Ireland and Wales were nominally ruled by England during the 15th century; Wales was formally incorporated into England in 1537 by the Union of Wales and England Act. Ireland was under English sovereignty by 1540. The rule of English law was established in Wales by an act of 1542. The Irish and Welsh had the same legal rights and responsibilities as the English, and Wales had representatives in Parliament. Although Ireland had its own parliament, it could not convene without the permission of the ruling monarch of England. The earls of Kildare had control of much of Ireland and ruled in the king’s or queen’s name. Ireland experienced several violent rebellions during the 16th century; most of them concerned the imposition of the Church of England as official religion. The house of Stuart ruled Scotland, but their reign was opposed in the early 15th century. The king was assassinated when Scottish lords asserted their autonomy and civil war disrupted the country for several years. Another 15th-century king was imprisoned while his son seized the throne. Although Scottish soldiers clashed with English in several battles near the northern border of England, Scotland did not extend its territory. The political history of Scotland during the Renaissance was influenced not only by English opposition, but also by the regional focus of Scottish lords and the increasingly powerful commoners, notably the Protestant faction.
World History
