The Galloglass: Ireland's Axe Wielding Mercenary Class

[@SandRhomanHistory]

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[@brokenbridge6316]

I had heard of the Galloglass before but didn't know too much about their history. Thanks a bunch for bringing them to life in front of us.

[@chubbyninja89]

You should make more of these mercenary units videos. Maybe you could do one on the Varangian Guard as well.

[@WalesTheTrueBritons]

Ah, Welsh longbows have entered the chat. They were the most prized mercenary in Europe.

[@haliaeetus8221]

12:25 So the kings used pawns (Galloglass) against pawns in their games of thrones and had those bloody games be financed and taken even directly out of the peasants livelihoods and lives. So the Galloglass lives were like a huge culture of dogs eat dogs (and peasants being chihuauas) while royals and lords were safely eating cake.

[@ALavin-en1kr]

When it comes to religion that is where it gets dicy. The Anglican Church is one thing, the Presbyterian religion is something else. A depressing, Calvinist religion that brings its ugly world view of Predestination into how it views and lives life. The view that some are created by God to be saved; the equivalent of wheat, while others were created by God to be dammed; the equivalent of chaff to be destroyed or blown away by the wind is a bastard religion and heresy. The Anglican Church in Ireland has not been a problem for Catholics as the Presbyterian religion has been. It is the religion of the Scots in Northern Ireland, it is a bastardization of Christianity and is not a true religion.

[@Kevc00]

Would love an accompanying video on the Kerns as the gallowglass and kerns often fought on the continent in groups with the two units complimenting each other's fighting style. When the military reforms of O'Neill came in in the late 16th century he reorganised this manipular system, rather than light infantry and heavy infantry, he re-equipped the Gallowglass as pikemen, and the light infantry Kern's as musketeers with calivers.

[@Jtworthy1]

Oooooh we need a good Kern video

[@Sanguivore]

Seconding this request!

[@CutShort03]

1000%

[@silverchairsg]

After years of extensive research, historians have finally determined that Gallowglasses have an attack of 16, a charge bonus of 9 and a total defence of 12.

[@scottanno8861]

They were too expensive as mercenaries though, and had terrible protection against ranged attacks in M2TW

[@krystofcisar469]

Truth... Still one of my favorite mercenaries. :D

[@breakerdawn8429]

​@@scottanno8861You use them as shick troops lol. If it got shot by arrows you're using it wrong

[@scottanno8861]

@@breakerdawn8429 Easier said than done bro England is all longbowmen

[@breakerdawn8429]

@@scottanno8861 Wait you didn't hire them while playing as the English?

[@_Saracen_]

I live about 15 minutes away from a town in Donegal, Ireland called Milford. When I was a kid and we were traveling through it my father used to constantly remind us what Milford was in Irish, Baile na nGallóglach, town of the Galloglasses!

[@imperatorscotorum6334]

In the Battle of Curlew Pass in 1599, a detachment of Gallowglass on foot their swords and axes counter-charged a charge of the English cavalry, and won. Fierce warriors indeed

[@imperatorscotorum6334]

At the end of the 16th century the Irish earl of Tyrone Hugh O’Neill revolutionised native Irish warfare by being the first gaelic chieftain to raise a standard army from the peasantry, rather than relying on the traditional gallowglass and kerne, and trained this force in contemporary European pike and shot tactics. He managed to raise up to 10,000 men, an unprecedented number for Irish armies at the time, and armed them with so many arquebusiers they actually had more firearms than the English army. This was the most serious threat the English had ever faced in Ireland, and they were able to inflict a series of stinging defeats against the forces of the English crown in Ireland before eventually being defeated themselves at Kinsale in 1601.

[@Doyle_Lorean2105]

If the spanish landed in the right part of ireland, things might have been different. What I want to know is, what did hugh o'neill want to achieve? make ireland a vassal state of Spain, or gain more independence for ireland, or just ulster. Hard to know.

[@vatsal7640]

The thing is ,anglo norman lords also used gallowglass mercenaries. So the English would probably have regiments of them in thier armies as well

[@waynenash6008]

@@vatsal7640 your correct,, Elizabeth 1st, recruited clansman from the western Highlands, especially,, Maclean's,,

[@imperatorscotorum6334]

Gallowglasses also have the distinction of being mentioned in Shakespeare’s Macbeth, with the line “of kerns and gallowglasses is supplied”, which speaks to the impression they made on contemporary English minds. Ireland in the 16th century was England’s Afghanistan of the time, and the gallowglass, although becoming obsolete, were still feared enemies.

