Kingdom of Ireland

The Kingdom of Ireland was a client state established in 1542 when the English Crown declared Ireland a formal monarchy under King Henry VIII, replacing the earlier Lordship of Ireland. It aimed to unify English rule and authority over Ireland but faced resistance and complex relations with Irish nobility and Gaelic clans. The kingdom lasted until 1801, when Ireland formally joined Great Britain through the Act of Union, creating the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This period was marked by political, religious, and cultural shifts that influenced Ireland’s history and its path toward independence.