Silken Thomas Rebellion

Timeline

1. 1534St Mary's Abbey · DublinAfter the ninth Earl of Kildare went to England, his son Thomas served as deputy in Ireland. On rumor that his father had been executed in the Tower of London, he rode with about 140 horsemen whose plumes were trimmed with silk into St Mary's Abbey, publicly laid down the sword of state, renounced allegiance to Henry VIII, and besieged Dublin Castle. The silk adornments on his followers' helmets earned him the name "Silken Thomas."
2. 1535Maynooth Castle · KildareWilliam Skeffington led English forces to capture Maynooth, the FitzGerald seat in Kildare, with artillery; the surrendering garrison was executed in what became known as the "Pardon of Maynooth." After his reinforcements and allies collapsed, Thomas surrendered unconditionally to the new Lord Deputy Leonard Grey and was taken to the Tower of London.
3. 1537Tyburn · LondonDespite Grey's guarantee of personal safety, Thomas and his five uncles were executed for treason at Tyburn. The semi-autonomous rule of the FitzGeralds of Kildare over Ireland collapsed, allowing the Tudor government to appoint a new Lord Deputy, enact religious legislation, and prepare the ground for later replacing the lordship with the crown.