[@backtonovember5306]

So like the gallowglass were suicide bombers of their era

[@cacamilis8477]

​@@backtonovember5306 No? Why would you think that?

[@backtonovember5306]

@@cacamilis8477 It's the only logical conclusion yknow. 1/1 = 1, 2+2 = 4, every action has a reaction, allat n shit

[@cacamilis8477]

@@backtonovember5306 Then explain your logic. This isn't hard.

[@imperatorscotorum6334]

I used the comparison of Ireland being the Afghanistan of Shakespeare’s day, because it was a prolonged, costly occupation of a very foreign land fighting against natives fond of ambushes and other non-conventional tactics. The galloglass-suicide bomber comparison doesn’t exactly fit though,

[@bppmurphy]

Now we're on an Irish history tangent, Sandrhoman has to do an analysis on the Battle of the Boyne. Only man up to the job

[@imperatorscotorum6334]

The Battle of Aughrim was even bloodier and more significant from a historical point of view, it was the bloodiest battle ever fought in Ireland or in Britain and involved soldiers from Ireland, Englandc France, the Netherlands and Denmark

[@bppmurphy]

@@imperatorscotorum6334 Indeed that is true. I suppose a whole series on the Williamite War which would include both battles would be cool?

[@colmmcg100]

YES!!!!!! more irish topics please 🇮🇪🇮🇪🇮🇪

[@ViktoriousDead]

Inviting Normans into your country to help fight your enemies is like letting a pack of wolves into your house to get rid the mice

[@generalmarkmilleyisbenedic8895]

Lmao indeed

[@denizergun6325]

Though it worked in Scotland.

[@krystofcisar469]

It was centuries after William the bastard/conqueror invited himself so it wasnt those normans anymore :D

[@Nozylatten]

@@denizergun6325 yes

[@thinkinghmmmm]

Although it worked out for me. My family became very powerful and still to this day hold public officer and military positions, have spread to Canada, USA and many other places. We Mortons come from Robert the bastards half brother Robert curthose. Now you can find the name in many places. Quite fascinating.

[@gordonmcinnes8328]

Given the style of weapons used (2 handed axes) it likely they were a Celtic progression of Housecarls/Huscarls with a mercenary bent. It's the further progression of the Norse influence on Ireland and possibly some Saxon too. At the Battle of Hastings there are accounts of Huscarls felling mounted knights too.

[@normtrooper4392]

What a fascinating history. There is something to be said about a warrior kindred. Youths learning from their more experienced uncles and fathers. What a different time it was. And they too fell before the advent of modernity and the large professional army.

[@lostShadowLord]

I read somewhere that Hugh O'neill's Musketeers, where originally Galloglass, as they were the only ones he could trust with firearms

[@GallowglassAxe]

Yes and no. The kerns used matchlocks but were only using them for hit and run tactics. The Gallowglass' discipline of never turning back worked well in holding rank and keep shooting without screwing up and blowing yourself up.

[@joeerickson516]

"By the way, would the Gallowglass Norwegian,🇳🇴 Scottish,🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Irish,🇮🇪 mercenaries payed,🪙 💵 by the King,👑 Charles the fifth of Granada, Habsburg Spain,🇪🇸 to explore and conquer primitive stone,🪨 age ancient Aztec Mexico,🇲🇽 San Salvador,🇦🇷 and Panama,🇵🇦 with Hernan Cortez, Pedro de Alvarado, Cristobal de Olid and Bernal Diaz, in the year of fifteen hundred nineteen to the year of fifteen hundred twenty-one during the exploration,🔭 christianization,💒☦ colonization, and conquest of the primitive stone,🪨 age ancient aztec empire of primitive stone,🪨 age ancient Mexico,🇲🇽 San Salvador, 🇦🇷 and Panama,🇵🇦 in the year of fifteen hundred nineteen to the year of fifteen hundred twenty-one, during the age of exploration,🔭 of the new world,🗺 in the year fifteen hundred nineteen to fifteen hundred fifty-three?"

