Conn Bacagh O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone (
Irish: ''Conn Bacach mac Cuinn Ó Néill'') (c. 1480–1559), was
king of Tyrone
This article lists the rulers of Tyrone (Irish: ''Tír Eoghain'') from 1185 to 1616. They are listed from their date of accession to date of death, unless otherwise stated.
Prior to this, the ruling dynasty - the Cenél nEógain - were most of th ...
. In 1541 O'Neill travelled to England to submit to
Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
as part of the
surrender and regrant policy that coincided with the creation of the
Kingdom of Ireland
The Kingdom of Ireland ( ga, label=Classical Irish, an Ríoghacht Éireann; ga, label=Modern Irish, an Ríocht Éireann, ) was a monarchy on the island of Ireland that was a client state of England and then of Great Britain. It existed from ...
. He was made
Earl of Tyrone, but his plans to pass the title and lands on to a chosen successor
Matthew
Matthew may refer to:
* Matthew (given name)
* Matthew (surname)
* ''Matthew'' (ship), the replica of the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497
* ''Matthew'' (album), a 2000 album by rapper Kool Keith
* Matthew (elm cultivar), a cultivar of the Ch ...
were thwarted by a violent succession dispute that led to another son,
Shane O'Neill, emerging triumphant.
His grandson
Hugh O'Neill eventually succeeded him as Earl and became head of the O'Neill of Tyrone dynasty. Hugh continued his grandfather's alliance with the Crown until his eventual leadership of
Tyrone's Rebellion and later
Flight of the Earls led to the collapse of the power of the traditional Irish lords in Ulster.
Conn's epithet of bacagh (Irish: ''bacach'') meant "the lame".
Biography
Conn Bacach O'Neill was the son of Conn Mór O'Neill,
king of Tyrone
This article lists the rulers of Tyrone (Irish: ''Tír Eoghain'') from 1185 to 1616. They are listed from their date of accession to date of death, unless otherwise stated.
Prior to this, the ruling dynasty - the Cenél nEógain - were most of th ...
, and Lady Eleanor Fitzgerald. Con Mor O'Neill was the son of Henry O'Neill, king of Tyrone. Lady Eleanor Fitzgerald was the daughter of
Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare. Conn Mór O'Neill was murdered in 1493 by his younger brother, Henry Óg O'Neill. Conn Bacach killed his uncle, Henry Óg, 21 July 1498.
[O'Byrne, Emmett. "O'Neill (Ó Néill), Conn ‘Bacach’", ''Dictionary of Irish Biography]
/ref>
Becoming The O'Neill
In 1519, Conn Bacach succeeded his half-brother, Art Oge O'Neill, as chief of the Tír Eoghain branch of the O'Neill's ( Cenél nEógain). The English referred to these O'Neill's as "O'Neill Mor" to differentiate them from the ruler of the O'Neill's of Clandeboye who was styled "O'Neill Boy". When his kinsman, the Earl of Kildare became viceroy
A viceroy () is an official who reigns over a polity in the name of and as the representative of the monarch of the territory. The term derives from the Latin prefix ''vice-'', meaning "in the place of" and the French word ''roy'', meaning "k ...
in 1524, O'Neill consented to act as his swordbearer in ceremonies of state; but his allegiance was a personal matter, and while ready enough to give verbal assurances of loyalty, he could not be persuaded to readily give hostages to later lord Deputies as security for his conduct.
Threat of excommunication
By 1534, several excommunications had been pronounced against Conn by the archbishop of Armagh. That year diverse followers of Conn raided the archepiscopal manor in Armagh, inflicting harm on its custodian, Senekin McDugan, with Conn ordering the revenues to be paid to the excommunicated clergyman John O'Corr and his brethren. Conn had previously been invoked by the primate as the secular arm in ensuring that no harm came to Senekin McDugan amongst other items, with excommunication and interdict amongst the results of failing to.
