Gallowglass 3D Render, Digital Artwork by SeannyOg

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Gallowglass

3D Render by SeannyOg

Galloglach, or Galloglass (Circa 1500 - 1600 C.E.).
First appearing in Ireland in the mid 13th century, the galloglass quickly became a staple of armies in Ireland as heavy infantry. Originating from the Scandinavian colonies in the Hebrides off the coat of Scotland, they blended Gaelic and Norse military traditions. In the context of Ireland they typically were paid with land and food, and though ubiquitous to Irish armies, they were at their core mercenaries, seeing service in English, French, Spanish, and German armies, and probably among others. Though often out matched compared to other heavily armored infantry of their heyday, they made up for this with a notable furiosity in battle, as quoted by John Dymmok: "chosinge rather to dye then to yeelde, so that when yt cometh to handy blowes they are quickly slayne or win the feilde". By the 1500s they were no longer Scotch-Norse mercenaries, instead having a firm place within Ireland. However, by 1608 with the defeat of Hugh O'Neill and Rory O'Donnell in the Nine Years' War and their flight from Ireland (The Flight of Earls) the Gaelic culture which at first recruited and later sustained the galloglass soldiers was at last destroyed by the English. The last galloglasses fled to the continent and faded within a few generations.