Lordship of Ireland

Lordship of Ireland
NsMn · CC BY 3.0 · source
Native name	Dominium Hiberniae
Conventional long name	Lordship of Ireland
Common name	Ireland
Continent	Europe
Region	British Isles
Capital	Dublin
Government type	Lordship
Title leader	Lord of Ireland
Leader1	Henry II of England
Year start	1177
Year end	1542
Event start	Norman invasion of Ireland
Event end	Crown of Ireland Act 1542

Lordship of Ireland. The Lordship of Ireland was a medieval state that existed from the 12th to the 16th century, established by the Norman invasion of Ireland led by Richard de Clare and Earl of Pembroke. The Lordship was created after the Treaty of Windsor in 1175, where High King of Ireland Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair recognized the King of England Henry II of England as his overlord. This led to the establishment of the Lordship, with Henry II of England as the first Lord of Ireland, and the Archbishop of Canterbury playing a significant role in the English Reformation and the Church of Ireland.

History of the Lordship

The history of the Lordship of Ireland is closely tied to the History of England and the History of the British Isles. The Lordship was established after the Norman conquest of England in 1066, when William the Conqueror became King of England. The Lordship was also influenced by the Papal Bull Laudabiliter, issued by Pope Adrian IV in 1155, which granted the King of England permission to invade and govern Ireland. The Lordship played a significant role in the Medieval period, with notable events including the Battle of the Boyne and the Treaty of Limerick. Key figures such as James FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond, Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond, and Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare shaped the Lordship's history.

Establishment and Early Years

The establishment of the Lordship of Ireland began with the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169, led by Richard de Clare and Earl of Pembroke. The invasion was supported by the King of England Henry II of England, who later arrived in Ireland in 1171. The Lordship was formally established in 1177, when Henry II of England was recognized as the Lord of Ireland by the Irish kings and the Pope. The early years of the Lordship were marked by conflicts between the Norman invaders and the Gaelic Irish kingdoms, including the Kingdom of Connacht and the Kingdom of Munster. Notable figures such as Tairrdelbach Ua Conchobair, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, and Cathal Crobhdearg Ua Conchobair played important roles in shaping the Lordship's early years.

Governance and Administration

The governance and administration of the Lordship of Ireland were carried out by the Lord of Ireland and the Irish Parliament. The Lordship was divided into shires, with the Justiciar of Ireland responsible for administering justice and collecting taxes. The Irish Parliament was established in the 13th century and consisted of the Lords Temporal and the Lords Spiritual. The Lordship also had a complex system of feudalism, with the Lord of Ireland at the top and the vassals and sub-vassals below. Key institutions such as the Chancery of Ireland and the Exchequer of Ireland played significant roles in the governance and administration of the Lordship. Notable figures such as John Wogan, Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Kildare, and James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormonde held important positions in the Lordship's governance.

Relationship with the Crown

The relationship between the Lordship of Ireland and the Crown of England was complex and often tumultuous. The Lordship was established as a vassal state of the King of England, with the Lord of Ireland owing allegiance to the Crown. However, the Lordship also had a significant degree of autonomy, with the Irish Parliament and the Justiciar of Ireland exercising considerable power. The relationship between the Lordship and the Crown was influenced by events such as the Statutes of Kilkenny and the Treaty of Windsor. Key figures such as Edward I of England, Edward II of England, and Richard II of England played important roles in shaping the relationship between the Lordship and the Crown. The Lordship's relationship with the Crown was also influenced by the Hundred Years' War and the Wars of the Roses.

Decline and Eventual Absorption

The decline of the Lordship of Ireland began in the 15th century, with the Gaelic Revival and the rise of the Gaelic Irish kingdoms. The Lordship was also weakened by the Black Death and the Great Famine of 1315-1317. The final blow to the Lordship came with the Crown of Ireland Act 1542, which abolished the Lordship and established the Kingdom of Ireland in its place. The Kingdom of Ireland was a crown colony of the Crown of England, with the Monarch of England serving as the Monarch of Ireland. The decline of the Lordship was also influenced by the Reformation in Ireland and the Plantations of Ireland. Notable figures such as Henry VIII of England, Edward VI of England, and Mary I of England played important roles in the decline and eventual absorption of the Lordship. The legacy of the Lordship can be seen in the modern-day Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland, with institutions such as the Oireachtas and the Parliament of Northern Ireland tracing their roots back to the Irish Parliament and the Justiciar of Ireland.

Category:Medieval Ireland