A letter dated 16 February remarking on the events has the archbishop given Conn six days to have the "delinquents" reconcile and make satisfaction for the harm they have done otherwise he be likewise declared excommunicated for the six days following and all places he betook to placed under interdict until the archbishop ordered otherwise.[Archbishop Cromer's Register. A. Gwynn. Journal of the County Louth Archaeological Society. Vol. 10, No. 3 (1943), pp. 165-179 (15 pages). Pg. 173-4]
Invasion and submission
With the attainder of the Earl of Kildare and following rebellion, Conn sided with his in-laws the FitzGeralds. An alliance referred to as the Geraldine League
The Geraldine League was a short-lived Irish alliance established in 1539 by Manus O'Donnell and Conn O'Neill.
History
The league was founded with the goal of restoring Gerald FitzGerald to the earldom of Kildare. The movement ultimately grew ...
sought the restoration of the heir of the FitzGerald lordship without interference from King Henry VIII of England. That rebellion was stoked by the idea of casting off England's Protestant church in Ireland. In 1539 Conn Bacagh and Manus O'Donnell
Manus O'Donnell (Irish: ''Maghnas Ó Domhnaill'' or ''Manus Ó Domhnaill'', died 1564) was an Irish lord and son of Sir Hugh Dubh O'Donnell. He was an important member of the O'Donnell dynasty based in County Donegal in Ulster.
Early life
Hug ...
attacked The Pale
The Pale (Irish: ''An Pháil'') or the English Pale (' or ') was the part of Ireland directly under the control of the English government in the Late Middle Ages. It had been reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast st ...
. They were returning to their territories with treasure and spoils when Lord Deputy Leonard Grey overtook them at the Ford of Belahoe, south of Carrickmacross
Carrickmacross () is a town in County Monaghan, Ireland. The town and environs had a population of 5,032 according to the 2016 census, making it the second-largest town in the county. Carrickmacross is a market town which developed around a ca ...
. The O'Neills and O'Donnells were quickly overwhelmed and suffered 400 casualties before fleeing in disarray and leaving their treasure and spoil.
After Tyrone was invaded in 1541 by Sir Anthony St Leger, the lord deputy, Conn and the Geraldine League were defeated and he made his submission. Conn delivered up his son Phelim Caoch O'Neill
Phelim Caoch O'Neill (Irish language, Irish: ''Feidhlimidh Caoch Ó Néill'') (1517 to 1542) was a prince of the Cenél nEógain.
The eldest son of King Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone, Conn Bacach O'Neill. The then O'Neill, Conn's dynasty held ...
as a hostage. In early 1542, Phelim was killed with one cast of a javelin by MacDonnell gallowglass according to the entry recording his death in the Annals of the Four Masters of Ireland., just prior to his father's submission to Henry VIII.
Conn attended a parliament held at Trim
Trim or TRIM may refer to:
Cutting
* Cutting or trimming small pieces off something to remove them
** Book trimming, a stage of the publishing process
** Pruning, trimming as a form of pruning often used on trees
Decoration
* Trim (sewing), or ...
, and, crossing to England, became a Protestant, and made his submission at Greenwich to Henry VIII
Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...
.[ Henry created him earl of Tyrone for life, and presented him with money and a valuable gold chain. He was also made a privy councillor in Ireland, and received a grant of lands within ]the Pale
The Pale (Irish: ''An Pháil'') or the English Pale (' or ') was the part of Ireland directly under the control of the English government in the Late Middle Ages. It had been reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast st ...
called Balgriffin.
Civil war
The appointment of his allegedly illegitimate son, Ferdoragh (Matthew), as Baron of Dungannon
The title Baron of Dungannon in the Peerage of Ireland was associated with the first creation of the title of Earl of Tyrone.
History
When Conn Bacach O'Neill. 1st Earl of Tyrone surrendered his Irish principality of Tír Eoghain to Henry VIII in ...
and as such his hereditary successor, caused deep resentment among the rest of his sons. Of these, it was Shane
Shane may refer to:
People
* Shane (actress) (born 1969), American pornographic actress
* Shane (New Zealand singer) (born 1946)
* iamnotshane (born 1995), formerly known as Shane, American singer
* Shane (name), a masculine given name and a sur ...