[@joeerickson516]

"By the way, would Hugh O'Neil 's Norwegian,🇳🇴 Scottish,🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 Irish,🇮🇪 Gallowglass musketeer mercenaries on horseback,🏇 of an English,🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 standard thoroughbred horses,🐴 wearing Southern German,🇩🇪 plate,🍽 armor and chainmail,🔗⛓ for protection, get payed, 🪙 💵 by King,👑 Charles the fifth of Granada, Habsburg Spain,🇪🇸 to explore,🗺 colonize, christianize,💒☦ and conquer with Hernan Cortez, Pedro de Alvarado, Cristobal de Olid, and Bernal Diaz, alongside their primitive stone,🪨 age indigenous native american auxiliaries such as the Tlaxcala and the Tarascans, and the West african,🌍 Nigerian,🇳🇬 slaves, against the hostile primitive stone,🪨 age ancient aztec jaguar,🐆 and eagle,🦅 warriors alongside the coyote, 🐺 warrior priests of primitive stone,🪨 age ancient Mexico,🇲🇽 San Salvador, 🇦🇷 and Panama,🇵🇦 led by Emperor Montezuma's successor's lieutenants in the battle,💥 of Otumba, in the year fifteen hundred nineteen to the year of fifteen hundred twenty-one, during the siege,💥 of the primitive stone,🪨 age ancient Mexican,🇲🇽 city,🏙 of Tenochtitlan, in the year of fifteen hundred nineteen to fifteen hundred twenty-one, during the age of exploration,🔭 of the new world,🗺 of the primitive stone,🪨 age ancient mesoamerica, 🇲🇽 🇦🇷 🇵🇦 in the year of fifteen hundred twenty-one to the year of fifteen hundred fifty-three?"

[@badgeractual8881]

Thanks for this, good content like this is hard to find on Irish history!

[@noahkidd3359]

The art style has improved so much!! Congrats

[@Al-ou3so]

11:40 an Irish family depicted as olive skinned. More lies and revisionism.

[@K.R.I.E.G-88th]

I’m Irish and this is awesome, I’m from clan Osullivan we fought alongside the Spanish against the English to defend our home castle.

[@RyanONeill-dy6pc]

‘American of Irish descent’ more likely

[@cacamilis8477]

You live in the US don't you.

[@K.R.I.E.G-88th]

@@RyanONeill-dy6pc I live in New Zealand 🇳🇿

[@PaulDowning]

@@cacamilis8477 Of course he does

[@K.R.I.E.G-88th]

@@cacamilis8477 nope

[@Sabrowsky]

there is something darkly comical about the first time in Irish History someone mentions a handgun being an incident of it being used as a club

[@RealityOrganized]

This is good. How about a similar video on Irish armies overall, in the 8th to 13th centuries?

[@AGS363]

The standards of martial culture are quite diverse: 13th century - train live long to become an acceptable warrior 16th century- fight or starve

[@krystofcisar469]

5-6century was probably one of the toughest medieval period imo :D

[@Sealdeam]

Hope you eventually cover the Almogavars too, they were a Medieval force though so maybe they might not be completely within the scope of the channel but their history in Iberia, Sicily and the Eastern Mediterranean is fascinating.

[@Osvath97]

Almogavars are very interesting. They are one of the few elite shock units in the Middle Ages that did not come from the ancient Indo-European warrior noble background (even the gallowglass were basically just a separate branch on the same tree as knights), instead almogavars came from dispossessed herders who had to infiltrate their old occupied lands to continue their living, which eventually evolved in to a kind of guerilla warfare. All though equipped like light infantry, in open battle almogavars were used as heavy shock infantry, sometimes straight up charging mounted knights.

[@teddygrizz]

It's interesting to see the similarities and differences between elite warrior classes around the world. Cultural similarities to knights and samurai, but also major differences.

[@GallowglassAxe]

This is phenomenal! You're research is spot on and the artwork is amazing!

[@thcdreams654]

Great work as usual man. Thanks for the insight to more esoteric historical subjects. Your content is always top quality.

[@davidlewis8814]

The battle referenced at the very beginning of Shakespeare’s Macbeth is a skirmish between the Scottish Thanes in service to King Duncan against a rebel MacDonwald (soon to be former Thane of Cawdor) and the King of Norway, in which the Gallowglasses (his spelling) are there!

