16~17세기 얼스터 귀족 여성들의 지위와 역할 -오닐과 오도넬 가문의 사례를 중심으로-

초록

This paper seeks to examine the status and roles of Ulster women during the turbulent period of the 16th and 17th centuries, from the beginning of England’s re-conquest of Ireland in the Tudor era through the Nine Years’ War, the Flight of the Earls, and the Plantation of Ulster. While there are various possible approaches to the study of women’s status and roles, this paper focuses on two specific dimensions. First, it explores women’s positions and activities in the political and military spheres—areas in which Ulster women were especially marginalized. Topics addressed include the formation of political alliances through marriage, the recruitment and management of mercenaries, espionage, and fosterage. Second, the study concentrates on the political and military roles of women in the O'Neill and O'Donnell families—the two most prominent dynasties in Ulster at the time. This focus is informed both by the nature of the primary sources consulted, which predominantly refer to noblewomen in official records, and by the fact that these two families were most deeply entwined with the political and military upheavals of the period. Of course, the experiences of a few noblewomen cannot fully represent the lives of all women in Ulster. Nevertheless, this paper seeks to shed light on women’s lives by highlighting the presence of those who exercised considerable political influence and authority—even within a society characterized by strong patriarchal and militaristic norms.

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