Teigue O'Rourke was the last king of West Breifne from 1603 until his death in 1605.
12 Facts About Teigue O'Rourke
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Teigue O'Rourke was the son of Brian O'Rourke and Mary Burke of Clanricarde.
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Under English law, Teigue O'Rourke was the legitimate heir to the kingship of West Breifne and, as a son of a wealthy pro-English family, was favoured by the crown government in Dublin from the outset to inherit his father's title.
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However, his father's chosen successor was his "illegitimate" half-brother Brian Oge Teigue O'Rourke, who was nine years his elder and lived with Sir Brian in Leitrim.
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Teigue's inheritance was thrown into further doubt when Lord President Richard Bingham, who effectively wanted to end the O'Rourke dynasty, occupied West Breifne in 1590 and ousted Sir Brian, who was executed for treason at Tyburn the following year.
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Teigue O'Rourke moved to Tyrconnell at the outbreak of the Nine Years' War in 1594 and, despite his brother fighting alongside Hugh Roe O'Donnell and Hugh O'Neill as an ally, Teigue O'Rourke continued to petition them to support his claim as king.
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Teigue O'Rourke was captured by Hugh Roe O'Donnell in early 1598.
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O'Donnell forced Teigue O'Rourke to marry his sister Mary, in order to formalise an alliance and antagonise Brian Oge.
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Strength and valour were of utmost importance for a leader's credibility in Gaelic Ireland and the likelihood of Teigue O'Rourke becoming king dwindled.
10.
When it became clear that the English forces were to be victorious at Kinsale, Teigue O'Rourke moved swiftly with the support of the Clanricarde Burkes to seize control of West Breifne.
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Teigue O'Rourke spent the remainder of the war in Dublin where he was welcomed by crown officials as heir.
12.
Teigue O'Rourke died after falling terminally ill in late 1605.