List of participants in the Nine Years' War (Ireland) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

This article is about the people, both regular citizens and soldiers, who were part of the Nine Years' War in Ireland. This war happened in the late 1500s and early 1600s. It was a big fight between a group of Irish lords and their friends from Spain, against the English rulers in Ireland.

To be on this list, a person must have a historical record of their actions or role in the war between 1593 and 1603.

Irish Lords and Their Allies

Starting in 1593, with an alliance between Tyrone and Tyrconnell, most of the Irish kingdoms and lordships slowly joined together. They either joined willingly or were convinced to. Their main goal was to end English rule in Ireland for good.

Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone.

The main leader for the Irish was Hugh O'Neill. People still discuss his exact reasons for fighting. But a big goal for him and his allies was to bring back the old Gaelic way of life. They also wanted to get rid of English ways of governing in Ireland.

Gaelic Leaders

Tyrone's Family

Hugh O'Neill was the Earl of Tyrone. He was the main leader of the Irish forces, both in talking with others and in fighting. The war is often called Tyrone's Rebellion because of his big role. He started planning for war years before it officially began in 1595. He made an alliance with the Tyrconnell family, which used to be enemies. This made Ulster much stronger. He also made his army more modern, using new tactics and muskets for the first time. He also talked with King Philip II of Spain, which brought important money and military help from Spain.
Cormac MacBaron O'Neill was Hugh's younger brother. He led forces against the English even before Tyrone officially joined the war. He helped in the Siege of Enniskillen and the Battle of the Ford of the Biscuits in 1594. These wins surprised the English government in Dublin. Even though his relationship with Hugh became difficult, he stayed loyal.

Tyrconnell's Leaders

Hugh Roe O'Donnell, King of Tyrconnell.

Hugh Roe O'Donnell was the King of Tyrconnell. He was a very important commander of the Irish forces. He had been fighting the English since he escaped from Dublin Castle in 1592. He was very good at cavalry raids. His attacks against Turlough Luineach helped Hugh O'Neill gain power. After taking Sligo in 1595, he had free access to Connacht. He became so powerful there that an English governor called it O'Donnell's Commonwealth. He was known for his great leadership. When he passed away in 1602, Tyrconnell soon left the war.
Rory O'Donnell took charge of Tyrconnell when his brother went to Spain in 1602. He became king after his brother's passing. He faced a very difficult situation but tried his best to keep the rebellion going. He eventually surrendered and traveled with Hugh O'Neill to ask for a pardon from King James I in 1603.

Fermanagh's Leaders

Hugh Maguire was the Lord of Fermanagh. He was one of the main planners for the Irish alliance. He led important victories early in the war, like at Enniskillen and Ford of the Biscuits. He also led the winning cavalry at Yellow Ford and Clontibret. As the war grew, he commanded Irish cavalry in other parts of Ireland. He was in Cork in 1600 when he was attacked. He won the fight but passed away from his injuries soon after.
Cuchonnacht Maguire became the leader after his half-brother Hugh in 1600. There was a struggle for power after Hugh's passing. The English supported a different person, causing fighting in Fermanagh. He played a smaller role in the war and left Ireland in 1607.

O'Sullivan Beara's Leader

Donal Cam O'Sullivan Beare was the head of the O'Sullivan clan. He was the Prince of Beare in southwest Munster. He first stayed away from the Ulster lords. But he later joined the war. He worked to make sure the southern coast was safe for Spanish soldiers to land. After the Battle of Kinsale, the English were very harsh towards O'Sullivan's people. This forced O'Sullivan and about 1,000 people to go on a very long, difficult march in winter. They walked 500 km to find safety with an ally in West Breifne. Only 35 people survived the journey.

West Breifne's Leaders

Brian Óg O'Rourke was King of West Breifne. He was one of the alliance's top commanders. He was a very determined lord, fighting against the English from 1590 to 1603. His attacks on Sligo in 1593 were an early sign of the war. Even though West Breifne was one of the poorer lordships, it contributed a lot to the war. This included their big win over England at Curlew Pass. He was the last Gaelic lord to be defeated in April 1603.
Teigue O'Rourke was Brian Óg's half-brother and wanted to be king of West Breifne. He lived away from home in Tyrconnell and was a close friend of O'Donnell. He stayed loyal to the Gaelic alliance until the Battle of Kinsale. When it looked like they would lose at Kinsale, he joined the English in late 1601.

