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Dermot MacMurrough Back to Ireland Main Download this eBook |
DERMOT AND STRONGBOW, AND THE INVASION OF IRELAND
==================================================
Dermot MacMurrough was the King of Leinster during the twelfth century and
is most remembered as the man who invited the English into Ireland.
He was born circa 1100 and succeeded to the throne of his father, Enna, in
1126. He was a ruthless leader and demonstrated the ferocity of the times by
killing or blinding 17 rivals in 1141. He became involved in a dispute with the
King of Breffney, Tiernan O'Ruark, whose wife he kidnapped in 1153. O'Ruark
formed an alliance with Rory O'Connor who was the recognised High King of
Ireland at the time. In 1166 this long-running and bitter feud resulted in
MacMurrough being driven into exile by the Gaelic Chieftains. He fled to
France.
Dermot MacMurrough was a deeply ambitious man who refused to accept his
exile. He made his way to the Court of Henry II of England and offered to
become a vassal to the King in return for military aid in retaking his kingdom.
The king did not directly provide assistance but allowed MacMurrough to
petition the Anglo-Norman lords. It was at this time that the Earl of Pembroke,
Richard de Clare, later known as 'Strongbow', agreed to lead an army to
Ireland. MacMurrough brought an advance party of adventurers back to
Ireland in 1167, recaptured Wexford, and waited for Strongbow to arrive.
From his base in Wales Strongbow launched an offensive in 1170, capturing
Waterford and Dublin, taking control of the East coast, much to the dismay of
the Gaelic Chieftains and O'Connor. To cement the alliance, MacMurrough
married his daughter Aoife to Strongbow, in Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin
1170.
The Irish Chieftains did not allow the invaders to settle however and they were
continually attacked and harassed. At one stage it seemed likely that they
would be driven from the country if it were not for the support given by Henry
II, who had become concerned with the amount of power and influence that
Strongbow was amassing across the Irish sea. It is speculated that Henry II
feared that Ireland might be used as a base by the Saxons to launch an
offensive back into England in the wake of their defeat at Hastings in 1066. The
subsequent domination of South Wales by the Normans was a result of the
need to keep supply lines into Eastern Ireland open.
Dermot MacMurrough died in 1170 leaving Strongbow to declare himself King
of Leinster. His later support for Henry II in France led to his being named
Governor of Ireland. He died in 1176 suffering an infection during a raid by Irish
rebels.
Much of Ireland was still under local influence and it only was the East coast,
known as 'the Pale', that remained in Norman control. Henry granted these
lands to his son 'Jean Sans-terre' (or John Lackland) in 1185 creating the
'Lordship of Ireland'. It seemed likely that Ireland would remain a minor
Kingdom except that fate intervened. The death of his elder brothers allowed
Jean Sans-terre to succeed to the English throne, becoming King John of
England and the Pale becoming part of English dominated territories.
Demot MacMurrough has for centuries been blamed as the man who caused,
or at least facilitated the invasion and subsequent subjugation of Ireland by
outsiders. Recent revision of this history however, have been less critical of his
actions.
It is likely that the island would have eventually been dominated by its larger
neighbour even without Dermot MacMurroughs prompting. The unwillingness
of the Gaelic Chiefs to form a Kingship with defined rights of succession
certainly made invasion and domination easier. It was also not uncommon of
the times for Gaelic Chiefs to seek help from foreigners in combatting their
local enemies.
Despite this more generous interpretation of his actions, it will always be
Dermot MacMurroughs lust for power, bringing the English into Ireland, for
which he will be most remembered.
Used With Permission : (C) Copyright http://www.ireland-information.com
==================================================
Dermot MacMurrough was the King of Leinster during the twelfth century and
is most remembered as the man who invited the English into Ireland.
