Assessing Surrender and Regrant Policy of Henry VIII

I am going to assess how successful the policy of Surrender and Regrant of Henry the VIII. At the start of Henry VIII reign around 1509 he was lord of Ireland but had very little power over Ireland. Except in the pale even this was being challenged by the Fitzgerald’s. The rest of Ireland was controlled by a long line of Irish families or Anglo Irish people whose ancestors had settled in Ireland when Henry VII was king. Before Henry VIII inserted the policy of surrender and regrant in Ireland he did try and take military action and sent 2,300 men to try and take control of Ireland.

When this failed he decided to take down the Fitzgerald’s the main family in power in Ireland at the time. But finally henry decided his best option was surrender and regrant which was less costly and more effective way of taking control. 1

Henry wanted to reform Ireland into a protestant country, which would prove to be a hard task as Ireland was a strong religious country and very faithful to Rome.

Henrys break with Rome now left him with many enemies as most of Europe was catholic. Ireland now could be used against England by France or Spain as a way to launch an attack. 2

Henry was mainly concerned about the four counties surrounding Dublin known as the pale. The Irish nobles ruled the area surrounding the pale known as the colony. The Fitzgerald’s ruled the colony until 1534 and were very powerful and had great authority in Ireland.

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3 I feel the Fitzgerald’s play a very important part in how the policy of surrender and regrant came about. The Fitzgerald’s and the colony had no loyalty to the royals but they paid there feudal laws.

Surrender And Regrant

The Fitzgerald’s were the most powerful family in Ireland. Gerald Mor Fitzgerald was the 8th earl of Kildare and also the lord deputy of Ireland. Henry VII however removed Gerald Mor Fitzgerald from his role as lord deputy as Gerald was sympathetic to the House of Yorks. Henry VII sent Edward Poynings to replac…