Umhaill's Queen

Grace O'Malley, the Queen of Umhaill, and many of her clan helped the Gaelic cause. They officially stayed neutral. The O'Malleys continued to attack English ships during the war. Sometimes, they clearly acted against the English. For example, five O'Malley ships helped deliver supplies to the Irish in 1599. They also stopped the English from crossing the Shannon Estuary. Interestingly, her son Tibbot na Long was very loyal to the English throughout the war.

East Breifne's Leaders

Pilib O'Reilly was named King of East Breifne by Hugh O'Neill in 1596. East Breifne had been connected to Tyrone before the 1530s. Pilib was known for successfully defending his kingdom against an invasion by Tyrone in 1580–81. He accepted Hugh's rule but still disliked the O'Neills. He ruled for only a few weeks before he passed away. He was accidentally shot by a stray musket bullet from one of O'Neill's soldiers.
Emon O'Reilly became king of East Breifne in October 1596 after Pilib's passing. He was 90 years old and had seen many changes in his kingdom due to English actions. He was a member of the Irish Parliament but liked Tyrone and Irish traditions. He stayed committed to the rebellion until his passing in 1601.
Eoghan O'Reilly was the acting King of East Breifne from 1601 to 1603. His job was to cause trouble near Dublin and Meath. This would make the English send resources away from the battle at Kinsale. He didn't succeed, and O'Neill was reportedly very upset about his lack of action during the battle.
Brian Bán McKiernan was the Mág Tighearnán chief of Tullyhunco. He let O'Donnell's forces camp in his area after raids into Connacht. He helped the rebels against his O'Reilly overlords and their English allies in Cavan. He was granted a pardon in 1602 for fighting against the Queen's forces.

Leinster Leaders

Fiach McHugh O'Byrne was chief of the O'Byrne clan in Wicklow. Fiach was famous for defeating the English at Glenmalure in 1580. He also helped Hugh O'Donnell escape from Dublin castle in 1592. The English declared him a traitor in 1594 and fought against him in Wicklow. Even though he received a pardon, the older O'Byrne was captured and passed away in May 1597.
Felim McFiach O'Byrne became chief after his father. The clan never fully recovered its strength against the English in Wicklow. He surrendered to Queen Elizabeth in 1600 and left the war.
Brian Riabhach O'More was a nobleman from Loígis. He fought against the English in Leinster. The O'Mores had been forced out of much of Loígis forty years earlier. It was the first place in Ireland where the English established settlements in 1556.

MacCarthy Mór's Leader

Florence MacCarthy was the most important member of the MacCarthy family. They controlled much of southwest Munster. His kingdom had been broken up by earlier rebellions. He wanted to become the chief of MacCarthy Mór again with O'Neill's help. He agreed to give food and shelter to the Spanish soldiers who landed. The large size of his kingdom became a problem during Kinsale. Spanish soldiers were spread out in MacCarthy's castles and forts. This meant they weren't easily available for big battles.

Anglo-Irish Lords

Desmond's Leaders

James FitzThomas FitzGerald, known as the Súgán Earl of Desmond, joined the rebellion in 1598. He did this at O'Neill's request. He gathered his people to bring back Desmond, which had been taken apart two years earlier. This greatly expanded the war, as Munster fell to the Irish lords. He first led an army of 8,000. He directed them against his family's old enemies, the Butlers of Ormonde. After a big defeat in 1600, his forces never fully recovered. He went into hiding in May 1601 but was captured later that month.
John FitzThomas FitzGerald was James' brother. He rebelled alongside him. Historians say John was a main reason for the rebellion. After his brother was captured, he escaped to Kilkenny and then to Spain in 1603. There, he was given the title "Conde de Desmond."

Fartullagh's Leader

Richard Tyrrell was the Lord of Fartullagh in Westmeath. He was a close friend of Hugh O'Neill. He became commander of the Irish forces in Leinster in 1594. During this time, he won many battles against the English. His most famous win was at Tyrrellspass, where his forces defeated 1,000 English soldiers. The area is now named after him. He fought until the Mellifont in 1603.

Lower Mac William's Leader

Tibbot MacWalter Kittagh Bourke was made chief of Mac William Íochtar in 1595. This happened after O'Donnell took control of the area. Even with a lot of opposition, especially from his rival, Tibbot na Long Bourke, he controlled Mayo for most of the war. He agreed to try and defeat O'Donnell for money and recognition as the Earl of Mayo. But the English money didn't come, so he never did it.

