Charles Fort (Daingean Shéarlais ​in Irish) is in the County Cork town of Kinsale in Ireland. Is an abandoned fort, built in 1601. In 1601, Ireland was an English client kingdom ruled by Elizabeth I in her position as Queen of Ireland. As such it was subject to attacks by England's long-time rivals the Spanish. England and Spain had been at war since 1585 over issues in the Netherlands in what would be known as the Anglo-Spanish War, and after the failure of the Spanish Armada in 1588, the Spanish sought the help of Hugh O'Neill, the Earl of Tyrone. The Earl of Tyrone was a clan leader who, along with other Irish lords, was heading a campaign against English rule in Ireland. O'Neill agreed to help the Spanish begin their invasion of Ireland by capturing the town of Kinsale.