Government and Law

Once royal supremacy in Ireland had been secured, English influence steadily increased. Henry II created his youngest son, John, Lord of Ireland (Dominus Hiberniae). In 1199 John succeeded to the English throne, and from this date is credited with the introduction of English-style, centralized government in Ireland.

The administration now set up in Dublin included a Chancery, an Exchequer and Courts of Common Pleas and King's Bench - all modelled on English institutions. Local government also reflected its English counterpart, with sheriffs appointed to enforce the king's peace. Although, after this, the structure of Irish government remained largely unchanged in the years before 1603, some English innovations were introduced towards the end of this period. These included a Court of Wards and Liveries in the sixteenth century.

For more on the Exchequer, visit our online Treasures exhibition.

Since the king did not reside in Dublin, he appointed chief governors, known initially as justiciars and later as king's lieutenants. However, these men were normally absentee royal princes and the real source of authority was the deputy-lieutenant, later styled the lord deputy. He governed with the advice of a council that included the principal governmental officers within the lordship such as the chancellor and treasurer. Until the 1530s, the deputy was normally an Anglo-Irish noble drawn from the Butler or FitzGerald families. Thereafter, English courtiers dominated appointments. One of the most well-known was Sir Henry Sidney, who held the office on two occasions under Elizabeth I and made sustained efforts to extend English rule throughout Ireland.