Clanricarde's Leaders

Redmond Burke was a soldier in the Spanish army. He and his four brothers came back to Ireland to fight. Redmond wanted to be the Lord of Clanricarde. He sometimes controlled much of County Galway and parts of Clare. His brothers were also recorded as controlling many castles in 1600. He fought at Kinsale and traveled with O'Donnell to Spain after the battle.
Ulick Burke was a grandson of Ulick na gCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde. He was an ensign for Governor George Bingham. After months without pay, he defeated Bingham in 1595 and took Sligo castle. He gave it to O'Donnell, who made him a leader for the Irish alliance in Connacht. He fought across the province.

Cahir's Leader

James Galdie Butler was the brother of Thomas Butler, the 2nd Baron Cahir. His brother gave him control of Cahir Castle in 1599. But he joined the Irish alliance. His brother was arrested by Essex during the Siege of Cahir Castle in 1599, as James Galdie defended the castle. With only 100 men against 5,000 English troops, the castle was quickly lost, and James Galdie escaped. The castle was returned to Thomas, who later joined the rebellion and gave the castle back to the rebels in 1600.

England and the Kingdom of Ireland

The war was the first major challenge to English rule in Ireland since the Tudor conquest began. In Queen Elizabeth's court, two main groups had different ideas. These were led by Essex and Cecil. Both wanted to fully control Ireland. But Essex wanted more aggressive action, while Cecil preferred a slower approach. The war ended soon after Queen Elizabeth's passing in March 1603.

Lord Mountjoy played a big role in ending the war from 1600 to 1603. He became the most important English voice in Ireland. The good terms he offered the Irish in the Treaty of Mellifont were later changed by his successor, Sir Arthur Chichester.

English Government Officials

Queen Elizabeth I of England and Ireland.

Queen Elizabeth I (until March 24, 1603)
King James I (after March 24, 1603)
William Cecil, 1st Baron Burghley, Chief Advisor to Elizabeth I (1558–1598)
Geoffrey Fenton, Secretary of State in Ireland

Lord Deputies of Ireland

Sir Charles Blount

William FitzWilliam was Lord Deputy from 1588 to 1594. His strong efforts to conquer Ireland helped start the war. For example, he ordered the passing of Lord McMahon in 1589. He also divided Airgíalla among new settlers. Relations between the Gaelic powers and the English became much worse under him.
William Russell, 1st Baron Russell of Thornhaugh served from 1594 to 1597. He preferred military force over talking with the Irish. During his time, the Gaelic powers grew even stronger. However, he did defeat the O'Byrnes in Wicklow, who were a threat to the capital.
Thomas Burgh, 3rd Baron Burgh served from April to October 1597. He passed away while in office. Problems within the English court delayed the appointment of a new Lord Deputy until December 1598.
Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Ireland in 1599. His time in Ireland was very difficult. The English Crown's position became much weaker. He led an unsuccessful campaign against the Súgán Earl. His army suffered greatly from sickness and soldiers leaving. He faced several defeats. When asked to invade Ulster, he instead met with O'Neill and agreed to a truce. He returned to London, and his reputation was severely damaged.
Charles Blount, 8th Baron Mountjoy, often called Lord Mountjoy, was the Lord Deputy of Ireland from 1600 to 1603. When he took over from Essex, almost all of Ireland was controlled by the Gaelic forces. He had the most success of any English commander in the war. He is often given credit for ending it. He used a harsh policy in Ulster, destroying crops and homes. He won a big victory over the combined Irish-Spanish forces at Kinsale. He also ordered a successful landing at Lough Foyle. All these actions helped break the Irish alliance.

Lord Justices of Ireland

Thomas Norreys served as both Lord Justice of Ireland and Lord President of Munster from 1597 to 1599. He had served in Connacht in the 1580s. While marching in May 1599, he was attacked and injured. He passed away from his injuries in August.
George Carey was an English Member of Parliament. He served as Lord Justice of Ireland in 1599 and again in 1603. He was also in charge of money for the war under Robert Devereux.
George Carew served as both Lord Justice of Ireland and Lord President of Munster in 1600. He was given many powers, including the right to declare martial law. He was good at defeating the Súgán Earl in central Munster. He also took over Spanish-held forts after Kinsale. Carew's actions at Dunboy in 1602 are seen as some of the harshest of the war.

