Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare (1513–1537), also known as Silken Thomas, was a leading figure in sixteenth century Irish history. In June 1534 Thomas heard rumours that his father had been executed in the Tower of London and that the English government intended the same fate for himself and his uncles. He summoned the Council to St. Mary's Abbey, Dublin, and on 11 June, accompanied by 140 horsemen with silk fringes on their helmets (from which he got his nickname), rode to the abbey and publicly renounced his allegiance to King Henry VIII, Lord of Ireland. In July he attacked Dublin Castle, but his army was routed. In October 1535 he was sent as a prisoner to the Tower. FitzGerald was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn (with his five uncles). Silken Thomas's revolt caused Henry to pay more attention to Irish matters, and was a factor leading on to the creation of the Kingdom of Ireland in 1542.
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