, Conn's eldest surviving son, who was most favoured by the Irish custom of tanistry to succeed and so he went to war with his brother eventually having Ferdoragh killed in 1558. Conn Bacagh would die a year later. The next heir according to English succession was Ferdoragh's son Brian, however, he was killed by his kinsman Turlough Lynagh O'Neill
Sir Turlough Lynagh O'Neill (Irish language, Irish: ''Sir Toirdhealbhach Luineach mac Néill Chonnalaigh Ó Néill''; 1532 – September, 1595) was an Irish people, Irish Gaels, Gaelic lord of Tír Eoghain in early modern Ireland. He was inaugura ...
in 1562. After Brian's death, the English administration took Ferdoragh's last surviving heir, Hugh O'Neill, into custody to protect him. Shane, now O'Neill, had sought to be created Earl of Tyrone, however this was refused and the McDonnells killed him in 1567.
Marriage and children
Conn was twice married and had numerous sons. His first wife was Lady Alice Fitzgerald, daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare and Conn's first cousin. Their son was Phelim Caoch O'Neill
Phelim Caoch O'Neill (Irish language, Irish: ''Feidhlimidh Caoch Ó Néill'') (1517 to 1542) was a prince of the Cenél nEógain.
The eldest son of King Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of Tyrone, Conn Bacach O'Neill. The then O'Neill, Conn's dynasty held ...
. "Caoch" was the nickname for someone with poor eyesight or "the blind".
His second wife was Sorcha O'Neill, daughter of Hugh Oge O'Neill, chief of the O'Neills of Clandeboye. Sources differ in regards to the mother of Shane
Shane may refer to:
People
* Shane (actress) (born 1969), American pornographic actress
* Shane (New Zealand singer) (born 1946)
* iamnotshane (born 1995), formerly known as Shane, American singer
* Shane (name), a masculine given name and a sur ...
. Some stating he was the son of Conn and Sorcha and some stating he was from Conn and Lady Alice Fitzgerald.[Acts of the Privy Council in Ireland 1556-1571, pg. 107,298]
Conn claimed an illegitimate son named Matthew or Ferdocha "the dark one" with Allison Kelly, the widowed wife of a blacksmith in Dundalk. Parenting aside, it was this Matthew that Conn designated as his heir to the English titles. He became the Baron of Dungannon
The title Baron of Dungannon in the Peerage of Ireland was associated with the first creation of the title of Earl of Tyrone.
History
When Conn Bacach O'Neill. 1st Earl of Tyrone surrendered his Irish principality of Tír Eoghain to Henry VIII in ...
when Conn became the Earl of Tyrone. This act caused great angst within the O'Neill clan and eventually led to civil war and the death of Matthew
Matthew may refer to:
* Matthew (given name)
* Matthew (surname)
* ''Matthew'' (ship), the replica of the ship sailed by John Cabot in 1497
* ''Matthew'' (album), a 2000 album by rapper Kool Keith
* Matthew (elm cultivar), a cultivar of the Ch ...
at the instigation of his half-brother Shane. As well an illegitimate daughter of Conn married the celebrated Sorley Boy MacDonnell, the man who eventually took part in the death of Shane O'Neill himself. His family spread throughout Ireland, Scotland, Europe and the New World during the downfall of the Gaelic Order, and today there are numerous families with a direct descent from Conn.
References
*
*''Annals of the Four Masters,'' see 1519, 1542, 1568
*''State Papers of Ireland,'' see Tudor Papers
{{DEFAULTSORT:Tyrone, Conn O'Neill, 1st Earl of
1480s births
1559 deaths
Peers of Ireland created by Henry VIII
People from County Tyrone
16th-century Irish monarchs
O'Neill dynasty
Earls of Tyrone