16th Century Ireland Essay

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This essay is about sixteenth century Ireland and the barriers that prevented a reform from happening. The three major barriers that kept Ireland from reforming in the 16th century was religion and native lords of Ireland and the instability of government in Ireland. Both religion and the people of Ireland prevented many kings and queens from being able to control Ireland. Well the instability was the fault of the parliament and king or queen during the time. There were four kings and queens of England during the sixteenth century and all attempted to reform Ireland. Each achieved and failed at this goal. Henry VIII was the first during the time to try and reform Ireland after him came Edward VI, Queen Mary, and last but not least Queen Elizabeth. …show more content…

However, by the late 1520s King Henry VIII began inserting his power into Ireland due to the influence of Thomas Wolsey at first his power resulted in policy making. During this time many small wars broke out between Irish lords and England however Henry VIII’s authority did not grow aggressive until 1530s when he sent a 2,000 men army into Ireland to control the area around the Pale, since this was where the Kildare rebellion was taking place. By the end of the rebellion King Henry VIII took all of the Kildare’s land and killed the males, so the House of Kildare could no longer continue. Henry VIII no longer trusted the Irish Lords and began appointing English nobles. Soon after in 1536, King Henry VIII started a reformation parliament in Ireland, its main purpose was to enact an act of attainder against the Kildare House. An act of attainder is a law declaring a person guilty of treason and Henry VIII passed this law against the Kildare family and their supporters and anyone found breaking this law were killed. King Henry VIII command in Ireland continued when the reformation began in 1536 where he made George Browne, Archbishop of Dublin, and his final push for control was in 1541 when he declare himself King of Ireland and confiscated all lands until people declare loyalty to the

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