Hugh O'Neill was an Irish Gaelic lord, called the "Great O'Neill, " 2nd Earl of Tyrone, and the most important Irish leader of his day.
Background
O'Neill was born in c. 1550 in Tyrone, Ireland, the second son of Matthew O'Neill (Feardorcha Ó Néill), reputed illegitimate son of Conn, 1st Earl of Tyrone. Hugh was the grandson of the 16t Earl of Tyrone, chief of the O'Neills of Ulster, but spent much of his early life in London.
Education
Nothing is known of O'Neill's education.
Career
O'Neill returned to Ireland in 1567 as a member of the English forces and saw action with them. Queen Elizabeth apparently intended to use O'Neill to help complete the subjugation of Ireland and he was named 2nd Earl of Tyrone, although his cousin was then head of the O'Neill clan. After Hugh O'Neill became chief in 1593, however, he turned on the English, made peace with Hugh Roe O'Donnell, the chief of the O'Donnells, the traditional enemies of the O'Neills, and asked the kings of Scotland and Spain for aid in the fight against England. When English troops were sent to subdue him in 1595, O'Neill defeated them decisively. He later professed his loyalty to Elizabeth and was granted a full pardon in 1598. Two months later an English army under Sir Henry Bagenal was met and destroyed by O'Neill and O'Donnell at the battle of the Yellow Ford of the Blackwater, a victory which marked the highwater mark of Irish independence in that era. The Earl of Essex was sent to Ireland in 1599 and after much dilatory action arranged a truce with the Irish leader, but O'Neill's terms angered Elizabeth, who categorically refused them. Stronger forces under Baron Mountjoy were sent in 1600, forcing O'Neill to retreat to his Ulster strongholds. In 1601, reinforced by Spanish troops, O'Neill and O'Donnell moved to meet Mountjoy. They were routed at Kinsale, O'Donnell fleeing to Spain, where he died, and O'Neill retreating once again to Ulster. Elizabeth opened peace negotiations in 1603, and after her death O'Neill and Rory O'Donnell, the new chief of the O'Donnells, proclaimed their loyalty to King James I. In 1607, fearing arrest, O'Neill and O'Donnell took their families from Ireland to Rome, where O'Neill died, July 20, 1616.
Achievements
Connections
O'Neill was married four times. First, to a daughter, probably Katherine, of Brian Mac Phelim O'Neill of Clandeboye In 1574, the marriage was annulled on grounds of consanguinity, although they had had several children. She subsequently married Niall MacBrian Faghartach. In 1574 married Siobhán (or Joanna; died 1591), daughter of Sir Hugh O'Donnell. In 1579 this marriage was repudiated, but shortly afterwards they were reconciled. They had two sons, and three daughters. O'Neill then married Mabel, the daughter of Sir Nicholas Bagenal. His fourth wife was Catherine Magennis (died 15 March 1619) daughter of Sir Hugh Magennis of Iveagh. She accompanied O'Neill in his flight, and is believed to have died at Louvain. She was the mother of several daughters and three sons.