Hugh O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell

Hugh Albert O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell (October 1606 – August/September 1642^[1] ) (originally known in Irish as Aodh Ailbhe mac Rudhraighe Uí Dhomhnaill), was titular King of Tír Conaill, and son of Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell whose title was however attainted in 1614.^[a] In adult life, he used the style Earl of Tyrconnell, Baron of Donegal and Lifford, Lord of Sligo and Lower Connaught, and Knight Commander of the Order of Alcántara.^[2]

Biography

O'Donnell was the son of Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell and his wife Bridget, the daughter of Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare.^[3]^[b]

O'Donnell was three weeks shy of his first birthday when he sailed from Lough Swilly during the Flight of the Earls. He accompanied his father to Rome, where his father and uncle Cathbarr O'Donnell died of fevers. His aunt Rosa, the wife of Cathbarr, met and married Owen Roe O'Neill, and it is probable that O'Donnell was in her care, because both he and his cousin, also named Hugh O'Donnell, received a modest pension from Archduke Albert, governor of the Low Countries, from 1615,^[c] and were raised in Leuven where they were educated by Franciscan colleagues of Archbishop Conry.^[4]^[5] He was a page to the Infanta Isabella, daughter of King Philip III of Spain.^[4]^[6] In time he joined the service of King Philip, and was commissioned colonel of a tercio in 1632.^[5] He was killed in action when his ship engaged a French vessel in August or September 1642 and caught fire.^{[citation needed]}

O'Donnell left no immediate heirs, although the Earldom, were it not attainted in 1614, would have passed by remainder to his uncle Cathbarr O'Donnell, whose line was extinct by then, and thence, to his 1st cousin Donal Oge O'Donnell, according to the terms of the letters patent.^[7]

As Hugh had never recognised James VI and I as his monarch, he had no hope of being recognised as the 2nd Earl, under the principle of the "Fount of honour". He had an undoubted claim to the title, but took no steps in 1614 to defend it when it was debated in the Irish House of Lords. He would at least have had to submit to King James to take his place in the House of Lords, and until then he did so the title was "in abeyance".

Family

O'Donnell married Anna-Margaret, daughter of Maximilien II de Hénin, 5th Count of Bossu, Knight of the Golden Fleece (died 8 December 1625) and Alexandrine Franeoise de Gavre; and a near kinswoman of the last eccentric Charles, Duke of Guise.^[4]^[8]^[d]

