Glimpse of European History Thread #239

A kingdom, which wasn't a kingdom, finally gets a king to rule them all.

In the battle to end all wars and unite the kingdom, the king is victorious, but also very dead.

Story in the evening … https://t.co/fmdr6Rdkde

— Ranjith Kollannur (@Arby_K) October 7, 2022

A kingdom, which wasn't a kingdom, finally gets a king to rule them all.

In the battle to end all wars and unite the kingdom, the king is victorious, but also very dead.

Brian “Bóruma” mac Cennétig was born around 941 to Cennétig mac Lorcáin, King of the Dál Cais clan, which ruled over Tuadmumu (Thomond), one of the many kingdoms in the island of Ireland. Tuadmumu was a subkingdom in the Kingdom of Muma. 1/10

Since fifth century AD, five kingdoms had controlled major parts of Ireland – Ulaid (Ulster), Connacht (Connaught), Mide (Meath), Laigin (Leinster) and Muma (Munster). The most powerful among the rulers were the Uí Néill family who ruled Meath and northwest Ireland. 2/10

However, this changed with the arrival of Norsemen in tenth century. They settled in Ireland and set up their own regions of control, especially in the Norse kingdom of Dublin. Limerick, close to Brian's homeland, also fell under Norse control. 3/10

Munster was ruled by the Eóganachta family, but Brian's grandfather, Lorcáin, and father, Cennétig, attempted to dislodge the Eóganachta from Munster. Many of Brian's elder brothers apparently died during the battles for control of Munster. 4/10

In 951, Cennétig died and was succeeded by his son, Lachtna. but he too died in 953. Another of Brian's brothers, Mathgamain, became the king. Mathgamain, supported by his brother Brian, was able to dislodge the Eóganachta from their capital of Cashel. 5/10

Mathgamain also defeated the Norse of Limerick in 968, but they allied with Eóganachta and captured and killed Mathgamain in 976. Brian succeeded as king and got his revenge soon. He defeated the Norse in 977 and Eóganachta in 978 and took control of their territories. 6/10

Brian extended his control over Munster and began to work on expanding it. He invaded neighbouring Osraige and Connaught, but had to face a counter invasion by Máel Sechnaill mac Domnaill, King of Meath and the then High King of Ireland. 7/10

Both sides had victories and defeats but in 997 the two made peace dividing up Ireland between themselves, with Brian getting the southern half, including Leinster. In the meantime, Brian had developed a formidable navy which he put to use against Norse ruled Dublin. 8/10

In 1002, Brian took over as High King of Ireland from Máel Sechnaill. But he had the difficult task of bringing Ulster and the Northern Uí Néill family under his control. By 1011, Brian quelled multiple rebellions and brought the north also under his control. 9/10

However, he soon had to deal with another rebellion. Leinster and Dublin rebelled, reinforced by the Norse from Britain. Brian's sons, Murchad and Domnall, likely led the battle, which ended in victory, though Brian, Murchad and Murchad's son, Toirdelbach, met their deaths. 10/10

Originally tweeted by Ranjith Kollannur (@Arby_K) on October 7, 2022.

Brian “Bóruma” mac Cennétig, King of Tuadmumu (976-1014), King of Munster (978-1014), High King of Ireland (1002-1014) – King Brian broke the Uí Néill domination of Ireland and managed to bring a level of unity of the whole of Ireland, including the Norse controlled regions. His death led to his predecessor return as High King, but he could not retain the same level of control and the Normans found things easier to handle when they invaded later in the century. However, King Brian’s retained a strong role in Tuadmumu (Thomond) where his descendants ruled as Earls after submitting to King Henry VIII of England centuries later.

Glimpse of European History Thread #119

A nation prone to civil wars, a leader with no military background and the beginning of a revolutionary movement in Europe against the old powers.

Story in the evening … https://t.co/0EZTcWgcP8

— Ranjith Kollannur (@Arby_K) August 13, 2021

A nation prone to civil wars, a leader with no military background and the beginning of a revolutionary movement in Europe against the old powers.

Oliver Cromwell was born in 1599 to Robert Cromwell and Elizabeth Steward. He was born in Huntingdon where Robert Cromwell was a landowner.

