James Tuchet, 3rd Earl of Castlehaven facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
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| Born | c. 1612 |
| Died | 11 October 1684 Kilcash Castle, County Tipperary, Ireland |
| Title | The 3rd Earl of Castlehaven |
| Other names | Baron Audley of Orier |
| Known for | Wars of the Three Kingdoms |
| Nationality | English/Irish |
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James Tuchet, 3rd Earl of Castlehaven (born around 1612 – died 11 October 1684) was an important figure in Irish history. He was the son of Mervyn Tuchet, 2nd Earl of Castlehaven and Elizabeth Barnham. James Tuchet played a big part in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms during the mid-1600s, especially in the fighting that happened in Ireland at that time.
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Becoming the Earl of Castlehaven
James Tuchet became the Earl of Castlehaven and Baron Audley of Orier on 14 May 1631. This happened after his father lost his titles and estates due to serious legal problems. Most of the family's lands in England were taken by others.
In 1633, James was given a new title, Baron Audley of Hely. This was an attempt to help him get back his family's old standing. However, it wasn't until 1678 that a special law was passed by Parliament. This law finally allowed him to officially inherit the original Barony of Audley, which was a very old and important title.
Fighting in Ireland
Castlehaven was involved in defending Ireland during the Irish Confederate Wars in the 1640s. He also took part in the later invasion by Cromwell's forces.
The Irish Uprising of 1641
When the Irish uprising began in 1641, Castlehaven wanted to help stop the rebels. However, because he was Catholic, people didn't trust him to lead. Soon after, he was arrested and held at Dublin Castle.
Fearing he might face a similar bad fate as another important leader, Castlehaven managed to escape on 27 September. A friend helped him get away, and he fled south into the Wicklow Mountains. He hoped to travel through Wexford to France and then to England. But when he arrived in Kilkenny, which was the main base for the Catholic forces, he was convinced to join their army. He became a general in charge of the cavalry (soldiers on horseback).
Some people believed his escape was planned by the Earl of Ormonde. They thought it was a way to create a link between Ormonde and the rebels, as Castlehaven was related to Ormonde's family.
Leading the Confederates
Even though Castlehaven thought of himself as English, he became a member of the 25-person Supreme Council of the Confederation of Kilkenny. This council was the main governing body for the Irish Catholics.
In 1644, the council chose Castlehaven to lead an army of 6,000 soldiers. Their mission was to fight against the Ulster-Scottish army led by Robert Monro. However, this campaign didn't achieve much. The large army was mostly used to protect the strong fort of Charlemont.
Many historians think this was a missed chance for the Irish. Because of this, another Irish leader, Owen Roe O'Neill, thought Castlehaven wasn't a good commander. Thomas Preston also started to dislike him. Castlehaven later tried to blame O'Neill for the failure, but it wasn't very convincing.
Castlehaven's Military Skills
Despite some setbacks, Castlehaven did have military skills. Besides Owen Roe O'Neill, he was one of the few Irish Confederate commanders who could win traditional battles.
- In 1643, he surprised and defeated many of Inchiquin's soldiers in County Cork at the Battle of Cloughleagh.
- In 1650, he won another small victory against an English Parliamentarian force during the Battle of Tecroghan, with some help from Ulick Burke.
However, Castlehaven was mostly an amateur soldier. He lacked the patience needed for long sieges (surrounding a fort or city to capture it). He was also known to be a bit sensitive. Some people even called him Tiarna Beag, which means 'Little Lord.'
Later Life and Travels
In 1647, like many other Catholic nobles, Castlehaven moved to France. He was present when Prince Rupert's forces attacked Landrécy. After meeting Prince Charles (who would later become King Charles II) in Paris, Castlehaven returned to Ireland.
He held several commands in different parts of Ireland, but he couldn't stop the actions of Cromwell and his son-in-law, Ireton. In April 1652, he went back to Europe to continue his military career. He served different leaders, including Prince de Condé in France, Charles II, and the Spanish Crown.
He took part in many important battles across Europe, including Rocroy, Cambrai, Seneffe, Maastricht, Charleroi, and Mons.
Memoirs and Parliament
In 1681, Castlehaven wrote his memoirs, which are like his life story. He wrote them because of the widespread fear and excitement surrounding the Popish Plot. This was a false story about a Catholic plan to kill the King.
Because of a law called the Test Act of 1678, all Catholic peers (nobles) were not allowed to be part of the House of Lords in Parliament. Castlehaven, who sat in the House of Lords as Baron Audley, had to leave on 30 November 1678. Other Protestant peers respected him greatly and were sad to see him go. He gave a speech saying he was loyal to the King and cared about the peace of the country. His fellow peers knew he was having money problems, so they asked King Charles II to help him out.
Family Life
James Tuchet was married twice. His first wife was Elizabeth Brydges, who passed away in March 1678 or 1679. They were married in Kilkenny. Elizabeth was the daughter of Grey Brydges, 5th Baron Chandos and Lady Anne Stanley. Lady Anne Stanley later married James's father, making her both his stepmother and his mother-in-law! Elizabeth was buried in London.
His second marriage was to Elizabeth Graves, around 19 June 1679. She passed away in 1720.
James Tuchet died on 11 October 1684, at Kilcash Castle in County Tipperary, Ireland. He did not have any children. His younger brother, Mervyn, became the next Earl of Castlehaven. Mervyn's older brother, George, could not inherit the title because he was a Benedictine monk.
Images for kids
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A portrait of James Tuchet, 3rd Earl of Castlehaven.
