The Nine Years War, 1593-1603: O'Neill, Mountjoy and the Military Revolution

by James O'Neill

The Nine Years War was one of the most traumatic in the history of Ireland. Backed by Philip II of Spain, Tyrone outclassed the forces of the English Crown, achieving a string of stunning victories and bringing the power of Elizabeth I in Ireland to the brink of collapse. Lord Mountjoy reformed the demoralized English army and rolled back the advances achieved by Tyrone. Mountjoy's success was crowned by his shattering defeat of Tyrone and his Spanish allies at Kinsale in 1601, which ultimately led to the earl's submission in 1603, though not before famine, misery and atrocity took their toll on the people of Ireland. .

Genres: History, Ireland, Nonfiction, Irish Literature, Military History, British Literature, 16th Century

336 pages, Paperback

First published May 19, 2017

Reviews

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

An absolute must-read for all enthusiasts of 16th C Irish, British Imperial and world military history. In the 1500s the Nine Years’ War was the English Crown’s largest offshore military engagement ever and O’Neill’s careful and objective study reveals that it was a full-scale European war between two highly organised forces and not merely the suppression of a large-scale uprising as it is commonly portrayed in Anglocentric literature. This book cuts through the myths and assumptions which have to date prevailed in academic discourses about the war.
The strokes and counterstrokes exchanged by Confederates and Crown are so riveting and O’Neill’s writing so brisk that I found myself flying through the pages. Tyrone and Mountjoy both come across as erudite commanders, not far removed from master chess players during a period when the military was a respected and highly technical discipline.
Tyrone enjoyed years of indomitable success against the Crown on the field of battle, by ingeniously combining regular and irregular tactics. As observed by O’Neill through the use of copious references, it is impressive to note how swiftly Tyrone got the native Irish troops to adopt these innovative tactics. It was interesting for me to note two great ironies during the conflict: firstly, that the Scottish gallowglasses (who were such a regular feature of Irish tribal conflicts and revolts against the Crown) were largely absent from this enormous conflict, due to a situation elsewhere, and secondly that Tyrone’s decision to stick to modern tactics proved his undoing at Kinsale, where more primitive tactics might have better served his forces.
The extent of the research carried out by O’Neill is simply staggering. It is clear that while putting this book together he never dismissed any seemingly bizarre military actions as being primitive or backward, so that he even manages to effectively demonstrate that the Irish practice of firing weapons from distance when approaching their enemy was in fact also a Spanish practice at the time which was intended to dupe one’s foes.
O’Neill constantly employs a comparative analysis of the violence carried out by both sides during the Nine Years’ War, often referring to the military excesses of the famous Spanish Commander, the Duke of Alba, in the Low Countries or those in the French Wars of Religion. All of which helps the reader understand what was the norm at the time, which makes this book a highly satisfying read for 16th C military buffs.
Given the subject of my debut novel I was very interested in the extent to which the Spanish Armada shipwrecks along the coast of Ireland in 1588 affected the military development of the Irish tribes. O’Neill’s book firmly establishes this link, and it was interesting for me to read that the Spanish Armada landings are viewed by some as the real start of the Nine Years’ War. I suppose it will remain impossible to understand the full extent to which the Armada’s castaways affected the ensuing conflict in Connacht which led to the flight of O’Rourke, and influenced Tyrone’s decisions during the ensuing Nine Years’ War. I can only guess that their contribution was not insignificant, which is also inferred in this meticulous study.

[Niall James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A brilliant military analysis of the Nine Years War.

Has some amazing in-depth research & insight into the Nine Years War, I would say that it is primarily aimed at those already familiar with the conflict particularly within Academia.

This book is not a ground up comprehensive explanation of the war for those who know nothing about the conflict e.g. the origins of Hugh O'Neill and Red Hugh O'Donnell or the aftermath of the war.

It is heavily focused on the Military revolution within the war and how it was achieved and sustained economically, politically as well as being compared to contemporary wars.

With all that in mind, a great read.

[wayne mcauliffe · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit dry but informative.

[Donal · Rating 5 out of 5]

James O Neill places The Great O Neill's campaign in one of European significance. Far too often is the conflict posed as a guerilla-styled attack on the English empire. Far from that, Irish forces fielded regular armies, held towns and castles of strategic importance and cultivated international alliances in an attempt to topple English rule in Ireland. The book sheds beautiful light on that conflict.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Readable account of the Nine Years war, from rebellion to the Flight of the Earls. Good inclusion of maps to help follow the fighting.

[Tom Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

A decent and intriguing read into a somewhat forgotten war.

[wayne john mcauliffe · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book on a sad time time for Ireland. Well written

[Simon O'Mahony · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent.

[Paddy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this. Some fascinating insights into 16th and 17th century warfare. Painful at times to read how close Gaelic Ireland came to prevailing.