The Desmond Rebellions occurred between 1569-1573 and 1579-1583 staged by the Earls of Desmond against Elizabeth I's attempts to impose her control on the province of Munster. James Fitzmaurice Fitzgerald launched the First Desmond Rebellion in 1569, attacking Cork and laying siege to Kilkenny. Henry Sidney, Lord Deputy of Ireland mobilised troops and began devastating Fitzmaurice's allies' lands. This had a terrible effect on Fitzmaurice, breaking up his forces as individual lords had to return to defend their lands. Fitzmaurice fled into the Kerry mountains from where he conducted a guerrilla campaign against the English forces. However, by 1573 his forces had been completely decimated until less than one hundred were left by his side, he submitted, negotiating a pardon for his life. Arguably, the real winner of the rebellion was the Earl of Ormonde, who established himself as loyal to the English Crown and became the most powerful lord in the south of Ireland. In the aftermath of the rebellion Gaelic customs, Gaelic dress, Brehon laws and the maintaining of private armies were again outlawed. In addition English colonists continued to arrive into the province threatening the existence of Irish landowners. So when Fitzmaurice returned from Continental Europe with a view to mounting another insurrection, there were plenty of disenfranchised contenders willing to join his ranks, paving the way for the Second Desmond Rebellion.
Russell Shortt is a travel consultant with Exploring Ireland, the leading specialists in customised, private escorted tours, escorted coach tours and independent self drive tours of Ireland. Article source: http://www.exploringireland.net
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