Marshals of Ireland

Henry Bagenal was Marshal of Ireland from 1590 until his passing in 1598. He spent his time trying to weaken O'Neill's power. O'Neill had married his sister, which Bagenal disliked. During the war, he tried to stop the rebellion from spreading from Ulster. In 1598, he was attacked by Tyrone at Yellow Ford and passed away.
Richard Bingham was the longtime Lord President of Connaught, serving from 1584 to 1597. He and his brothers were disliked by the Irish lords in Connacht. After several defeats, he was called back to Dublin. However, as the war worsened, he was recalled and appointed Marshal of Ireland in 1598. He passed away from illness upon his arrival.
Richard Wingfield was an English commander. He was knighted in 1595 for his actions against the Irish alliance. He became Marshal of Ireland in 1600. He was one of the people who signed the surrender terms between the Spanish commander and the English after the victory at Kinsale.

Regional Commanders

Conyers Clifford was appointed Lord President of Connaught after Bingham. By 1597, he said all of Connacht was peaceful, except for O'Rourke. A widespread famine helped him succeed. But his alliances started to break apart when O'Donnell returned in late 1598. While marching north in 1599, his troops were attacked by O'Rourke at Curlew Pass, and Clifford passed away.
John Norreys was England's most famous commander of that time. He had fought in many wars across Europe. He was called to Ireland in 1595. He tried to build good relations and truces with local lords in Ulster and Connacht, including O'Neill and O'Donnell. He passed away in 1597 from injuries.
John Chichester was the governor of Carrickfergus. For almost four years, it was one of only two English strongholds left in Ulster. His cavalry actions angered the Scottish MacDonnells of Antrim. A meeting was arranged in 1597. O'Neill used this chance to fight the English in Ulster. Chichester passed away during a skirmish.
Arthur Chichester was appointed governor of Carrickfergus in 1598 after his brother John's passing. He used Mountjoy's tactics very effectively. He destroyed crops and set up forts to trap O'Neill's forces in Ulster. He is known for his actions in Ireland, especially in Ulster. He helped set up the plantations after the war. He also founded Belfast in 1606.
Henry Docwra was an ally of Essex. He became an important politician in Ireland. He is known for a key action in the war. He convinced Niall Garve to switch sides, allowing 4,200 soldiers to land at Lough Foyle. He built forts along the River Foyle, which cut off access between Tyrone and Tyrconnell. After the war, he founded the city of Derry along this river.
Thomas Lee was an ambitious army captain. He was involved in many tricky activities in Ireland. He was involved in the passing of the elderly Fiach McHugh O'Byrne in 1597. He also attacked towns and villages in Wicklow. He often met with O'Neill. He later tried to arrange an attack on the Earl. He made many accusations against the Earl of Ormond, whom he disliked. An ally of Essex, Lee tried to force Queen Elizabeth to sign a document in 1601. He was captured and passed away.

Irish and Anglo-Irish Allies of England

Ormond's Leader

Thomas Butler was the Earl of Ormond. He was also the Lord High Treasurer of Ireland. He was the most important Irish noble connected to England at the time. He was usually a very reliable ally of England. But at over 70 years old, his actions were limited. His forces mostly stayed within Kilkenny for much of the war. He often made truces with the Irish alliance on his own. He was accused of disloyalty by his political rivals, but it was not successful.

Thomond's Leader

Donogh O'Brien was the Earl of Thomond. He was very loyal to the English Crown. When the war started, his first action was to march into Tyrconnell to oppose O'Donnell. His area was greatly affected during rebel advances. But he continued to fight. He played an important role at Kinsale and in defeating the rebels after the siege.

Tyrconnell's Allies

Cahir O'Doherty was the Lord of Inishowen. He was only 15 years old in 1600 when English forces arrived in Tyrconnell. O'Doherty gave them very important help. This allowed the English to gain a strong position deep in Ulster. For his actions, he was knighted. But he was later caught up in accusations after the war. He was eventually passed away by the English after a short rebellion.
Niall Garbh O'Donnell was a cousin of Hugh Roe O'Donnell. He also wanted to be king of Tyrconnell. He seemed to support the rebellion but strongly disliked Hugh Roe. He made a very damaging choice in the war to try and become king. He was supposed to protect the northern coast of Ulster while Hugh Roe and O'Neill were fighting elsewhere. Instead, he allowed 4,000 English soldiers to land at Lough Foyle. This greatly damaged the alliance's main territory. He then took control of much of western Tyrconnell and successfully fought off Hugh Roe's returning forces.

