Great Names in Irish History
A collection of fine cast figures
Last of the Chieftains - 1550-1616
One of the great O'Neill clan of Ulster, he was born in 1550 and claimed a royal Irish heritage spanning over a thousands years. For co-operation early in his career with the English ruling class he was rewarded with the Earldom of Tyrone by Queen Elizabeth I. But his support for Irish resistance to foreign rule grew as he established his supremacy over the other lords and chieftains in Ulster.
In 1595 he lead confederation of chieftains in revolt adopting the role of champion of Christ's Catholic religion and appealed for help from Spain. During the winter of 1598 O' Neill ambushed and defeated a large English force in Armagh. He was then hailed as the 'Prince of Ireland'.
In September of 1601 three and a half thousand Spaniards landed at Kinsale. Elizabeth's deputy Lord Mountjoy lay siege to the town. O'Neill marched south to link up with the Spaniards but met Mountjoy's forces before he could do so on Christmas Eve. Within hours O'Neill was defeated and submitted to Mountjoy. By 1607 he had abandoned hope of further revolt and sailed from Lough Foyle with other chieftans where he died in 1616. Known as 'The Flight of the Earl's' this marked the beginning of the end of Gaelic Ireland.
This range of 54mm pewter figures are mounted on wooden plinths with metal plaques that have the embossed name of the figure. Plinth colour and design may vary without notice.
The figures are painted by experienced Irish artists and were designed by internationally famous miniature designer Chris Tubb.
