麻豆社

It took until 1540 before an English monarch (Henry VIII) could declare himself King of Ireland. Until Henry broke with Rome, the English monarchy was lord of Ireland. When Rome was discarded, so was the fiction. The English ruled, or at least they tried to.

This was the 16th century Troubles - Fitzgeralds, the Catholic Desmonds, fighting Butlers, the Protestant Ormondes. The bloody conflict came to a head during Elizabeth's reign. Walter Ralegh, then a young soldier and his half brother, Humphrey Gilbert who were both to become famous colonial explorers, were feared conquerors. The path to Gilbert's tent was lined with poles, on top of which were the heads of vanquished opponents.

In 1580, Ralegh and another captain, Macworth, led a force into Smerwick. No mercy was shown. In an hour 600 were put to the sword. Catholic Europe judged the rape of Smerwick to be as much a tragedy as the 1572 St Bartholomew's Day massacre in Paris. This was the first recorded English colonial atrocity.

The final Tudor battle for Ireland was against Hugh O'Neill, second Earl of Tyrone. O'Neill joined with Hugh Roe O'Donnell in what became known as O'Neill's Revolt. At first O'Neill succeeded but then his force was defeated at Kinsale in 1601. O'Neill submitted to the English in 1603. He thought he had surrendered to Elizabeth, but she had died just days before. It was left to James I of England (James VI of Scotland) to notionally take the submission and to offer the pardon.