In 1603, King James of Scotland inherited the English crown, and was soon in conflict with the Parliament. 1/10

Already King for most of his life, King James was more autocratic than the Parliament preferred. They had played a significant role in England, a role gained after many battles. In addition to royal civil wars, England had seen civil wars by barons and a revolt by peasants. 2/10

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After King James died in 1625, a more autocratic minded King came to power. King Charles believed in the divine right to rule, adding to the conflict with the Parliament. After 1629, the King avoided calling the Parliament, though this meant he could not raise money for war. 3/10

But the King had to call the Parliament after a rebellion in Scotland over his religious policies. Cromwell returned to the Parliament, representing Cambridge, having represented Huntingdon in 1628. But the differences between King and Parliament led to a civil war. 4/10

With Puritan views on religion, Cromwell opposed the King, stopping silver shipments from colleges in Cambridge. He recruited cavalry from Huntingdon and was successful against Royalist forces at Gainsborough, and earned street cred in battle as a commander. 5/10

After more victories under his belt, Cromwell was appointed as Second-in-Command of the New Model Army of the Parliamentarians that finally defeated the Royalists in 1646. Though the Royalist cause was briefly revived in 1648, it was put down by 1649. 6/10

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King Charles was put on trial and soon executed. The royalist forces grouped under Charles II in Scotland, but was defeated by Cromwell and his New Model Army. Cromwell had earlier been asked to dissolve the New Model Army. But he refrained, citing rebellions. 7/10

England was now divided between the New Model Army and the Parliament, who wanted to dissolve them. After completing the conquest of Ireland, Cromwell sought to retain the army and ignored the Parliament. Eventually he was made the Lord Protector of the Commonwealth in 1653. 8/10

In 1654, Cromwell concluded a war against Protestant Dutch that had started in 1652. But he soon started a war against the Catholic Spanish allying with the French, gaining Jamaica & Cayman Islands in the process. The relation between Cromwell and Parliament remained frosty. 9/10

The Commonwealth fell apart soon after Cromwell's death in 1658. Cromwell's former military deputy, George Monck, restored Charles II to the throne, ending the first break from traditional monarchy in Europe. 10/10

#OnThisDay 3 February 1660, General George Monck arrived in London with his troops, having marched from Coldstream. Initially he aimed to restore order in the capital & Parliament's authority. Another restoration would follow later… #17thCentury #OTD Portrait in our collection. pic.twitter.com/89JgsYlE32

— The Cromwell Museum (@MuseumCromwell) February 3, 2019

Originally tweeted by Ranjith Kollannur (@Arby_K) on August 13, 2021.

Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector of Commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland (1653-1658), MP of Huntingdon (1628-1629), MP of Cambridge (1640-1653) – The establishment of the Commonwealth removing a monarchy was a rare occurrence for Europe. The earlier occasion was the Dutch gaining independence from the Habsburgs although the Dutch identity was formed during the independence movement. In a way, the Commonwealth foreshadowed the French Revolution and the later populist revolutions of 19th century Europe.

Glimpse of European History Thread #101

The last stand in a conquest lasting centuries, an unexpected ending and a vacuum left behind.

Story in the evening … https://t.co/SP2mHgEEz8

— Ranjith Kollannur (@Arby_K) June 11, 2021

The last stand in a conquest lasting centuries, an unexpected ending and a vacuum left behind.

Hugh Ó Néill was born around 1550 to Feardorcha Ó Néill, Baron Dungannon, and Joan Macguire. Feardorcha Ó Néill was an illegitimate son of Conn Ó Néill, the first Earl of Tyrone and the last King of Tír Eoghain. The Earldom was received when Ireland became a Kingdom in 1542. 1/10

Ó Néills hailed from the ancient Kingdom of Uí Néill in Ireland. Hugh Ó Néill’s family had their base in Cenél nEógain, centred around Tír Eoghain from late 1100s. In 1542, King Henry VIII of England was declared King of Ireland and Conn Ó Néill submitted to the new King. 2/10

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Feardorcha accompanied his father to England and was designated his father’s heir by the English, much to the chargin of his half brother, Seán, possibly appointed Tánaiste (Designated heir) already. This led to a tiff between the brothers, and Feardorcha was killed in 1558. 3/10

Conn died in 1559 and Seán took control of Tyrone. Hugh grew up under the care of Henry Sidney growing up in the Pale, while his brother Brian succeeded as Baron Dungannon. Brian was killed in 1562 by the Tánaiste, Turlough Ó Néill, grandson of Conn Ó Néill’s predecessor. 4/10

After resisting English control, Seán made peace with Queen Elizabeth, who had ascended to the throne in 1558, in 1562. But as his ambitions got the better of him, he was undone by the Ó Domhnaills of Tyrconnell with English help and was later killed in 1567. 5/10

In 1568, Hugh Ó Néill returned to Ireland under the protection of Henry Sidney, now Lord Deputy of Ireland. Sidney attempted to bring in more English control in Ireland by bringing settlers to set up plantations. But he met with resistance from the English Earls in Ireland. 6/10

Hugh Ó Néill fought on the English side in putting down the rebellion by Desmond. The FitzGeralds of Desmond also looked for help from the continent, with Spain, France and Rome interested in a Catholic outcome against a Protestant England. 7/10