Kildare's Leader

William FitzGerald was the 13th Earl of Kildare. This was one of the oldest and most respected noble titles in Ireland. He was in England when the war started. He sailed to Ireland with Essex in 1599 to fight the rebels. But his ship was caught in a storm, and he passed away at sea.

Clanricarde's Allies

Ulick Burke was the 3rd Earl of Clanricarde. He was an early opponent of the Irish alliance. He was made commander of the English forces in Connacht in 1599. But he couldn't stop the rebel victories, and much of his land was lost. He was present at Curlew Pass and passed away in 1601.
Richard Burke was Ulick's son and the 4th Earl of Clanricarde. He commanded English cavalry at Kinsale. He came to power when the war was already turning in favor of the English.
James Blake was a merchant and spy from Galway city. He was involved in plans to harm Hugh Roe O'Donnell twice. He was close to where O'Donnell passed away from an illness. However, historians now believe it's unlikely that Blake was responsible.

Lower Mac William's Ally

Tibbot na Long Bourke was the son of Grace O'Malley. He also wanted to be king of Mac William Íochtar. He first wrote that he supported the rebellion but was found out and arrested. After his mother personally asked Queen Elizabeth in London, Tibbot was freed. But O'Donnell chose someone else for the kingship in 1595. He spent most of the war away from home in Galway. But he sometimes went to Mayo to oppose the chosen leader and his allies.

East Breifne's Ally

Maelmora O'Reilly was the son of Sir John O'Reilly. His father ruled East Breifne from 1583 to 1596. Maelmora grew up in England. When his father passed away, he was given the title of Earl of Cavan in exchange for his loyalty to the Crown. But he had no real control in his own kingdom. He commanded cavalry alongside Marshal Bagenal and passed away at Yellow Ford in 1598.

Iar Connacht's Ally

Morogh na Maor O'Flaherty was chief of the Ó Flaithbheartaigh of Iar Connacht. He allied himself with Tibbot na Long Bourke. He was talking with the Irish alliance in 1599. O'Donnell tried but failed to convince them to join his side.

Spain's Role

King Philip II of Spain, Portugal, Naples and Sicily.

Irish nobles and Catholic officials had been talking with the Spanish king for a long time. They hoped Spain would help them in Ireland. For Spain, the war in Ireland was just one part of the bigger Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604). It was seen as a good way to make England spend money, resources, and soldiers. These resources would otherwise be used against Spanish lands in the Netherlands.

O'Neill and other Irish lords promised loyalty to Philip II. They said he was the King of Ireland. They presented the war as a defense of Catholicism against the English. This was a smart move by the Irish to get the king's support.

Historians have discussed how much Spain truly helped Ireland. Spanish soldiers didn't perform very well when they landed. Spain had given some aid and money during the war. But after the big defeat at Kinsale and two failed Spanish fleets in 1596 and 1597, it was very unlikely they would try more landings in Ireland.

Spanish Government Officials

King Philip II (until September 13, 1598)
King Philip III (after September 13, 1598)
Martín de Padilla y Manrique, Secretary of State and War (1597–1602)

Spanish Military Commanders

Juan del Águila was the Supreme Commander of the Spanish forces sent to Ireland. He landed at Kinsale on October 1, 1601, with about 3,000 men. They built defenses in the area. Del Águila didn't trust the Irish. After just one fight with the English, he offered to surrender, but was refused. After the war, he was criticized for not communicating with his allies. For example, when O'Neill attacked Mountjoy's forces to break the siege of Kinsale, del Águila's soldiers stayed inside the town.
Diego Brochero was the admiral of the Spanish fleet. He landed at Kinsale with del Águila.
Alonso de Ocampo landed at Baltimore, about 80 km southwest of Kinsale. Local lords helped his forces by giving up their castles to the Spanish. They spread out along the coast to prepare for more landings.
Pedro de Zubiaur was part of the first invasion force. But bad weather forced him back to Spain. He eventually landed on December 7 with 829 troops. He helped strengthen the coastline. He only gave 200 men to del Águila at Kinsale because he didn't want to lose these positions.