Earl of Carlingford
Encyclopedia
The title of Earl of Carlingford was created in the Peerage of Ireland
for Theobald Taaffe. The Earl bore the subsidiary titles Viscount Taaffe
and Baron of Ballymote (1628).
Theobald's eldest son was killed in the Turkish wars. He was succeeded in the title by his second son Nicholas, who had served in the Spanish wars and was killed at the Boyne
.
The next brother, Francis, the third Earl, was one of the most celebrated men of his time: he was brought up at Olmütz
, at the imperial court, and in the service of Duke Charles of Lorraine
, whose most intimate friend he became. He rose to the highest rank in the Austrian army
, having greatly distinguished himself at the Battle of Vienna
and in the other Turkish campaigns, and was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece
. He was sent on many important diplomatic missions, and at the end of his life was chancellor and chief minister to the duke of Lorraine.
Notwithstanding the Jacobite connections of his family, Francis' title to the earldom of Carlingford was confirmed by William III
, and the attainder and forfeiture of the estates incurred by his brother was repealed. This favor he owed to his position at the court of the emperor, William's most important ally. On his death the title and estates went to his nephew Theobald, whose father had fallen during the Siege of Derry
, and who himself had served with distinction in the Austrian army.
On his death, the title of Earl of Carlingford became extinct; both the Austrian and Irish estates as well as the Irish viscountcy went to a cousin, Nicholas Taaffe, 6th Viscount Taaffe
.
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
for Theobald Taaffe. The Earl bore the subsidiary titles Viscount Taaffe
Viscount Taaffe
The title Viscount Taaffe, of Corren, was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1628, together with the subsidiary title Baron Ballymote. From the 18th century onwards, the Viscounts Taaffe also held the title Count Taaffe in the Holy Roman Empire...
and Baron of Ballymote (1628).
Taaffe Family History
1st Viscount Taaffe of Corren left fifteen children, of whom the eldest, Theobald was created Earl of Carlingford.Theobald's eldest son was killed in the Turkish wars. He was succeeded in the title by his second son Nicholas, who had served in the Spanish wars and was killed at the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
.
The next brother, Francis, the third Earl, was one of the most celebrated men of his time: he was brought up at Olmütz
Olomouc
Olomouc is a city in Moravia, in the east of the Czech Republic. The city is located on the Morava river and is the ecclesiastical metropolis and historical capital city of Moravia. Nowadays, it is an administrative centre of the Olomouc Region and sixth largest city in the Czech Republic...
, at the imperial court, and in the service of Duke Charles of Lorraine
Charles IV, Duke of Lorraine
Charles IV was Duke of Lorraine from 1624 to 1634, when he abdicated under French pressure in favor of his younger brother, and again from 1661 until 1675.- Biography :...
, whose most intimate friend he became. He rose to the highest rank in the Austrian army
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
, having greatly distinguished himself at the Battle of Vienna
Battle of Vienna
The Battle of Vienna took place on 11 and 12 September 1683 after Vienna had been besieged by the Ottoman Empire for two months...
and in the other Turkish campaigns, and was a member of the Order of the Golden Fleece
Order of the Golden Fleece
The Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...
. He was sent on many important diplomatic missions, and at the end of his life was chancellor and chief minister to the duke of Lorraine.
Notwithstanding the Jacobite connections of his family, Francis' title to the earldom of Carlingford was confirmed by William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
, and the attainder and forfeiture of the estates incurred by his brother was repealed. This favor he owed to his position at the court of the emperor, William's most important ally. On his death the title and estates went to his nephew Theobald, whose father had fallen during the Siege of Derry
Siege of Derry
The Siege of Derry took place in Ireland from 18 April to 28 July 1689, during the Williamite War in Ireland. The city, a Williamite stronghold, was besieged by a Jacobite army until it was relieved by Royal Navy ships...
, and who himself had served with distinction in the Austrian army.
On his death, the title of Earl of Carlingford became extinct; both the Austrian and Irish estates as well as the Irish viscountcy went to a cousin, Nicholas Taaffe, 6th Viscount Taaffe
Nicholas Taaffe, 6th Viscount Taaffe
Nicholas, 1. Graf von Taaffe, 6th Viscount Taaffe, of Corren, 6th Baron of Ballymote was a General Feldwachtmeister and Count of the Holy Roman Empire....
.
Viscounts Taaffe (1628)
- Sir John Taaffe, 1st Viscount Taaffe (d. before 1641/2).
- Theobald Taaffe, 2nd Viscount Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford (d. 1677)
Earls of Carlingford
- Theobald Taaffe 1st Earl of Carlingford (d. 1677)
- Nicholas Taaffe, 2nd Earl of Carlingford (d. 2 July 1690, at the Battle of the BoyneBattle of the BoyneThe Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
). - Francis Taaffe 3rd Earl of Carlingford (1639–1704), an Austrian Field Marshal and Knight of the Golden FleeceOrder of the Golden FleeceThe Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...
- Theobald Taaffe 4th Earl of Carlingford (d. 24 November 1738); fought against the Turks. With his death the earldom became extinct, however the subsidiary title Viscount TaaffeViscount TaaffeThe title Viscount Taaffe, of Corren, was created in the Peerage of Ireland in 1628, together with the subsidiary title Baron Ballymote. From the 18th century onwards, the Viscounts Taaffe also held the title Count Taaffe in the Holy Roman Empire...
went to a cousin Nicholas TaaffeNicholas Taaffe, 6th Viscount TaaffeNicholas, 1. Graf von Taaffe, 6th Viscount Taaffe, of Corren, 6th Baron of Ballymote was a General Feldwachtmeister and Count of the Holy Roman Empire....
.