Today in 1534 Gerald Fitzgerald the Lord Deputy of Ireland died in the Tower of London. This was the period when England was trying to get a hold of their Irish colony, and Gerald’s father had questionable loyalty to the crown. His son was detained in England when he was young, but eventually, having married Henry VII’s cousin, he was allowed to go back to Ireland. Henry VIII named him the Lord Deputy of Ireland.
He was never able to keep peace in Ireland, and had been accused of corruption and inciting rebellion. In 1534 he was back in London where he was arrested. He was already in poor health, having lost the use of his limbs from earlier battles, and he died “of grief” in September
2. From Wikipedia: Kildare was praised by contemporaries as "wise, deep, far-reaching and well-spoken." Later historians have described him, despite his ultimate failure, as a man of considerable intelligence, learning and diplomatic skill. In private life he was a devoted husband and father, a generous host, a connoisseur of art and a great bibliophile.
That’s your Tudor Minute for today. Remember you can dive deeper into life in 16th century England through the Renaissance English History Podcast at englandcast.com where there is an episode on the English relationship with Ireland during the Tudor period.
Link:
England in IrelandTudor Foreign Policy: