Hugh O'Donnell (died 1625)

Captain Hugh O'Donnell (; June 1605 – 1625) was an Irish-born soldier who served in the first Irish regiment of the Spanish military. He was the son of Gaelic nobles Cathbarr O'Donnell and Rosa O'Doherty, and took part in the Flight of the Earls. He fought in the Eighty Years' War and died in the Siege of Breda, aged 19.

Family background and early life

Hugh O'Donnell was born in June 1605. He was descended from the O'Donnell clan of Tyrconnell, a Gaelic kingdom associated with County Donegal. His father Cathbarr was the youngest son of Hugh McManus O'Donnell, who ruled as Lord of Tyrconnell from 1566 to 1592. Cathbarr served with his elder brothers Hugh Roe, Rory and Manus during the Nine Years' War, which ended with the Irish confederacy's surrender in 1603.

Hugh's mother, Rosa O'Doherty, was a daughter of Sean O'Doherty of Inishowen and brother of Cahir O'Doherty. Cathbarr also had an illegitimate son, named Conn, with another woman. According to Darren McGettigan, Conn was born with six toes on one foot. According to Francis Martin O'Donnell and Jerrold Casway, it was Hugh who had six toes on one foot.

Following the death of his uncle Hugh Roe, who was associated with the Aodh Engeach prophecy, young Hugh became associated with the same prophecy. It alleged that if two men named Hugh succeeded each other as O'Donnell chief, the last Hugh shall "be a monarch in Ireland and quite banish thence all foreign nations and conquerors".

Spanish Netherlands

In September 1607, Hugh accompanied his parents and extended family, led by his uncle Rory and the Earl of Tyrone, on the Flight of the Earls. His younger cousin, Hugh Albert O'Donnell (son of Rory), was also on the flight.

The refugees hoped to reached Spain, but were turned away due to Philip III's fears of violating the Treaty of London. Thus the refugees spent the winter in Leuven in the Spanish Netherlands. Many of the refugees were compelled to leave their children behind in Leuven under the care of Franciscans. Hugh and his cousin Hugh Albert were left in Leuven, whilst their fathers continued to Rome. Hugh's mother Rosa remained in the Spanish Netherlands. Rory and Cathbarr both died of illness in Rome in late 1608.

The two boys remained in the care of their nurses at the convent until October 1610, when they were given over to Hugh MacCaughwell, the Franciscan superior of the Irish College in Leuven. At the Irish College, the O'Donnell cousins were raised in the company of the Earl of Tyrone's sons Shane and Brian. Rosa and Hugh's aunt Nuala were made responsible for the two young nobles.

Hugh O'Donnell eventually became a captain in the first Irish regiment in the Spanish army (the "Old Irish Regiment"; ), which was led by Shane. Hugh O'Donnell died in 1625 in the Siege of Breda.. "...Hugh O'Donnell, paternal cousin german of the aforesaid Albert, died a captain during the siege of Breda."; . "Rosa's son from her first marriage—another Hugh O'Donnell—became an ensign in the Irish regiment and was killed in combat in 1625."; . "A captain in the Irish Regiment, Rosa's eldest son, ugh was killed in 1625 at the siege of Breda." His death was reported under the date of 20 April 1625, and he was laid to rest in the chapel of the Irish Franciscans. He was not yet twenty years old.

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{{Flight of the Earls

Flight of the Earls
17th-century Irish people
1605 births
1625 deaths