The Plantation of Ulster was a significant event in the early 17th century when English and Scottish settlers were encouraged to move to Ulster, a province in Ireland. This initiative aimed to establish a loyal Protestant population in the region after the Nine Years' War, which had weakened the local Gaelic lords. The land was confiscated from the native Irish and redistributed to the settlers, leading to major demographic and cultural changes. The plantation began around 1606 and involved the settlement of thousands of Scots and English families. It was part of a broader strategy by the English Crown to control Ireland and promote Protestantism. The influx of settlers created tensions with the native Irish population, resulting in conflicts that would shape the history of Northern Ireland for centuries.