Ulick na gCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde
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Ulick na gCeann Burke 12th Clanricarde
and 1st Earl of Clanricarde (styled MacWilliam, and na-gCeann, meaning "of the Heads," "having made a mount of the heads of men slain in battle which he covered up with earth"), was the son of Richard Mór Burke
the 9th Clanricarde
.
.
In March 1541 he wrote to Henry VIII
, lamenting the degeneracy of his family, which had rebelled against England in the mid-14th century. The same year he was present at Dublin, when an act was passed making Henry VIII King of Ireland
.
In 1543, in company with other Irish chiefs, he visited the King at Greenwich
and made full submission in accordance with the King's policy of "surrender and regrant
". He was confirmed in the captainship and rule of Clanricarde, and on July 1, 1543, he was created Earl of Clanricarde
and Baron of Dunkellin in the peerage of Ireland
. He was regranted the greater part of his former estates, with the addition of other lands. The grant of the English titles was conditional upon the abandonment of native titles, the adoptation of English customs and laws, the pledging of allegiance to the English crown, apostasy
from the Roman Catholic Church, and conversion to the Anglican Church.
He did not live long to enjoy his new English dignities, but died shortly after returning to Ireland about March 1544. He is called by the annalist of Loch Cé "a haughty and proud lord," who reduced many under his yoke, and by the Four Masters "the most illustrious of the English in Connaught."
He eventually divorced Grace and then married Honora, sister of Ulick de Burgh, but divorced her as well, marrying Maire Lynch
, by whom he had John, who claimed the earldom in 1568.
According the Burke's Peerage
, he had several other sons, Thomas "the Athlete", shot in 1545, Redmond "of the Broom", died 1595, and Edmund, died 1597.
Clanricarde
Clanricarde was a term meaning both a territory and a title in Ireland between the 13th and early 20th centuries.-Territory:The territory, in what is now County Galway, Ireland, stretched from the barony of County Clare in the north-west along the borders of County Mayo, to the River Shannon in the...
and 1st Earl of Clanricarde (styled MacWilliam, and na-gCeann, meaning "of the Heads," "having made a mount of the heads of men slain in battle which he covered up with earth"), was the son of Richard Mór Burke
Richard Mór Burke
Ricarde Mor Burke, 9th lord of Clanricarde, died 1530.Buke was the second son of Ulleag Fionn, 6th Clanricarde, and Slaine Ni Con Mara, succeeding in 1520 upon the death of his brother, Ulleag Og. He married Margaret, daughter to Piers, Earl of Ormond...
the 9th Clanricarde
Clanricarde
Clanricarde was a term meaning both a territory and a title in Ireland between the 13th and early 20th centuries.-Territory:The territory, in what is now County Galway, Ireland, stretched from the barony of County Clare in the north-west along the borders of County Mayo, to the River Shannon in the...
.
Biography
Born to Richard Mór Burke by a daughter of Madden of Portumna, Ulick succeeded to the headship of his clan, and held vast estates in County GalwayCounty Galway
County Galway is a county in Ireland. It is located in the West Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. It is named after the city of Galway. Galway County Council is the local authority for the county. There are several strongly Irish-speaking areas in the west of the county...
.
In March 1541 he wrote to Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
, lamenting the degeneracy of his family, which had rebelled against England in the mid-14th century. The same year he was present at Dublin, when an act was passed making Henry VIII King of Ireland
King of Ireland
A monarchical polity has existed in Ireland during three periods of its history, finally ending in 1801. The designation King of Ireland and Queen of Ireland was used during these periods...
.
In 1543, in company with other Irish chiefs, he visited the King at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
and made full submission in accordance with the King's policy of "surrender and regrant
Surrender and regrant
During the Tudor conquest of Ireland , "surrender and regrant" was the legal mechanism by which Irish clans were to be converted from a power structure rooted in clan and kin loyalties, to a late-feudal system under the English legal system...
". He was confirmed in the captainship and rule of Clanricarde, and on July 1, 1543, he was created Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde
Earl of Clanricarde is a title that has been created twice in the Peerage of Ireland, first in 1543 and again in 1800. The former creation became extinct in 1916 while the 1800 creation is still extant and held by the Marquess of Sligo since 1916....
and Baron of Dunkellin in the peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
. He was regranted the greater part of his former estates, with the addition of other lands. The grant of the English titles was conditional upon the abandonment of native titles, the adoptation of English customs and laws, the pledging of allegiance to the English crown, apostasy
Apostasy
Apostasy , 'a defection or revolt', from ἀπό, apo, 'away, apart', στάσις, stasis, 'stand, 'standing') is the formal disaffiliation from or abandonment or renunciation of a religion by a person. One who commits apostasy is known as an apostate. These terms have a pejorative implication in everyday...
from the Roman Catholic Church, and conversion to the Anglican Church.
He did not live long to enjoy his new English dignities, but died shortly after returning to Ireland about March 1544. He is called by the annalist of Loch Cé "a haughty and proud lord," who reduced many under his yoke, and by the Four Masters "the most illustrious of the English in Connaught."
Marriages
Burke married three times, first to Grany or Grace, daughtor of Mulrone O'Carrol, by whom he had Richard, who eventually succeeded him as Second Earl of Clanricarde. This marriage was the only one declared valid.He eventually divorced Grace and then married Honora, sister of Ulick de Burgh, but divorced her as well, marrying Maire Lynch
Maire Lynch
Maire Lynch, Countess of Clanricarde, fl. 1547.Lynch was a member of the Tribes of Galway who married, prior to his death in 1544, Ulick na gCeann Burke, 1st Earl of Clanricarde. The reason for the marriage was to aid Burke's assimilation into Old English society and learn English.However, Lynch...
, by whom he had John, who claimed the earldom in 1568.
According the Burke's Peerage
Burke's Peerage
Burke's Peerage publishes authoritative, in-depth historical guides to the royal and titled families of the United Kingdom, such as Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, and of many other countries. Founded in 1826 by British genealogist John Burke Esq., and continued by his son, Sir John...
, he had several other sons, Thomas "the Athlete", shot in 1545, Redmond "of the Broom", died 1595, and Edmund, died 1597.