[@Wow22109]

Pike and shot the demise of many professional hand to hand combat mercenary. The democratization of warfare through well trained drills and cheap and easy to learn weapons really changed europe for a long time, thanks Sandrohman for this enlightening video, hope to see more!

[@imperatorscotorum6334]

Some fantastic artwork in this video

[@Vanillagorilla1529]

When John Marston isn't being an outlaw he's a historian on Scottish mercenaries

[@r.ssumedh7626]

*Jim Milton.

[@Vanillagorilla1529]

@@travalerfromthefarwest he's an outlaw In red dead redemption but this man has the same name

[@eastcorkcheeses6448]

Fostering was common in that era - as a way of binding families together, so i'd imagine having your sons or nephews fostered out to a galloglas family was a good way of expanding the ranks of amiable soldiers and training your own close family members ... As well as providing a useful profession for cousins and nephews ,

[@huntermccoy7641]

Man people are so ready to pick a team from hundreds of years ago instead of just enjoy history

[@DesignerBerg]

Such incredible content! Thank you for making this!

[@wargriffin5]

@6:45 I'm just imagining the ghost of some Norse/Scottish/Irish mercenary yelling "IT'S AN AXE!" 🤣

[@jbearmcdougall1646]

Norwegian Scottish and Irish… all mixed together gives us a Galloglas warrior

[@P.O.T.E.]

Long before the feuding brothers of Liam and Noel, the Gallaghers took their name from a cast of warrior mercenaries, the Galloglass.

[@Artur_M.]

Everything about this video is so cool!

[@richardbradley2335]

Beautifuly done as always

[@memofromessex]

If you're going to the Gallowglass, you'll have to do the kerns and woodkerns next! I dispute this as brave Irishman fighting together against the English - they were just as likely to fight against their fellow Irishmen or with the English.

[@GabrielSilva-lt2lj]

Yeees!

[@Ziddings]

I am incredibly excited to see this in my recommended. A really interesting topic in my opinion

[@Harib_Al-Saq]

I first learned about the Gallowglass from Rome Total War Barbarian Invasion.

[@Cringemanic123-bm6bm]

Just like how barbarian fraud muhammed did to others

[@Slava_Ukraini1991]

@@Cringemanic123-bm6bm name checks out.

[@Cringemanic123-bm6bm]

@@Slava_Ukraini1991 what

[@philjohnson1744]

The art is so dang good. Thanks for the great vid.

[@geemanamatin8383]

gotta admit, these gallowglass seem a lot cooler than typical knights riding horses. Fighting on foot with long two-handed axes in formation is a lot more appealing for my knight fantasies. ;)

[@sojalemmi1515]

But they dont wear the cool suites of armor, and anyway, knights could dismount to fight.

[@flyboymike111357]

They fought like dismounted knights, just with fewer plates in their armor, and simpler axes. Other halberdiers had similar roles in the Era, and could also take men off their horses. That's not to take away from the courage and skill of these men. But it is important to understand that against more expensive heavy infantry, especially dismounted knights, they would have had serious disadvantage.

[@afrikasmith1049]

I bet the descendants of the Galloglass must be very proud of their ancestors.

[@szymonbaranowski8184]

i hope their ancestors can be proud of their descendants fertility otherwise they have no right to be proud of spoiled non expanded heritage

[@Lofirainbows]

That's me

[@phanties]

@@szymonbaranowski8184 huh?

[@eddiemccabe4585]

We are 😊

[@afrikasmith1049]

@@phanties What did he say? His comment is blocked for some reason.

[@tarsicio2426]

The best merc infantry in medieval 2

[@thearizonatreasurehunter2313]

This is a great documentary of information! Keep these videos coming!

[@kylebrogmus8847]

They are pretty tough to kill in the Total War games.

[@2WARDEN2]

Excellent video! I'm a bit biased as my direct ancestors are Gallowglass (Clan MacSithigh) but it's pretty rare to find such a well informed and detailed coverage of their history! One thing worth noting is their reason for settling in Ireland: They typically requested plots of land and livestock as payment, so clans coming over to do merc work would be able to settle afterwards (Or at least, their families could).

[@MarktheRude]

11:13 They didn't just pretend to fight like mercenaries in Italy often did when facing their colleagues in the field of battle? That seems bit unmercenary-like.

