For the history of Ireland before 1485, see
Ireland: history to 1154 and
Ireland: history 1154 to 1485.
The monarchs of the
Tudor dynasty tried to extend their control over Ireland. During the reign of
Henry VII Poynings' Law (1494) gave the English Parliament control over the Irish Parliament, and in 1541
Henry VIII assumed the title King of Ireland. Ireland was divided into counties, and brought under English law. The mere fact of English occupation made the Irish hate them, but the Act of Supremacy (1534) and the break with Rome during the
Reformation introduced another factor into the conflict: disagreement over religion. Concerned about growing Catholic Irish conspiracy with their Catholic enemies abroad,
Elizabeth I and
James I went further, confiscating lands from Irish Catholic rebels and giving them as plantations to loyal Protestant settlers, many of them from Scotland. The result was a string of further revolts and rebellions, the worst of which were the
Desmond revolts of 156983. These uprisings were put down with great ruthlessness.
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