Ireland in 1500

King was Lord of Ireland and had little control. The country was divided into 3 areas:

1. The Pale (English speaking, common law, cattle raids)
2. The Anglo-Irish lordships (Norman descendants, common law, some Irish customs)
3. The Gaelic Irish lordships (Brehon law, clan owned tuath, little had changed since Celts)

Henry VIII and Ireland

Henry wanted greater control in Ireland because:

1. To reduce the power of the Fitzgerald’s of Kildare.
2. To prevent the French or Spanish from using Catholic Ireland as a base.
3. To introduce the changes in religion to Ireland.

Garret Óg put in jail. Silken Thomas... (More)