Theobald Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford
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Theobald Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford (c. 1603 – 31 December 1677), known as 2nd Viscount Taaffe
, of Corren and 2nd Baron of Ballymote between 1642 and 1661, was a Royalist
officer who played a prominent part in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
, and accompanied Charles II
in exile. Following the Restoration
, he was created 1st Earl of Carlingford
.
of Corren, left fifteen children, of whom the eldest was Theobald.
Theobald Taaffe was appointed to lead the Irish Munster army by Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry
in 1647. He was not an impressive commander, failing to prevent the sack of Cashel
and then leading the Munster army to defeat at the battle of Knocknanauss in 1647. He had an antiquated sense of chivalry - before Knocknanuss he suggested to Baron Inchiquin
, the enemy general, that the battle should be decided by 1000 hand picked men from each side. Inchiquin's reply was sarcastic: you have performed as much as I desire in bringing your army hither, I shall not desire you to loose any advantage you have in numbers of men, being your offer was only made for recreation.
As fate would have it, Taaffe and Inchiquin fought on the same side at the Battle of Arklow
two years later. Unfortunately for Taaffe, Inchiquin lost this time.
With the defeat of the Royalist cause in Ireland, Taaffe went into exile with Charles II. He was one of the ten named in Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652
as leaders of the Royalist forces in Ireland.
Following the Restoration, he was created Earl of Carlingford.
He was sent on missions to the Duke of Lorraine and to the Holy Roman Emperor
, by which was established the connection of his family with the house of Habsburg and Lorraine, which continued to the end of the Habsburg monarchy.
He was married twice, firstly to Mary White, by whom he had a son, The Hon. John Taaffe, who married Rose Lambart, and secondly to Anne Pershall, without issue. He also had a daughter by Lucy Walter
named Mary Crofts (The Hague, 1651–1693), whose father some sources claim to have been Theobald Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford and others Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
, married firstly William Sarsfield and had female issue, and married secondly William Fanshawe (b. The Hague, May 1651), and had issue.
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...
, of Corren and 2nd Baron of Ballymote between 1642 and 1661, was a Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
officer who played a prominent part in the Wars of the Three Kingdoms
Wars of the Three Kingdoms
The Wars of the Three Kingdoms formed an intertwined series of conflicts that took place in England, Ireland, and Scotland between 1639 and 1651 after these three countries had come under the "Personal Rule" of the same monarch...
, and accompanied Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
in exile. Following the Restoration
English Restoration
The Restoration of the English monarchy began in 1660 when the English, Scottish and Irish monarchies were all restored under Charles II after the Interregnum that followed the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
, he was created 1st Earl of Carlingford
Earl of Carlingford
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 .-Taaffe Family History:...
.
Biography
Sir John Taaffe, 1st Viscount TaaffeViscount 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...
of Corren, left fifteen children, of whom the eldest was Theobald.
Theobald Taaffe was appointed to lead the Irish Munster army by Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry
Donagh MacCarthy, Viscount Muskerry
Donagh [Donough] MacCarthy, 1st Earl of Clancarty, 2nd Viscount Muskerry was an Irish noble. He married Ellen Butler , who was the sister of James Butler, 1st Duke of Ormonde). The Earl served as a Munster general during the Irish Confederate Wars...
in 1647. He was not an impressive commander, failing to prevent the sack of Cashel
Sack of Cashel
The Sack of Cashel was a notorious atrocity which occurred in the Irish County of Tipperary in the year 1647, during the Irish Confederate Wars, part of the Wars of the Three Kingdoms...
and then leading the Munster army to defeat at the battle of Knocknanauss in 1647. He had an antiquated sense of chivalry - before Knocknanuss he suggested to Baron Inchiquin
Murrough O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin
Murrough McDermod O'Brien, 1st Earl of Inchiquin and 6th Baron Inchiquin , was known as Murchadh na dTóiteán ....
, the enemy general, that the battle should be decided by 1000 hand picked men from each side. Inchiquin's reply was sarcastic: you have performed as much as I desire in bringing your army hither, I shall not desire you to loose any advantage you have in numbers of men, being your offer was only made for recreation.
As fate would have it, Taaffe and Inchiquin fought on the same side at the Battle of Arklow
Battle of Arklow (1649)
The Battle of Arklow took place at Glascarrig on the coast road through Arklow in County Wicklow during November 1649. It was fought between the armies of Confederate Ireland , and the English Parliamentarians during the Irish Confederate Wars.-Background:By late October 1649, the Irish had...
two years later. Unfortunately for Taaffe, Inchiquin lost this time.
With the defeat of the Royalist cause in Ireland, Taaffe went into exile with Charles II. He was one of the ten named in Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652
Act for the Settlement of Ireland 1652
The Act for the Settlement of Ireland imposed penalties including death and land confiscation against participants and bystanders of the Irish Rebellion of 1641 and subsequent unrest.-Background:...
as leaders of the Royalist forces in Ireland.
Following the Restoration, he was created Earl of Carlingford.
He was sent on missions to the Duke of Lorraine and to the Holy Roman Emperor
Holy Roman Emperor
The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...
, by which was established the connection of his family with the house of Habsburg and Lorraine, which continued to the end of the Habsburg monarchy.
He was married twice, firstly to Mary White, by whom he had a son, The Hon. John Taaffe, who married Rose Lambart, and secondly to Anne Pershall, without issue. He also had a daughter by Lucy Walter
Lucy Walter
Lucy Walter or Lucy Barlow was a mistress of King Charles II of England and mother of James Scott, 1st Duke of Monmouth. She is believed to have been born in 1630 or a little later at Roch Castle near Haverfordwest, Wales into a family of middling gentry...
named Mary Crofts (The Hague, 1651–1693), whose father some sources claim to have been Theobald Taaffe, 1st Earl of Carlingford and others Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington
Henry Bennet, 1st Earl of Arlington KG, PC was an English statesman.- Background and early life :He was the son of Sir John Bennet of Dawley, Middlesex, and of Dorothy Crofts. He was the younger brother of John Bennet, 1st Baron Ossulston; his sister was Elizabeth Bennet who married Robert Kerr,...
, married firstly William Sarsfield and had female issue, and married secondly William Fanshawe (b. The Hague, May 1651), and had issue.