Control, Accommodation and Allegiance in the Munster Plantation: a New Perspective on Colonialism in the Munster Estates of Richard Boyle, 1st Earl of Cork, 1602-1643

Summary

This is an abstract from the session entitled "Historical Archaeology on the Island of Ireland: New Perspectives" , at the 2020 annual meeting of the Society for Historical Archaeology.

Right up until his death in 1643, Richard Boyle, 1st earl of Cork, could rely upon an ethnically diverse native tenantry and militia to consolidate and defend his interests. At least a quarter of the tenants contributing to his two well-equipped and trained militias were of native origin. Throughout the 1630s over 40% of his tenants were of Gaelic or Old English extraction. By accepting the earl’s Boyle’s protection and support, his Irish tenants and clients sought to secure a future in the earl’s new colonial order. In return, they received favourable tenancies, a large degree of religious tolerance and, perhaps, most strikingly of all, positions of authority within his private armies. In the light of this research, this paper offers a new perspective on colonial entanglements in 17th-century Munster.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Society for Historical Archaeology 2020   •
• Historical Archaeology on the Island of Ireland: New Perspectives

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Contact(s): Society for Historical Archaeology

Record Identifiers

PaperId(s): 216