Confederate Oath of Association facts for kids
The Confederate Oath of Association was a special promise made by Irish Catholic leaders during a time of big wars in the 1600s. This promise showed their loyalty and what they hoped to achieve.
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Contents
Why the Oath Was Needed
The oath came about because of several big changes and conflicts happening in Ireland and across Britain.
Religious Differences and Land Changes
In the 1600s, Europe saw many "Wars of Religion." These were fights between people with different Christian beliefs, like Catholics and Protestants. In Ireland, most native Irish people were Catholic. However, the English government, which was Protestant, was taking more control.
This control included the "Tudor conquest." This meant England slowly took over more land and power in Ireland. Many old Irish and Anglo-Irish families felt their lands and power were threatened.
Another big change was the "Plantation of Ulster." This is when the English government took land in Ulster (northern Ireland) and gave it to new settlers from England and Scotland. These new settlers were mostly Protestant, while the Irish people whose land was taken were Catholic. This caused a lot of anger and tension.
The Irish Rebellion of 1641
In October 1641, many Irish Catholics started a rebellion. They wanted to take back power in Ireland. Some believed they had permission from the king, Charles I, through a document called the "Proclamation of Dungannon."
Creating the Oath
In May 1642, a meeting was held in Kilkenny, a city in Ireland. At this meeting, the leaders drafted the "Oath of Association." This oath was very important. It showed that the Irish Catholics were loyal to the king, Charles I. It also promised that they would stick together, protect each other's property, and work for equal religious rights for Catholics.
After King Charles I was executed in 1649, the Confederates continued to support his son, Charles II.
The Confederates Form a Government
The Irish Catholics who took the oath became known as the Confederates. They managed to set up strong areas of control across Ireland. However, they faced attacks from Scottish and English forces.
In the areas they still held, the Irish leaders created their own government, which they called "Confederate Ireland." Their capital city was Kilkenny. A lawyer named Patrick D'Arcy helped write their rules, including the "Oath of Association."
The Confederates accepted King Charles I as their ruler. But they also wanted important things for Catholics in Ireland:
- Full rights for Catholics.
- Freedom to practice the Catholic religion.
- To be governed by their own local Irish leaders.