[@Admiralofthedeeps]

The McSweeneys were a Gallowglass family that crop up a fair few times in the annals of the four masters. A document that is well worth a read for anyone interested in this period of Irish history. As an Irish person its good fun trying to find your family name and see what they might have been up to 😂

[@matacabrones4317]

many fought with Spain, and many went on to live in catholic Spain, and continued their military traditions, reaching great power, see Alfredo Kindelan, or Leopoldo O'Donell

[@szymonbaranowski8184]

Catholic gang rocks!

[@TheDemigreg]

Leopoldo O'Donnell wasn't descended from Gallowglass.

[@alexdetrojan4534]

Great video!

[@The_Gallowglass]

I'm glad to finally get some props.

[@_i_am_unceded]

Fair play to ya.

[@douglashoover6473]

Thanks - I had been wondering what kerns and galloglasses were since I read the mention of them in Macbeth, long, long ago.

[@FmattB222]

Discipline, drill, and numbers. That is a great summary of modern warefare

[@Al-ou3so]

No it’s not lmao. Drills, discipline, and numbers are tactics of cannon fire, muskets, etc. Napoleonic Wars and prior. Modern warfare (21st century) would be drones, IED, artillery, cyber attacks etc.

[@FmattB222]

@@Al-ou3so my phrasing was more within context of the video talking about the decline of the knight style warrior class. If someone walked up to a military unit and said they come from a line of warriors, they purchased their own gear and weapons, and were an expert shot..... they would still get sent to basic training, start at the rank of private/2nd lieutenant, and be issued standard gear+weapon for uniformity

[@RWNetworkEX]

Have you ever done a video on the Russian streltsy? If not would you consider doing one? They seem like an interesting discussion point for a video

[@SandRhomanHistory]

yeah definitely

[@bretthess6376]

There was a bad lot, who came to a bad end.

[@GallowglassAxe]

One thing I would like to clairfy is about the kerns. The Kerns were professional warriors and had to go through very strict training like spend several month in the wilderness in warbands. The unprofessional soliders or peasant levies were called Bonnaghts. The kerns wore minimum to no armor in order to maximize their speed and stamina. They were design for skirmishing tactics (as you mention) like cattle raiding which was Ireland's main form of warfare. The bonnaghts wore whatever armor they could get their hands on and were used as the front line soldiers and main bulk of large forces. The image at 2:29 is the best representation of a Bonnaght I have ever seen. They were rarely deployed in Ireland as large scale battles were exceptionally rare on the island.

[@TheDemigreg]

There's a debate if the kerns wore armor, we know they wore a gauntlet on their arm for deflecting blows.

[@woahhbro2906]

I'm American, but I'm 1/6234.05ths Irish and I'm confident absolutely none of my ancestors were one of these.

[@alexwendler5479]

Very nice work!

[@zetectic7968]

Very informative 😀 I only knew about them from Total War.

[@k.w.2275]

Which one, Britannia?

[@Macovic]

Very similar to Varangians (predominantly/orignally nordic) in the Byzantine empire.

[@harrydrinkwater2671]

In regards to your conclusion, have you ever looked into the 9 Years War? A key aspect of that particular war was the fact that the Irish Covenanters relied largely on modern European style pike and shot formations over the more traditional Irish troops that the English were used to fighting: this accounted for a number of their successes in the war, which they actually came close to winning at points.

[@ryanmccabe1036]

The Irish side of my family allegedly dates back to galloglass mercenaries hired by Irish kings.

[@alvaropulido5245]

Which one of your great great great great great great grandparents got plowed by a Galloglass merc? Their motto back in those days used to be “ Skirts get merc-ed”. Men used to wear skirts as well so they was plowing even the men.

[@seviam]

Please note the historical context, time frame Norman invasion of Ireland 1169. There was no Scotland per se.. The Picts inhabited what is called Scotland and the Irish Gaels had created the kingdom of Dal Raida along the western coast of Scotland. The Roman's called the Irish, Scotti. The Pictish and Irish (Scotti) kingdoms were united under "Kenneth McAlpine" in 843, or approx. Viking invasions throughout the 8th and 9th century claimed the Orkneys and the Hebrides. Viking settlement in Scotland was limited, according to the sagas.. due to the hostile nature of the natives.. Not until after the Norman invasion of England in 1066, and the spead of Norman influence into Scotland for the next 150 years, did the "nation" of Scotland take shape. (The Normans being Viking descendants living in Normandy, France.... long story) But they would have not thought of themselves as Scottish by this time, the were Gaels, spoke Gaelic, had Gaelic customs. They called their kingdom Alba. Anyway, I could keep rambling but will stop there. That's why Williie Wallace and the gang shout Alba Go Bragh in Braveheart, gaelic for "Alba forever"

[@crazychicSHENA]

Gauls and Picts are both Celtic Group's just a Little Different's in homeland England-Ireland ❤🕊️

[@brucecollins641]

@seviam.......lol..nonsense, it's gallic in scotland ,no the fabricated gaelic. the prefix dal originates in england..

