Siege of Cahir Castle
| date | May 1599 |
|---|---|
| place | Near the town of Cahir ( Ireland ) |
| output | English troops capture the castle |
| Parties to the conflict | |
|---|---|
|
Irish rebels (allies of Hugh O'Neill ) |
English troops |
| Commander | |
|
James Galdie , George Carey |
|
| Troop strength | |
| 5,000 | 4,000-5,000 |
| losses | |
|
approx. 80-100 |
low |
Clontibret - Carrickfergus - Yellow Ford - Curlew Pass - Cahir Castle - Moyry Pass - Kinsale - Dunboy
The siege of Cahir Castle (also Caher Castle) took place in 1599 during the Nine Years War in Ireland , when English troops under Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex besieged the castle occupied by Irish rebels . The castle was considered to be the hardest to take in Ireland at the time. Although Devereux conquered the castle within a few days, he received no recognition from Queen Elizabeth I.
The Earl of Essex in Ireland
After Devereux arrived in Dublin in April 1599 with the largest army ever to enter Ireland (17,000 men and 1,300 horses), he avoided any confrontation with the northern rebel forces under Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone , but tried the south of the country under control. This had the background that the English feared a renewed landing of Spanish troops (as in 1585 in the Anglo-Spanish War ).
During his controversial (and largely useless) foray into Munster province , Devereux first secured the surrender of Derrinlaur Castle (located on the Suir River) before turning his attention to Cahir Castle , upriver.
For an army wishing to operate west of the Suir (deep in the rebel-controlled area), the capture of Cahir Castle was essential. Cahir Castle is located on a rock in the middle of the river and was considered impregnable due to its large keep and the protection of 6 towers and extremely thick walls.
At that time the castle belonged to the Irish nobleman Lord Cahir and was in the care of his brother James Galdie, who was also in command of the Battle of Moyry Pass in 1600 . Before the fall of Derrinlaur Castle Devereux Lord Cahir was accused (even with the rebels Edmund FitzGibbon White Knight , White Knight called) together. When the English army set out from Clonmel , Cahir assured them that Galdie would surrender as soon as the army was within sight of the castle.
The siege
On May 25th, Devereux divided his army into three parts. While the main body gathered about a mile outside of Clonmel, the artillery - a cannon and a calverine - reached the landing site by water under the supervision of Devereux. Under the protection of the rearguard and a troop of riders, the guns were pulled the entire 10 miles in bad weather to Cahir Castle due to the lack of pack animals . Devereux now also led the main part of the army in the direction of the castle, about a mile before the camp was built.
Lord Cahir was sent ahead with Henry Danvers (Lieutenant General of the Horsemen) to summon his brother to surrender the castle. But instead of a surrender, as announced by Lord Cahir, the negotiators were insulted and threatened, whereupon Cahir was accused of breach of trust by Devereux. Cahir promised further negotiations, but Devereux was determined to take the castle and placed Cahir and his wife under guard.
A council of war was held with Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond . There was no replenishment, the weather was bad and the partly flooded fields led to an increasing risk of diseases and epidemics. There were also rumors of the presence of a 5000-strong rebel army in the area. Therefore, ammunition was first requested from the city of Waterford and food from the surrounding villages and towns.
In the evening Devereux inspected the castle together with George Bingham, who had successfully besieged Maguire Castle in Enniskillen in 1594 . It was decided to attack the castle from the east side, where a trench was dug and the cannon was positioned. The Kalverine was set up further away from the castle, from where you had a better view of the flanks.
On May 26th, the vanguard and the main battalion were moved to the east side of the castle. The rearguard with the artillery reached the castle later that day, and after a night of preparation the cannon and calverine were positioned on the east side of the castle and opened fire on the morning of the 27th. But after the second shot, the cannon's carriage broke. A bullet got stuck in the tube of the Kalverine as well, but it was quickly rectified. Around 50 shots were fired, after which the rebels inside the castle no longer dared to stay on the east side. It is reported that Lord Cahir and his wife cried like children during the cannonade .
Via the unguarded western flank of the castle, Fitzgibbon released all those from the castle who could not contribute to its defense. Thereupon Christopher St. Lawrence, son of Lord Howth and a colonel of the foot soldiers, was sent to an island on the northeast side, which connected the castle with the west side of the river with two (destroyed) bridges.
In the late evening of May 27th, the chassis of the cannon was restored and the Kalverine was placed a little closer to the castle, so that the cannonade could continue on May 28th. Eventually the eastern castle wall broke and preparations began for the attack, which was planned for the next morning: ladders, scaffolding and movable walls were brought in or put together. Explosive containers (wooden containers with gunpowder to destroy doors or barricades) were prepared and four companies of foot soldiers were equipped.
During the night the Irish rebels attempted an escape, but it was discovered by Charles Percy and St. Lawrence. Four companies of veterans from Flanders killed at least 80 rebels; However, James Galdie was able to escape with some men through a drainage shaft under a water mill. The English troops then occupied the castle without resistance.
On the morning of May 29th, Devereux entered the castle, which was later occupied by 100 men under the command of George Carey. The main army stayed around the castle until May 31; only the sick and injured were brought to Clonmel . The way to West Munster in the rebel-controlled area was now secured for Devereux.
Aftermath
Devereux made a fuss about the capture of Cahir Castle, but Queen Elizabeth I downplayed the capture by describing Galdie's forces as an inept bunch of villains unable to defend the castle. Shortly thereafter, Devereux's foray into Hugh O'Neill stalled.
As early as 1600, just a year later, the castle was recaptured by 60 Irish rebels under James Butler without a single shot being fired. But after threats, it was turned over to George Carew .
Literature (in English)
- Richard Bagwell: Ireland under the Tudors vol. 3 (London, 1885–1890)
- JSBrewer, W.Bullen (Ed.): Calendar of Carew MSS. 1515–1624 vol. 5 (1599) (London, 1867–1873)
- Cyril Falls: Elizabeth's Irish Wars (1950; reprinted London, 1996), ISBN 0094772207