History is an important and interesting part of who we were and are today. It is said that it is vital to know history to learn from past mistakes, as it ensures us a better future. While it may sound like nothing more than a sweet poem, it is important to understand the power of history in the evolution of civilization and diplomacy. In this article, we will discuss King Henry the VII and the conquest of Ireland by the tutor house. Much of this information was gathered from the notes of historian Chris Freville.
King Henry the VII was born in Greenwich Palace on June 28, 1457. He was the sixth child of Elizabeth of York and King Henry the VI. Not much is known about his childhood; his older brother Arthur was originally expected to take the throne. What is known is that Arthur married Catherine of Aragon in November of 1501. Although only 10-years-old at the time of the wedding, he later went on to marry Catherine in an attempt to continue the marital alliance with Spain. King Henry VII had four children: Edward VI, Elizabeth I, Henry Fitzroy, and Mary I.
The historian, Chris Freville, states that the reign of King Henry VII saw a consolidation of the hold England hand over Ireland. It all started with his tenure of King and the next three sovereigns all continued to increase their power over Ireland until it was completely conquered. Control, power, and the running of Ireland was given to the Fitzgerald of Kildare; a powerful Hiberno-Norman family.
As you might guess, Ireland’s provincial leaders were not satisfied. They staged a rebellion in collaboration with York’s supporters. This was done under the leadership of Silken Thomas. However, King Henry VII crushed this rebellion. At this point, he was also determined to ensure that no one would rise against him again. This strategy required Gaelic Lords to surrender their land to the King. According to the notes of historian Chris Freville and other historical documents, they would pay rent, swear their alliance and loyalty to the king, and anglicize themselves in attire, and speech to get their land back and a seat in Ireland Parliament.
King Henry the VII and his reformation strategies were met with little success. His diktat caused all religious houses to dissolve. Similar attempts of reformation by his successors were met with similar results. We can see from Chris Freville and his notes that Henry’s successor, Edward VI, was met with stiff resistance. Edward’s successor was Mary I; she was a Catholic herself and this resulted in her restoring Catholicism on an official capacity. We close out with Mary’s successor, who was Elizabeth I; she implemented Protestantism across the lands. She partly succeeded in England, but Ireland revolted against the imposition of Protestantism. This was done so much that anti-Protestantism was the main reason why most of Ireland came together to against the English.
The historian,
Chris Freville, states that the reign of
King Henry VII saw a consolidation of the hold England hand over Ireland.