While fighting for the English, Hugh also developed his base in Ireland. In 1574, he married Siobhán, daughter of Aodh Ó Domhnaill of Tyrconnell. In 1595, he became the head of the Ó Néills and allied with Aodh ‘Ruadh’ Ó Domhnaill, his brother-in-law, to resist the English. 8/10

The Irish held firm for a decade, with major victories at Clontibert (1595) and Yellow Ford (1599) , and received minor military support from Spain and Rome. But the momentum reversed after the siege of Kinsale (1601), where the Spanish contingent was based. 9/10

With Spain ending their war with England in 1603, the Irish ended their war as well. Though Ó Néill and his colleagues were pardoned, they left Ireland in 1607 ending up in Rome. It left a power vacuum in Ireland, allowing for British settlers to set up plantations. 10/10

Originally tweeted by Ranjith Kollannur (@Arby_K) on June 11, 2021.

Hugh Ó Néill, Earl of Tyrone (1585-1608), Baron Dungannon (1562-1585) – The completion of English conquest of Ireland. Ó Néill and his colleagues in the Irish rebellion against the English left Ireland in 1607 leaving behind a political vacuum. This was negated by English settlers who set up plantations in their strongholds i.e Ulster. This ended up as a Protestant enclave in a predominantly Catholic Ireland. The area that was settled in early 17th century largely remains part of UK even now as Northern Ireland, while the remaining parts got its independence in the 1920s.

Glimpse of European History Thread #100

There was once a noble who set his sails in conquest of an island in Europe, while his King watched in worry of a new Kingdom next door.

For the noble had the blood of Normans, Rus, French and even the mighty Charlemagne, to be King in his own stead.

Story in the evening … https://t.co/sJNp120Sv7

— Ranjith Kollannur (@Arby_K) June 8, 2021

There was once a noble who set his sails in conquest of an island in Europe, while his King watched in worry of a new Kingdom next door.

For the noble had the blood of Normans, Rus, French and even the mighty Charlemagne, to be King in his own stead.

Richard de Clare was born around 1130 to Gilbert de Clare and Isabel de Beaumont. The de Clares were an influential family in Norman England, descended from Geoffroy de Brionne, an illegitimate son of Duke Richard of Normandy. 1/10

Gilbert’s grandfather, Richard de Brionne, had come with Guillaume of Normandy in 1066 and was rewarded with the Lordship of Clare and Tonbridge. Gilbert was made Earl of Pembroke in 1138 by King Etienne de Blois, though he changed sides on and off during Anarchy. 2/10

Richard became the Earl of Pembroke in 1148. He appears to have been out of favour with Etienne’s successor, Henri d’Anjou, but he got a break when a deposed King came for Henri’s help. Diarmait, King of Leinster, had been expelled by Ruaidri, High King of Ireland. 3/10

Ireland was divided into many Kingdoms at the time, with a High King of Ireland as the nominal overlord. The power of the High King varied, but High King Ruaidri, who was also the King of Connaught, expelled the King of Leinster with local support around 1166. 4/10

Diarmait went to the English King Henri seeking help. Soon, an English contigent led by Richard de Clare set sail for Leinster to restore King Diarmait to his throne. Richard had promised to help the King, in return for the hand of his daughter, Aoife. 5/10

By 1170, de Clare had captured Waterford and Dublin. A siege by the Irish to take back Dublin in 1171 failed as well. With Diarmait dying in 1172, King Henri got concerned of Richard de Clare setting up a new Kingdom in Ireland. 6/10

Richard de Clare was closely related to the French royal family. His maternal grandmother, Isabelle de Vermandois was the granddaughter of King Henri I of France and Anna of Kiev. House of Vermandois was a Carolingian house in the illegitimate line. 7/10

The English King sailed for Ireland and with the Irish continuing their counter-offensive, Richard de Clare swore fealty to King Henri. de Clare was sent to Normandy later, but had to returned to Leinster soon. This was the first attempt by England to conquer Ireland. 8/10

In 1185, King Henri handed over the overlordship of the conquered Irish lands to his youngest son, John. John, who was nicknamed Lackland for his lack of inheritance till then, was given the title Lord of Ireland. 9/10

Richard died in 1176 and his young son, Gilbert, succeeded. Gilbert’s death in 1186 led his sister, Isabel, and her husband, William Marshal to gaining the titles. Marshal would also serve as Regent to John’s son, Henry, leading England against France at Lincoln in 1217. 10/10

Originally tweeted by Ranjith Kollannur (@Arby_K) on June 8, 2021.

Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke (1148-1176) – Led the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1171, to restore his father-in-law as King of Leinster. He later swore fealty to the King of England, paving for the long conquest of Ireland by England.