>>17978641
>1500s
>England slowly conquering Ireland
>extra tension because Protestantism now involved; more and more people see it as an existential threat to Gaelic society and not just some new king
>ulster the last part of ireland to be conquered, mostly due to difficult terrain and very powerful local gaelic lords such as Hugh O'Donnell (Tír Conall/Donegal) and Hugh O'Neill (Tír Eoghian/Tyrone)
>O'Neill kidnapped as a child and raised in the English court to be their man in Ulster, hoping to eventually be a regional ruler of it
>O'Donnell also kidnapped, English agents sow chaos in his homeland
>O'Neill helps O'Donnell escape
>O'Donnell goes home, takes his throne, drives the English out
>O'Neill also goes home but initially fights with the English, still hoping to install himself as ruler
>Eventually comes to realise England do not care about him, and that they'll destroy him and his home
>Joins O'Donnell's rebellion
>O'Neill was a very capable commander, and had been building an army for a long time
>He becomes de-facto leader of an "Irish Alliance"
>Irish Alliance drive England out of much of Ireland, defeating them in several shock victories in pitched battles
>English command in Ireland rapidly collapsing, multiple top office holders killed in battle
>Spain has promised aid and has sent troops
>But most of them didn't make it; small army arrived in the far south
>Ulster lords realise that they must aid them if they hope to win
>England realises if they don't defeat them first, they'll lose
>England besieges the Spanish position
>Ulster armies march all the way south
>Battle
>Irish alliance lose because of a blunder (and some eagle eyed english cavalry)
>Alliance begins to fall apart
>Spain knocked out of the war
>England slowly regains control
>Alliance surrenders
>England continues their colonial policies
>Realising its death regardless, Gaelic nobles head overseas to try build support to head back with armies to save their home