Silken Thomas

Question 1

When did the rebellion take place and how long did it last?

Answer 1

Between June 1934 and March 1935

9 months

Question 2

Where did the rebellion take place?

Answer 2

In Ireland and started in Dublin

Question 3

Who led the rebellion?

Answer 3

Silken Thomas, son of the Earl of Kildare

Question 4

What were the two main causes?

Answer 4

Resistance from regions to increase the power of the centre

The distribution of patronage - the Kildare family felt it was losing ground to rivals. Cromwell sought to control patronage, which had previously guaranteed Kildare supremacy

Question 5

What was a subsidiary cause and what demonstrated this?

Answer 5

A fear that the Reformation would be exported to Ireland

The rebellion was labelled a ‘crusade’

Question 6

What happened in 1937?

Answer 6

Thomas and his 5 uncles were executed

Question 7

What was indirect rule of Ireland replaced with and what was the consequence?

Answer 7

An attempt at Cromwellian methods, based on closer English control, especially the appointment of Englishmen to major Irish posts, including Lord Deputies and Treasurers

Fundamentally destabilised relations between London and the Anglo-Irish lords

Question 8

What happened to the Kildare family and what was the consequence?

Answer 8

Kildare earldom was suspended until 1569 and lands were temporarily confiscated

The weakening of the family led to negative consequences as they had kept other great Irish families down

Question 9

What did the Reformation Parliament of 1536-37 do and what did this demonstrate?

Answer 9

Refused to grant a subsidy and threw out all bills reforming the administration

The continued lack of English strength

Question 10

What were the English cautious about?

Answer 10

Imposing religious change

Question 11

What happened in 1542 and what did this do?

Answer 11

Ireland was created as a kingdom: Henry became King of Ireland rather than Lord of Ireland and could therefore claim greater loyalty and power

Question 12

Give four reasons for why the rebellion failed:

Answer 12

Thomas’s strategy was ineffective

There was a major English response in terms of troops sent and money expended

Thomas lost the support of the clergy by ordering the execution of the Archbishop of Dublin

Thomas allowed himself to be besieged at Maynooth, meaning the small English army could concentrate all its forces on one spot

Question 13

Give two reasons why the rebellion was significant:

Answer 13

The rebellion cost London £75,000 to suppress

The aim of the rebellion - to lessen the English centralisation of Ireland - was major. Fletcher argued that the rebellion was ‘an act of total opposition to what was going on’

Question 14

What had the English crown done that led to the rebellion and what was the consequence for the 9th Earl of Kildare?

Answer 14

Decided to move away from depending on the local Anglo-Irish to govern the lordship of England and returned to the policy of appointing English military men

His authority and position were gradually eroded

Question 15

How was the Earl frequently undermined by Cromwell?

Answer 15

Cromwell’s proposals included the abolition of the old feudal system of local government, such as the Liberty of Kildare

Question 16

What happened in February 1534?

Answer 16

The earl was summoned to London, and assigned Thomas as his vice deputy at the head of the English government in Ireland.

The earl appointed a council of close allies to advise his son

Took possession of the royal ordnance that was intended for the King’s army in London

Question 17

What did the Earl fail to do?

Answer 17

Win over the king

Question 18

What happened on 11th June 1934?

Answer 18

Thomas rode into St Mary’s Abbey in Dublin, accompanied by 140 armed horsemen

Thomas renounced his allegiance to the King and demanded the Irish take an oath of loyalty to the Pope and to Thomas

Resigned from the council

Question 19

How many men did Thomas raise and who did he seek support from?

Answer 19

1000

The Pope and Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor

Question 20

What had the Archbishop of Dublin done and what happened to him on 26th June?

Answer 20

Began legal action to reclaim the lands on the southwestern fringes of the diocese, such as those on the borders of Wicklow and Kildare

The archbishop was murdered by the supporters of Thomas

Question 21

Who did Thomas gather support from but why was it not significant?

Answer 21

Powerful Gaelic families in Leinster and old Anglo-Irish families

Local nobles submitted rather than fight

Question 22

What happened on 2nd September 1934?

Answer 22

Thomas had succeeded in taking the royal castle at Carlow and began a siege of Dublin castle, but most Irish towns including Waterford refused to support the rebellion

The citizens of Dublin also resisted Thomas

Question 23

What happened on 24th October 1934?

Answer 23

Sir William Skeffington arrived with a 2300-strong royal army

Question 24

What happened early in 1935?

Answer 24

Carlow Castle was retaken, and the momentum was firmly with the Crown forces

Question 25

What happened in March 1935 and on 23rd March?

Answer 25

Skeffington besieged Maynooth Castle, and several large pieces of artillery were deployed

The castle was stormed and captured

Question 26

What happened to the defenders?

Answer 26

40 were executed

Question 27

What happened in August 1535?

Answer 27

Thomas surrendered to Lord Leonard Grey, who promised that his life would be spared

Question 28

What happened in October 1935?

Answer 28

Thomas was imprisoned

Question 29

What happened on 3rd February 1537?

Answer 29

Thomas was executed at Tyburn

Question 30

What happened in 1534 and what was the significance?

Answer 30

Cromwell replaced the Earl of Kildare as Deputy with Lord Skeffington

Cromwell intended this as a way of ensuring no one Irish lord became too powerful but was taken as a direct attack on the Kildare family