British rule in Ireland

Quick Facts: Who was British rule in Ireland?

Subject:

British rule in Ireland

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The complex evolution of British control over Ireland, leading to eventual independence.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

British rule in Ireland was built upon the 12th-century Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland on behalf of Kingdom of England, where parts of Ireland fell under English control. The full conquest of the island was completed in the 17th century after the Tudor conquest of Ireland. Most of Ireland gained independence from the United Kingdom following the Anglo-Irish War in the early 20th century. Initially formed as a Dominion called the Irish Free State in 1922, the Republic of Ireland became a fully independent nation state following the passage of the Statute of Westminster in 1931. It effectively became a republic with the passage of a new constitution in 1937, and formally became a republic with the passage of the Republic of Ireland Act in 1949.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Northern Ireland remains part of the United Kingdom as a constituent country. From the late 12th century, the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland resulted in Anglo-Norman control of much of Ireland, over which the kings of England then claimed sovereignty. By the Late Middle Ages, Anglo-Norman control was limited to an area around Dublin known as the Pale. Enacted in 1494, Poynings law ensured that the Irish parliament could not meet without the approval of England's monarch and Privy Council. In 1541, English king Henry VIII changed Ireland's status from a lordship to a kingdom, and he was proclaimed King of Ireland.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The Munster Plantation began in the late 16th century, and the Ulster Plantation in the 17th century. These events saw mostly Protestant colonists (primarily from England and Scotland) being given land in these provinces. Coinciding largely with the Eleven Years' War, the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland was led by Oliver Cromwell between 1649 and 1651, resulting in the confiscation of land from many native landowners and regranting to Parliamentarian supporters. Introduced in the 17th century, the Penal Laws outlawed the Catholic clergy and precluded Catholics in Ireland from owning or leasing land above a certain value, accessing higher education and certain professions, and gave primacy to the established church, the Church of Ireland. While these laws were later eased, including by the Treaty of Limerick which followed the Williamite War in Ireland (1688–1691), by 1778 Catholics still held only around 5% of land in Ireland.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1494: 1494 Milestone — Enacted in 1494, Poynings law ensured that the Irish parliament could not meet without the approval of England's monarch and Privy Council.
2. 1541: 1541 Milestone — In 1541, English king Henry VIII changed Ireland's status from a lordship to a kingdom, and he was proclaimed King of Ireland.
3. 1649: 1649 Milestone — Coinciding largely with the Eleven Years' War, the Cromwellian conquest of Ireland was led by Oliver Cromwell between 1649 and 1651, resulting in the confiscation of land from many native landowners and regranting to Parliamentarian supporters.
4. 1688: 1688 Milestone — While these laws were later eased, including by the Treaty of Limerick which followed the Williamite War in Ireland (1688–1691), by 1778 Catholics still held only around 5% of land in Ireland.
5. 1922: 1922 Milestone — Initially formed as a Dominion called the Irish Free State in 1922, the Republic of Ireland became a fully independent nation state following the passage of the Statute of Westminster in 1931.
6. 1937: 1937 Milestone — It effectively became a republic with the passage of a new constitution in 1937, and formally became a republic with the passage of the Republic of Ireland Act in 1949.

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: British rule in Ireland

True or False: “The Anglo-Norman invasion was the first sustained English military effort on the island of Ireland.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While significant, the initial control established by the Anglo-Normans was limited geographically to an area known as the Pale.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

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• Agnes Nixon — Historical peer (Born in 1922) (1922): Pioneering soap opera writer and producer, creator of 'One Life to Live' and 'All My Children'.
• A. P. J. Abdul Kalam — Historical peer (Born in 1931) (1931): Visionary aerospace engineer, scientist, and former President of India.
• Adolfo Pérez Esquivel — Historical peer (Born in 1931) (1931): Argentine activist and Nobel Peace laureate for human rights defense.
• Abdelaziz Bouteflika — Historical peer (Born in 1937) (1937): Algerian politician who served as the seventh President of Algeria from 1999 to 2019.
• Alain Badiou — Historical peer (Born in 1937) (1937): Influential French philosopher known for 'Being and Event' and universalism.
• Ahmed Zaki (actor) — Historical peer (Born in 1949) (1949): Iconic Egyptian actor celebrated for intense dramatic performances and masterful impersonation.
• Alan García — Historical peer (Born in 1949) (1949): Controversial Peruvian politician who served two non-consecutive terms as President of Peru.
• Domenico Ghirlandaio — Historical peer (Died in 1494) (1494): Master Florentine Renaissance painter known for vivid portraiture in religious scenes.
• François Rabelais — Historical peer (Born in 1494) (1494): Pioneering French Renaissance humanist, satirist, and scholar of the Gargantua cycle.

Frequently Asked Questions about British rule in Ireland