He was born circa 1100 and succeeded to the throne of his father, Enna, in
1126. He was a ruthless leader and demonstrated the ferocity of the times by
killing or blinding 17 rivals in 1141. He became involved in a dispute with the
King of Breffney, Tiernan O'Ruark, whose wife he kidnapped in 1153. O'Ruark
formed an alliance with Rory O'Connor who was the recognised High King of
Ireland at the time. In 1166 this long-running and bitter feud resulted in
MacMurrough being driven into exile by the Gaelic Chieftains. He fled to
France.
Dermot MacMurrough was a deeply ambitious man who refused to accept his
exile. He made his way to the Court of Henry II of England and offered to
become a vassal to the King in return for military aid in retaking his kingdom.
The king did not directly provide assistance but allowed MacMurrough to
petition the Anglo-Norman lords. It was at this time that the Earl of Pembroke,
Richard de Clare, later known as 'Strongbow', agreed to lead an army to
Ireland. MacMurrough brought an advance party of adventurers back to
Ireland in 1167, recaptured Wexford, and waited for Strongbow to arrive.
From his base in Wales Strongbow launched an offensive in 1170, capturing
Waterford and Dublin, taking control of the East coast, much to the dismay of
the Gaelic Chieftains and O'Connor. To cement the alliance, MacMurrough
married his daughter Aoife to Strongbow, in Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin
1170.
The Irish Chieftains did not allow the invaders to settle however and they were
continually attacked and harassed. At one stage it seemed likely that they
would be driven from the country if it were not for the support given by Henry
II, who had become concerned with the amount of power and influence that
Strongbow was amassing across the Irish sea. It is speculated that Henry II
feared that Ireland might be used as a base by the Saxons to launch an
offensive back into England in the wake of their defeat at Hastings in 1066. The
subsequent domination of South Wales by the Normans was a result of the
need to keep supply lines into Eastern Ireland open.
Dermot MacMurrough died in 1170 leaving Strongbow to declare himself King
of Leinster. His later support for Henry II in France led to his being named
Governor of Ireland. He died in 1176 suffering an infection during a raid by Irish
rebels.
Much of Ireland was still under local influence and it only was the East coast,
known as 'the Pale', that remained in Norman control. Henry granted these
lands to his son 'Jean Sans-terre' (or John Lackland) in 1185 creating the
'Lordship of Ireland'. It seemed likely that Ireland would remain a minor
Kingdom except that fate intervened. The death of his elder brothers allowed
Jean Sans-terre to succeed to the English throne, becoming King John of
England and the Pale becoming part of English dominated territories.
Demot MacMurrough has for centuries been blamed as the man who caused,
or at least facilitated the invasion and subsequent subjugation of Ireland by
outsiders. Recent revision of this history however, have been less critical of his
actions.
It is likely that the island would have eventually been dominated by its larger
neighbour even without Dermot MacMurroughs prompting. The unwillingness
of the Gaelic Chiefs to form a Kingship with defined rights of succession
certainly made invasion and domination easier. It was also not uncommon of
the times for Gaelic Chiefs to seek help from foreigners in combatting their
local enemies.
Despite this more generous interpretation of his actions, it will always be
Dermot MacMurroughs lust for power, bringing the English into Ireland, for
which he will be most remembered.
Used With Permission : (C) Copyright http://www.ireland-information.com
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Educational Printables
Lesson Plans
Arts & Crafts
Irish Music & Poems, Lyrics &
Mid Files
The Legend of St Patrick
Irish Recipes
Gaelic Tales & Folk Lore
St Patrick's Day Cards for little
ones to print and make
St Patrick's Day Activities
St Patrick's Day/Irish Blessings
St Patrick's Day Clipart
St Patrick's Day/Irish
Downloads, WPP's,
Screensavers etc
St Patrick's Day Colour Sheets
St Patrick's Day / Irish Music
Poems, Songs & Activities for
the little ones
The Irish National Anthem -
Music & Lyrics in Gaelic &
English
Free Full eBooks : Ireland
St Patrick's Day Portal -
hundreds of links to arts, crafts,
festivities and more
Send an e-Card