v t e O'Donnell family tree
Sir Hugh O'Donnell (Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill; died 1600)^[i] Married first: an unnamed Irish woman Donnchadh (Scaite) Donnell (Domhnall d.1590 Wife: daughter of Turlough O'Neill Dómhnall Óg^[ii] Ruadhri (died 1575) Siobhán, or Joan (died 1591)^[i] Married: Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone.^[iii] Hugh (1585–1609)^[iii] He was known as the baron of Dungannon, died in Rome and was buried in San Pietro di Montorio.^[iv] Henry O'Neill (1586?–1617×21)^[iii] He became a colonel of an Irish regiment in Archduke Albert's army.^[iv] Margaret, who married Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret.^[iv] daughter (fl. 1579) Nuala (fl. 1592)^[i] Married Niall Garbh O'Donnel(1569–1626) Grania Second marriage: Fionnghuala "Inghean Dubh" Ní Seamus MacDonnell (married Aodh in 1569) Aodh Ruadh (1571–1602).^[i] Rudhraighe (died 1608).^[i] Elizabeth^[v] Husband: Luke Plunket later 1st Earl of Fingall survived Elizabeth and married twice more. Wife: Brigid daughter of Earl of Kildare Hugh O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell.^[v]^[ii] Married: Anna-Margaret, daughter of Maximilian de Hennin, Count de Bossut.^[vi] Mary Stuart O'Donnell (1607–1649?).^[v] Maghnus alive 1608 Mairghead died 1662 Máire (died 1662) Married: Tadhg Ó Ruairc, King of West Breifne (died 1605) Cathbarr (dead by September 1608) Wife: Rosa (c.1588–1660) the daughter of Sir John O'Doherty — married secondly Owen Roe O'Neill (c. 1585–1649) who she met in the Low Countries Hugh O'Donnell (died 1625), became a captain in the Spanish Army, serving in Flanders in the regiment of his stepfather (Owen Roe O'Neill). He was killed during the Siege of Breda.^[vii]
Notes: ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Burke 1866, p. 409. ^ ^a ^b If the Earldom of Tyrconnell had not been attained, then next in line as 3rd Earl of Tyrconnell would have been Dómhnall Óg son of Sir Donnell O'Donnell (an elder half brother of the 1st Earl) ^ ^a ^b ^c Canny 2008 ^ ^a ^b ^c Dunlop 1895, p. 196 ^ ^a ^b ^c "Hugh Albert O'Donnell, born [to Rory and Brigid] about October 1606, was the only son of this marriage, Mary Stuart O'Donnell being born about a year later. Some authorities give an eldest child, Elizabeth, probably illegitimate, who became first wife of Luke Plunkett, first earl of Fingall" (Silke 2006). ^ Burke 1866, p. 410. ^ Casway 1984, pp. 27–28. Sources: Burke, Sir Bernard (1866), A Genealogical History of the Dormant: Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire, Harrison, pp. 409–410 Canny, Nicholas (January 2008) [2004], "O'Neill, Hugh , second earl of Tyrone (c.1550–1616)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.), Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20775 (Subscription or UK public library membership required.) Casway, Jerrold (1984), Owen Roe O'Neill and the Struggle for Catholic Ireland, University of Pennsylvania Press Dunlop, Robert (1895), "O'Neill, Hugh (1540?-1616)" , Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 42, pp. 188–196 Silke, John J. (May 2006) [2004]. "O'Donnell, Rury , styled first earl of Tyrconnell (1574/5–1608)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20559. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Sir Hugh O'Donnell (Aodh mac Maghnusa Ó Domhnaill; died 1600)^[i]
- Married first: an unnamed Irish woman
  - Donnchadh (Scaite)
  - Donnell (Domhnall d.1590
    - Wife: daughter of Turlough O'Neill
      - Dómhnall Óg^[ii]
  - Ruadhri (died 1575)
  - Siobhán, or Joan (died 1591)^[i]
    - Married: Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone.^[iii]
      - Hugh (1585–1609)^[iii] He was known as the baron of Dungannon, died in Rome and was buried in San Pietro di Montorio.^[iv]
      - Henry O'Neill (1586?–1617×21)^[iii] He became a colonel of an Irish regiment in Archduke Albert's army.^[iv]
      - Margaret, who married Richard Butler, 3rd Viscount Mountgarret.^[iv]
  - daughter (fl. 1579)
  - Nuala (fl. 1592)^[i]
    - Married Niall Garbh O'Donnel(1569–1626)
      - Grania
- Second marriage: Fionnghuala "Inghean Dubh" Ní Seamus MacDonnell (married Aodh in 1569)
  - Aodh Ruadh (1571–1602).^[i]
  - Rudhraighe (died 1608).^[i]
    - - Elizabeth^[v]
        Husband: Luke Plunket later 1st Earl of Fingall survived Elizabeth and married twice more.
    - Wife: Brigid daughter of Earl of Kildare
      - Hugh O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell.^[v]^[ii]
        Married: Anna-Margaret, daughter of Maximilian de Hennin, Count de Bossut.^[vi]
      - Mary Stuart O'Donnell (1607–1649?).^[v]
  - Maghnus alive 1608
  - Mairghead died 1662
  - Máire (died 1662)
    - Married: Tadhg Ó Ruairc, King of West Breifne (died 1605)
  - Cathbarr (dead by September 1608)
    - Wife: Rosa (c.1588–1660) the daughter of Sir John O'Doherty — married secondly Owen Roe O'Neill (c. 1585–1649) who she met in the Low Countries
      - Hugh O'Donnell (died 1625), became a captain in the Spanish Army, serving in Flanders in the regiment of his stepfather (Owen Roe O'Neill). He was killed during the Siege of Breda.^[vii]

Notes:

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Burke 1866, p. 409.
^ ^a ^b If the Earldom of Tyrconnell had not been attained, then next in line as 3rd Earl of Tyrconnell would have been Dómhnall Óg son of Sir Donnell O'Donnell (an elder half brother of the 1st Earl)
^ ^a ^b ^c Canny 2008
^ ^a ^b ^c Dunlop 1895, p. 196
^ ^a ^b ^c "Hugh Albert O'Donnell, born [to Rory and Brigid] about October 1606, was the only son of this marriage, Mary Stuart O'Donnell being born about a year later. Some authorities give an eldest child, Elizabeth, probably illegitimate, who became first wife of Luke Plunkett, first earl of Fingall" (Silke 2006).
^ Burke 1866, p. 410.
^ Casway 1984, pp. 27–28.

