In Northern Europe there is an island called Ireland, which is washed by the sea with the same name and the waters of the Atlantic Ocean. On this island there are 2 states, one of which is an independent country, and the second is part of the UK - this is Ireland and Northern Ireland. There is an interesting situation around these two countries, but there is an explanation for why there are as many as two Irelands on our planet, and not one in common.
England's plans for full control of the island
England always sought to capture the entire territory of the island. Beginning in the twelfth century, the first acts of conquest were launched at the initiative of the Pope, who slept and saw Ireland become a Catholic territory. The eastern territories of the island were annexed by England under the leadership of King Henry II and the church, while the remaining territory became known as Wild Ireland.
Plague Attack
The subsequent rulers of England wanted to complete the conquest of the island, completely depriving the local population of its possessions. However, the plague epidemic, which spread in the XIV century, spoiled the military plans of the conquerors and became an unexpected salvation for the inhabitants of Ireland from enslavement by the English crown.
English invaders settled Irish cities, pushing the locals into the street. The local population had to "shrink" in the villages and quickly build weak huts in order not to sleep and exist on the street. It was then that the plague revealed its danger. The plague affected many large cities, and the higher their population density, the stronger its consequences were. The conquerors were mowed down by the Black Death, which is why the influence of England was significantly reduced in Ireland.
Nevertheless, England was not ready to accept the loss of such a promising piece of land. Despite the plague epidemic, Ireland was again attacked by the inhabitants of England, but this time under tudor rule. Henry VIII captured the island and proclaimed it a kingdom under his rule. It seems that the goal was achieved, but the king made a small miscalculation: the population began to conflict among themselves on religious issues because of the English reform and the emergence of a new direction of the Christian faith - Anglicanism.
Conflict between the Irish and the English
The history of Ireland and Great Britain is indeed complex and multifaceted, with many causes and effects. The root of many of the problems lies in the differences in cultures and religions that have existed on the island for many centuries.
The conflict between Henry VIII and the Pope is one of many episodes in this story that had long-term consequences. The split of the Anglican Church from the Catholic Church in Rome created a new religious and cultural identity in England that differed from Catholic Ireland. This schism also strengthened the position of the English crown vis-à-vis the church and reduced Rome's influence on English politics.
In the twentieth century, when Ireland sought independence from Britain, this gap between cultures and religions became one of the main causes of conflict in Northern Ireland. The Republicans who sought the unification of Ireland were mostly Catholics, while the Loyalists who were in favor of keeping Northern Ireland within Great Britain were mostly Protestants. The conflict in Northern Ireland went on for decades and left deep wounds on both sides.
Recent events related to the UK's exit from the European Union have also contributed to heightened tensions between Ireland and the UK. However, the creation of an independent zone is an important compromise solution that can help mitigate differences and strengthen peace on the island.
