Kingdom of Ireland

The Kingdom of Ireland was a state that existed from 1542 until the end of 1800. It began when Henry VIII of England declared himself "King of Ireland" in 1542, trying to bring Ireland closer under English control. Though it was called a kingdom, it was really under the control of England and later Great Britain. A special leader called a viceroy, chosen by the English or British king, managed the kingdom from Dublin Castle.

For most of its time, the Kingdom of Ireland was ruled by a small group of Protestant people from England and Ireland, known as the Protestant Ascendancy. Most people in Ireland were Catholic, but they faced many restrictions and were not allowed to hold important jobs or serve in the army. This unfair treatment caused many problems and conflicts over the years.

In the late 1700s, the Irish parliament began to gain a little more freedom, and some rules against Catholics were relaxed. However, these changes led to tensions between different groups in Ireland. Eventually, in 1800, Ireland joined with Great Britain to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, ending the separate Kingdom of Ireland.

History

Main articles: History of Ireland (1536–1691) and History of Ireland (1691–1800)

See also: Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland

In the mid-1400s, English rule in Ireland was mostly limited to a small area on the east coast called "the English Pale." Over time, many local lords outside this area adopted Irish customs.

In 1542, the Kingdom of Ireland was created, with the English king also becoming the king of Ireland. This made Ireland more directly ruled by England. The new kingdom was different from the old Lordship of Ireland that existed before.

Later, in 1603, the same king also became king of Scotland, uniting the three countries under one ruler. New settlements were created in northern Ireland, changing its population. Over time, Ireland gained some self-government but was still controlled by British leaders.

In 1798, a rebellion tried to break free from Britain with help from France. This led to Ireland joining Britain fully in 1801, ending its own parliament. The area stayed under British rule until much later.

Viceroy

Further information: History of monarchy in the United Kingdom

The Kingdom of Ireland was led by a special leader called a Lord Deputy or viceroy. Important nobles, like Thomas Radcliffe, often held this job. Starting in 1688, the title changed to usually be called the Lord Lieutenant. When there was no Lord Deputy, other leaders called lords justices would take over. Even though some Irish people held the position, most of the leaders were from England. The viceroy managed the government's work in Ireland for the king, but in the 1700s, another important job called the Chief Secretary for Ireland became more powerful.

Parliament

Main article: Parliament of Ireland

The Kingdom of Ireland had a parliament with two parts: a House of Lords and a House of Commons. However, its powers were limited by laws from England, meaning it often just approved decisions already made there.

Certain groups, like Roman Catholics and other religious groups, were not allowed to be members of the parliament or vote for many years. Later, in 1793, they gained the right to vote, though Catholics still could not join the parliament or hold important government jobs. Only people who owned property could vote or be members of parliament. In the 1720s, the parliament moved into a new building in Dublin.

Army

The Kingdom of Ireland had its own army called the Irish Army. For a long time, this was the biggest army that the British Crown could use. It was much larger than the armies of England and Scotland.

Today, the modern Irish Army is not connected to the old army of the Kingdom of Ireland.

Church of Ireland

Main article: Reformation in Ireland

When a leader named Henry VIII was not accepted by an important group called the Catholic Church in 1538, most leaders in Ireland chose to follow the rules of the Church of England. They kept their jobs and control over many buildings and items, even though most people in Ireland still believed in the old Catholic ways.

Later, when a new ruler named Elizabeth I took charge in 1558, she followed the beliefs of the Anglican church. Even though the official church was now this new group, called the Church of Ireland, most people still stayed with their Catholic beliefs. This church stayed the main one until it was changed in 1871.

Ethnic conflict

The history of the Kingdom of Ireland still affects Irish-British relations today because of ongoing differences between the native Irish people and the new Anglo-Irish settlers. The settlers followed English culture, including language and laws, across Ireland, which later spread through the British Empire. However, most native Irish people kept their Gaelic culture and Irish language, even though this was sometimes seen as less desirable.

During this time, the whole island came under the control of a government based in Dublin, led from London. The Catholic Church, which most native Irish people followed, faced unfair laws that favored the Church of Ireland. Many native Irish people were treated unfairly because of their beliefs. Some areas saw big changes as new settlers arrived, changing the local culture. These events led to long-lasting effects that still influence Ireland today.

Coat of arms

The coat of arms of the Kingdom of Ireland showed a blue background with a golden harp with silver strings. This design was first described in old records from the 13th century. Though a crown was not part of the official arms, people often added a crown to the harp when they used it as a symbol.

King James included the harp in the royal symbols, and it has been used this way ever since. Different writers over time have described the symbols of Ireland in various ways. Some early records mentioned three crowns, but later the harp became the main symbol. The harp is also shown on the national flag of Ireland. The official royal badge from 1801 includes the harp and a green trefoil, both topped with a crown.