Sources:

Burke, Sir Bernard (1866), A Genealogical History of the Dormant: Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire, Harrison, pp. 409–410
Canny, Nicholas (January 2008) [2004], "O'Neill, Hugh , second earl of Tyrone (c.1550–1616)", Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.), Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20775 (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
Casway, Jerrold (1984), Owen Roe O'Neill and the Struggle for Catholic Ireland, University of Pennsylvania Press
Dunlop, Robert (1895), "O'Neill, Hugh (1540?-1616)" , Dictionary of National Biography, vol. 42, pp. 188–196
Silke, John J. (May 2006) [2004]. "O'Donnell, Rury , styled first earl of Tyrconnell (1574/5–1608)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/20559. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)

Notes

^ he was also equally styled Hugh-Albert or Albert-Hugh O'Donnell (Burke 1866, p. 410).
^ Bridget was left behind in the haste of Tyrconnel's flight, and lived to marry Nicholas Barnewell, Lord Kingsland (Macneill 1911, p. 8).
^ The "Conde de Tyrconnell" and Don Hugo O'Donnell were in the receipt of a modest pension from Archduke Albert. As both boys were called Hugh, Conde de Tyrconnell was given the additional name of Albert, after Archduke Albert, his protector, and who was in all likelihood his godfather in confirmation, which is the reason why Tyrconnell was known as Hugh-Albert or Albert-Hugh (Burke 1866, p. 410).
^ Maximilian de Hennin, Baron of Liederkerke, Viscount of Brussels, Count of Bossut, etc., Knight of the Golden Fleece (Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society 1866, p. 461).

^ Ulwencreutz 2013, p. 136.
^ *O’Donnell, Francis Martin (2018), The O'Donnells of Tyrconnell – A Hidden Legacy, Washington, D.C.: Academica Press LLC (page 146), ISBN 978-1-680534740
^ Macneill 1911, p. 8.
^ ^a ^b ^c Burke 1866, p. 410.
^ ^a ^b Campbell 2015, p. 103.
^ RIA 1830, p. 134.
^ The text of the Letters Patent is referenced in G.O. Ms. 169 (National Library of Ireland) and in several slight variations as follows: (a) in pages 2388-2389 of the Appendix in Volume VI of the Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters (De Burca’s 1990 re-print of the 1856 edition by John O’Donovan); (b) in page 39 of the Fate and Fortunes of the Earls of Tyrone and Tyrconnel, by Rev. C.P. Meehan (1870); (c) in a partial translation of the Latin original of the Letters Patent held by Count O’Donnell von Tyrconnell in Austria, and recounted in O’Domhnaill Abu (the O’Donnell Clan Newsletter no. 12 of Winter 1989). Versions (a) and (b) referenced above make explicit reference to the remainder to Donal Oge O’Donnell
^ Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society 1866, p. 461.

References

Burke, Sir Bernard (1866), A Genealogical History of the Dormant: Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire, Harrison, p. 410
Campbell, Ian (2015), Renaissance Humanism and Ethnicity Before Race: The Irish and the English in the seventeenth century, Manchester University Press, p. 103, ISBN 978-1-5261-0264-5
Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society (11 April 1866), "Proceedings and Papers", The Journal of the Kilkenny and South-East of Ireland Archaeological Society, 5: 464
Macneill, Ronald John (1911), "O'Donnell" , in Chisholm, Hugh (ed.), Encyclopædia Britannica, vol. 20 (11th ed.), Cambridge University Press, pp. 6–8
O’Donnell, Francis Martin (2018), The O'Donnells of Tyrconnell – A Hidden Legacy, Washington, D.C.: Academica Press LLC, ISBN 978-1-680534740
RIA (1830), "Section II Government, Constitution, Legislation etc.", The Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy, Academy, p. 314
Ulwencreutz, Lars (2013), Ulwencreutz's The Royal Families in Europe V, Lulu.com, p. 136, ISBN 978-1-304-58135-8 "Hugh O'Donnell, 2nd Earl of Tyrconnell (1606-1642) Prince and Lord of Tryconnell.

Regnal titles
Preceded by Rudhraighe Ó Domhnaill	King of Tir Conaill 1608–1642	Vacant
Preceded by Rudhraighe Ó Domhnaill	Earl of Tyrconnell 1608–1642	Vacant

v t e Flight of the Earls
Journey	Rathmullan A Coruña Quillebeuf-sur-Seine Leuven Colmar Milan Ravenna Rome
General	Battle of Kinsale Nine Years' War Treaty of Mellifont O’Neill-O’Cahan disputes Arthur Chichester John Davies O'Doherty's Rebellion Ulster Conspiracy of 1615 Plantation of Ulster
Exiles	Hugh O'Neill, Earl of Tyrone Rory O'Donnell, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell Catherine Magennis, Countess of Tyrone Shane O'Neill Hugh O'Donnell Nuala O'Donnell Cathbarr O'Donnell Rosa O'Doherty Cuchonnacht Maguire Donagh O’Brien Tadhg Ó Cianáin Eoghan Ruadh Mac an Bhaird
Remained	Cormac MacBaron O'Neill Conn O'Neill Bridget FitzGerald, Countess of Tyrconnell (pregnant) Mary Stuart O'Donnell

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Biography

Family

Notes

References

Further reading