Ireland History

Irish History Guide - Early History to Present Day Ireland

Ireland History - Northern Irish History Belfast Dublin RSS Feed
 
 
 
 

Posts tagged mountjoy

Arrival of the Spaniards at Kinsale

Philip I Picture

Above : Philip I

The slow-moving Spanish monarch had, however, moved at last. Philip Ill’s ships were on the sea, their sails set for Ireland. Even as arranged by the King, the fleet was but a small one, scarcely half what the Irish leaders had asked and hoped for. But before ever they left port, sickness had thinned the numbers of the soldiers, and when at sea they had encountered such rough weather that several of the vessels, including those carrying most of the artillery, were obliged to return to Spain to refit. Altogether, little more than 3,000 Spaniards reached Kinsale at the end of September, 1601. This force was totally inadequate for important military operations. That their general, Don Juan D’Aquila, seems, judging from his subsequent conduct, to have possessed neither courage nor ability was an added misfortune for the Irish.

Policy of Mountjoy and of Chichester

 Sir Arthur Chichester

Above : Picture Of Sir Arthur Chichester, Replace MountjoyÂ

The nine years’ war which he had waged against the power of England had won for Hugh O’Neill a great reputation, not only throughout the British Isles, but also on the Continent of Europe. Henry IV of France, no mean judge of military ability, counted him as ranking third amongst the famous soldiers of his age. Even in defeat, he was certainly the most important man in Ireland, and this Mountjoy realised. ” On my Lord Tyrone all the tranquillity of this Kingdom doth depend,” he declared.

Policy of Mountjoy, the New Deputy : Its Success

Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy

Above : Portrait Of Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy

Charles Blount, Lord Mountjoy, was the new Deputy selected by Elizabeth to accomplish the task in which Essex had failed so signally. He was a man of considerable military experience, and had certain statesmanlike qualities. While absolutely unscrupulous in the means which he used to attain an end, he never indulged in useless cruelty nor in spiteful annoyance, calculated to irritate but not to weaken an enemy.

Categories