[@seviam]

@@brucecollins641 I honestly have never read that anywhere. Where did you find that information? I'd be interested to read more about it... thank you

[@brucecollins641]

@@seviam it comes from the brittonic word dol then later gallic dail......type in......dal- new cumnock - new cumnock history.......then....... a brief history of the colonization of ireland and scotland | irish origenes | use your dna to rediscover your irish origin......although it would be gauls/galls no the fabricated gael. then type in.......the gaulcross hoard.......then .... the newbridge chariot.....(believed to be of gaullish design). then.......the enigmatic coins of the celtic tribes of britain...........

[@brucecollins641]

@@seviam the word scotti is not that auld. it comes from italy where the italians called the scottish mercenaries who sought service in italy. the name scotti was then adopted in italy as a surname. there is a village in italy that still upholds the traditions of these scottish mercenaries. scotlands name most likely comes from the scandinavian word skat....of which there is evidence.

[@carterc4307]

Who does the art for your videos? And great video as always

[@Son-of-Tyr]

Great video, my friend. Very well done and informative. I'll definitely be subscribing.

[@thepiratetemplar]

Please do an episode on the Kern.

[@glenn6583]

Very interesting! I have never heard of them before!

[@PotatoStickman200]

The Battle of Knockdoe was not the largest battle fought between Irishmen. It took place in Knockdoemore. The hill where the battle took place is named Cnoc Tua Mór in irish which means Hill of the Big Axes after the galloglass that fought there.

[@Thraim.]

I bet the Galloglass had "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" tattooed on their chest.

[@dl3472]

1:48 galloglass means foreign warriors ...explains why I first thought they looked like Vikings

[@JozefLucifugeKorzeniowski]

we're all from somewhere else unless you currently live in the fertile crescent,

[@dl3472]

@@JozefLucifugeKorzeniowski not true

[@K.R.I.E.G-88th]

I’m part Irish from one the top clans in Ireland (clan Osullivan) my clan bearer was donal cam Osullivan beare and we were from southern coastal Ireland, we had a castle in Castletownbear which is a coastal town. And back in the 16th century we were allies with the Spanish and we fought alongside the Spanish against the English at the battle of kinsale, unfortunately we lost badly and then later they sieged our castle named dun boy.

[@crispay8304]

You yanks are so gullible 😂

[@Steven-dt5nu]

New to your channel, and I enjoyed it.

[@TheTel]

This was very well done, good job! Cool to see how they operated both in more guerilla warfare contexts, as well as in open battle.

[@arashinoakumyo3535]

A friend named Andrew is descended from a Galloglass family (6th son of a minor family)

[@miklovelva6092]

I'm descended from the MacSweeney Galloglaigh(Gallowglass) clan.

[@arashinoakumyo3535]

@@miklovelva6092 I can’t remember what his clan was named and I’m out of contact with him. All I remember it was a small clan that had about 100 fighters.

[@13thcentury]

McSween? The guys that make the haggis? ​@@miklovelva6092

[@declanjones8888]

A video about my ancestors and its from SandRhoman! Well this is certainly appreciated.

[@scrowley0542]

As an irishman, that loves martial arts, that comes from a family of large athletic men. A little bit of research determined that we were mercenaries that were hired out, not sure if we were gallowglass, but im bot sure that matters lol. t's really interesting to touch up on our family's history.

[@notallowedtobehonest2539]

When the celts moved into the british isles... they spoke about fighting giants to take the land. Wales, ireland and celtic scots definitely look like they intermixed with giants.

[@eyzmin]

Gallowglass were almost all from Norse-Gaelic families, so if yours isnt one, then probably not

[@user-qi5jw2hg1c]

You don't sound very Irish in your youtube videos Shane!

