In September 1607 Hugh O’Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone, and Rory O’Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell, sailed from Ireland to Europe together with around ninety followers. The Flight of the Earls was a response to the English Crown’s increasing dominance and efforts to suppress Irish culture and autonomy. The nobility, led by O’Neill and O’Donnell, had been engaged in a long and bitter conflict against the English forces to protect their lands and preserve Irish sovereignty. However, after suffering a series of military defeats and facing relentless pressure from the English government, they ultimately decided to leave their homeland behind.
I first came across Hugh O’Neill while researching The Spy who Sank the Armada. Sir Anthony Standen served Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl of Essex on his campaign in Ireland from 1597 to 1604. Since Hugh O’Neill and Sir Anthony Standen were both last seen in Rome, I decided I would cast both of them in Fire and Earth, the second book in the Sir Anthony Standen Adventures.
The Flight of the Earls was a bid for Spanish support to overcome English rule in Ireland. However the Spanish had little interest in Ireland other than as a staging post to invasion of England, and their unsuccessful armadas had blunted that ambition.
The departure of the earls had a profound impact on Irish society. It signified the end of an era and the loss of powerful leaders who had fought tirelessly for Irish independence. Their absence left a void in the political and social landscape of Ireland, causing a sense of disarray and confusion among the Irish people. The Flight of the Earls marked a turning point in Irish history and the beginning of a long and arduous struggle for self-determination.
Furthermore, the Flight of the Earls had significant consequences for Ireland’s relationship with England. The departure of the earls weakened the resistance against English rule and allowed the English Crown to further consolidate its control over Ireland. The event also led to the plantation of Ulster, where English and Scottish settlers were brought in to replace the displaced Irish nobility. This further marginalized the native Irish population and perpetuated the cycle of oppression and division.