Desmond that Ormond was not there, which was a lie. Another leader told Desmond to retreat. But Desmond thought Ormond's army was weak and easy to beat. So, he decided to attack.

Desmond's army headed towards Dromana, getting more fighters at Lismore. Ormond's army reached the ford at Affane. Ormond's men carried a red flag. Desmond's men then raised their own flag. The two armies faced each other. Desmond saw Ormond and rode forward.

Ormond's brother, Sir Edmund Butler of Cloughgrenan, shot Desmond in the hip with a pistol. Desmond fell from his horse. With their leader down, Desmond's soldiers ran away. Ormond's men chased them to the river. About 300 of Desmond's men were killed. Many drowned trying to cross the river, as armed boats stopped them.

Desmond was badly hurt and being carried from the battlefield. An Ormond commander asked, "Where is now the great Lord Desmond?" Desmond famously replied, "Where but in his proper place, on the necks of the Butlers?" This meant he was still above them, even as a prisoner.

Ormond took Desmond as a prisoner to Clonmel and then to Waterford. The English leader in Ireland, Nicholas Arnold, took Desmond into custody. Later, Sir Henry Sidney became the new leader. He tried to make peace between the families. Sidney took Desmond as a prisoner to Dublin. Desmond's brother, John FitzJames FitzGerald, was left to manage Munster while Desmond was away.

What Happened Next

Queen Elizabeth I was very angry that two noble families had fought a private battle. This showed they were not respecting her authority over Ireland. The fact that both sides used their own flags in battle was a big insult to her. It meant they thought they had the right to start wars, not just the Queen.

Both earls were called to London to explain their actions. However, the Queen treated them differently. The Earl of Ormond was the Queen's cousin and a favorite at court. He convinced Elizabeth that Desmond was to blame. Because of this, Desmond and his brothers were arrested. They were held in the Tower of London. It took seven years for Desmond to return to Ireland. This unfair treatment caused a lot of trouble in Munster. It eventually led to the first of the Desmond Rebellions in 1569.