[@ryancalming884]

​@@user-qi5jw2hg1cif that's him in the vids on his channel he's about as Irish as King Charles' balls

[@billybigballs9208]

I would easily beat you in a fight never mind a war boy

[@sarahsidney1988]

Love your videos so much

[@scumskimmer]

Interesting parallels between them and the Samurai, on another island at the edge of the Eurasian landmass

[@patrickbegley5696]

I am descended from Gallowglass from Kilmacrenan

[@domstafford1894]

16th century gallowglass: *has a gun* Also 16th century gallowglass: *uses it as a club*

[@GallowglassAxe]

During the English Civil War this was rather common. Bayonets hadn't been invented yet and often times the two forces would get so close that it was easier to just flip your musket around and club them than to draw your sword. Irish pikemen often carry a long dagger known as a scian instead of a sword for that reason.

[@knoll9812]

Guns only work if you have industry to make bullets and gunpowder

[@eoinocnaimhsi2598]

Aodh(Hugh) O'Neill reformed what was left of them and integrated them into the light pike formations.

[@philRminiatures]

Informative and beautifully done, a great video on a great subject!👍👍

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

Basically, they were the sort of the Irish's own Normans before the English arrived, and Irish knights without horses.

[@GerMFnU1848Sax]

Nobody likes the normans

[@robertthebruce-geniusofban647]

I really enjoyed this. Thank you and have subscribed!

[@wismsgre]

Perfect video

[@Alasdair37448]

great video love your animations!

[@TaRAAASHBAGS]

You should do a video on the condottieri. Basically as prolific as the landsknecht but far less information about them.

[@brucecollins641]

galloglass were scottish warrior clans from scotland, hired to fight the anglo - normans and given land in ireland for their services. then again hired for the battle of knockdoe, then kinsale. scottish redshanks were also hired in the 1500s.

[@porcupineinapettingzoo]

Henry II was not promised the kingship of Ireland, he was asked for assistance and dragged his feet. When one of his lords, who was very much not in Henry's good books, brought an army to Ireland which Henry II opposed at the last minute, this knight became the king of Leinster through marriage and suddenly a possible rival. Henry II landed with an army in Ireland, his knights offered up their gains and with the backing of the English pope and he declared himself king of the island of Ireland but it would be a long time before any English king could accurately claim to in control of a majority never mind the entire island.

[@patrickporter1864]

The Irish and the roman empire byzantines were the two fighting forces in Europe to stop the normans in their tracks. The gallowglass and the varangian guard were the main components in that action. Not dissimilar in their fighting styles either. Alot of the varangian guard were Anglo saxons and nose or their descendants.

[@charlesd3a]

The Gallowglass were in Ireland long before the 12th 13th centuries they're originally Irish natives that lived in Scotland and interacted with the Vikings whom were intised yo reture to Ireland by the king of the kingdoms which consists of Northern part of Ireland and of today's Scotland.

[@brucecollins641]

@charlesd3a......you need to research a bit deeper....it's gallic in scotland , no the mythical gaelic. the galls/gauls were always at war with the romans in the frankish regions of europe so some fled to england. when the romans invaded england they then fled to and settled in scotland. a few generations later some would cross over to ireland in the 12th century to help fight of the norman invasion of ireland......hence, GALLoglass no gaeloglas. you need to read up on the mythical origins of the gaels....a made up story by medieval irish monks to create an ancient lineage for ireland..

[@poundlandbandit6124]

@@brucecollins641 gall means stranger in Gaelic, gallic is just how it’s pronounced in Scotland.

[@brucecollins641]

@@poundlandbandit6124 no, gall comes from the frankish regions of europe a term the romans used for the tribe they were always at war with in that area.....the proper term is gallic but in some of the lower parts of scotland...pronounced gaylick. nothing to do with ireland. it most likely crossed over to ireland from scotland ..

[@MisterMick113]

​@@brucecollins641no, the term gall used in Gaelic is entirely different from Gaul and the Franks

[@brucecollins641]

@@MisterMick113 it's written and pronounced gallic in scotland , in some parts gaylick....the scottish clan chattan are believed to descend from a gaulish tribe the catti...the picts are believed to descend from a gaulish tribe the pictones..there's an area in aberdeenshire called gaulcross. it apears the irish scribes in the 1400s changed it to gaelic to suit the irish narrative of it originating from the mythical "goidel glas and his equally mythical wife queen scotia and their equally mythical son niul..

[@Battlpants1746]

These guys really tried to make bowlcuts look tough

[@flyboymike111357]

William Marshal pulled it off.

[@Battlpants1746]

@@flyboymike111357 shit you right

[@Auriorium]

I am starting to wonder if there are military units in our time that use the old names, like an Irish infantry unit called Galloglass or a Polish mechanised unit called the Winged Hussars.

[@PobortzaPl]

Polish armour units [read: tanks] use as their insignia winged hussars helmet and a wing

[@Kevc00]

Not really, but there are units in some armies that take the name of famous warrior groups, Viking battalions, or the Fianna with the Irish Special Forces.

[@marcoeire44]

Yes, we absolutely do. Look at the names of armour, naval and air units, respectively. I personally love the American nuclear missles named "The Minute Men".

[@declanjones8888]

​@@marcoeire44 Lol, "The Minute Men".

[@jasonhare8540]

Gallowglass ... My secret weapon in Rome Total War 🤣

[@kealydan]

Great video

[@kascally]

The army that restored McMurrough to his seat was not 'English', but mercenaries from Normandy, who were descendants of Norwegian mercenaries who had settled there. McMurrough was accompanied by Richard de Clare, Earl of Pembroke in Wales, a great grandson of one of the Normans who had invaded with William in 1066. They spoke French of course.

[@TheHuntsman570]

Tribe is an amazing read/listen.

[@qaz120120]

9:15 what is that spear like weapon called?

[@Daniboy049]

Ahlspeiss or awl pike

[@billybigballs9208]

It's called as spear

[@Darthdoodoo]

A pokemstick

[@vascoespañol]

Excelent soldiers, good allies of Spain.

[@Henryjohn22]

Best unit in medieval 2

[@NaturalExplorerNZ]

I would love to know the effect these guys had on the population structure of Ireland, sounds like a lot of influence

[@GallowglassAxe]

Not sure if you're talking about the commoner population or the higher ups. Though we're not a 100% sure it seems their recruitment was voluntary so just because you were a big guy didn't mean you were force to be a gallowglass. Now according to English sources they were not very pleasant to commoner people and would often murder them for minor offenses. They also mention them raping women and killing children. Now this comes from a rather biased source during a time of Queen Elizabeth who was going out of her way to exterminate the gallowglass. But they were also mercenaries who killed for a living and this sort of behavior is common among mercenaries all over Europe.

[@TheDemigreg]

Very little impact on the population they only numbered a few thousand out of a population of half a million.

[@Kaknamenuss]

Wondering, couldn't the Gallowglasses have filled a role similar to the Forlorn Hope in pike&shot-style warfare? A heavy, elite vanguard with two-handed weapons sounds exactly fitting for that. But I guess the english rather eradicated them.

[@andirieger1]

While it's not much fun to get shot at with arequebus or musket, it must suck especially if you are wearing chainmail and relied on densly packed formations who needed to get really close to do anything of note. It was literally adapt or die, and adaptation meant losing their special status. There's really no special eradication process needed, I fear. Though it would be on point for the English.

[@Lofirainbows]

@andikohlhaas This happened to the entire melee class in every culture I'd say, firearms are simply superior in most situations and didn't require as much skill or training

[@knoll9812]

Not really. Not relevant to Pike and shot. They were deployed as heavy infantry when needed against heavy infantry

[@alicelund147]

What is their relationship to Norse "Vikings" in Scotland and Ireland? They also had two-handed axes. Is their origin some Norse-Gaelic mixed community?

[@TheNEOverse]

Its basically believed they come from them.

[@2WARDEN2]

They're descendants of Norse that settled in northern parts of Scotland. Essentially they're Norse-Scots that over time emigrated to Ireland as mercenaries and settled.

[@thinkinghmmmm]

The Gallowglass were a warrior class of mercenaries who emerged in medieval Ireland, primarily from the 13th to the 16th century. They were of mixed Scottish and Norse-Gaelic heritage. They originated from the Western Isles of Scotland and the Highlands, and were descended from Norse-Gaelic clans who had intermarried with the native Scottish Gaelic population. The Gallowglass brought their unique fighting style and martial culture to Ireland, where they became a significant part of the Irish military landscape.