The Norman Conquest of Ireland was a cataclysmic event that would shape Ireland’s history and intertwine our history with that of England for approximately the next 800 years.
It is a tale of knights, war, love, violence, bloodshed and political maneuvering. Ireland’s landscape would become marked with the scars of Conquest and our political system would change forever. Irelands long and turbulent history can be traced back to this cataclysmic event that is now referred to as the Norman Conquest or Norman Invasion of Ireland.
Some call it a conquest or invasion but the fact is The Normans were invited to Ireland at the request of the deposed King of Leinster Dermot MacMurrough.
The story of the Norman Conquest is forever linked to this King and the relentless extremes he went to, to regain his power base of Leinster.
The Normans were born a warring people and showed no mercy in their conquest of Ireland.
They are etched into our landscape and history books, their castles now in ruins still defy all stretches of the imagination.
The medieval Kings of Britain forever linked to the Irish landscape, in stone and law.
Changing political climates all linked directly back to the faithful day the Normans landed on the shores of County Wexford.
To fully understand the conquest it is important to go back to the beginning of this historic tale starting with the characters that changed the world of the native Irish and the generations that followed.
The story begins with Dermot MacMurrough, sometimes referred to as “Dermot of the Foreigners”. After the conquest of Ireland by the Normans, Ireland’s history and that of England and later Great Britain was to be inevetiably linked.
The arrival of Henry II in October 1171 on Irish soil marked the first time an English monarch stood on Irish Soil and created a divide between the Irish and English rule that was to last for centuries. The stunning Ros Tapestry, which is housed in the Norman Town of New Ross in County Wexford is the perfect guide to The Norman Conquest of Ireland.
Every aspect of the Conquest is woven in amazing thread, gripping the imagination of all who gaze upon its glorious colours and woven stories. The tales of the De Clare’s, William Marshal, his wife Isabel de Clare and The Norman impact on Native Ireland forever preserved in stunning colour.
Who was Dermot MacMurrough?
One of the most infamous characters in Irish History. Born into Irish royalty, he was to become the King of Leinster.
Dermot MacMurrough single handily changed the course of Irish History for the next 800 years.
Dermot MacMurrough, the deposed King of Leinster, brought the Normans to Ireland forever changing the physical and political climate of Ireland.
He brought a force of warriors to Irish Shores the likes of which had never been seen.
It is thought that Dermot MacMurrough was born in approximately 1110 and his father was the King of Leinster. He was a direct descendant of Brian Boru.
His Grandmother was the granddaughter of possibly the most famous Irish King in history, Brian Boru. Dermot MacMurrough had two wives, which was permitted under the Ancient laws of Ireland, The Brehon Laws.
His first wife was Sabhdh Ni Faelain and his second and most famous wife was, Mor O’Toole of the powerful O’Tooles of Wicklow. Although Dermot had several sons the most famous of his children is his daughter Aoife by Mor O’Toole.
Dermot MacMurrough had never expected to become King of Leinster as his older brother Enna had inherited the title, but he died unexpectedly leaving all lands and title to Dermot.
His reign was turbulent and full of unrest. The High King of Ireland feared that Dermot MacMurrough would become too powerful and sent his close ally Tiernan O’Rourke to oust the new King of Leinster.
A violent and cruel campaign followed with the result being that Dermot lost his throne, however with the help of local Tuaths he regained his seat of Power.
During his reign, Dermot was also a patron of religious communities building churches and abbeys, including Glendalough. He was also a strong supporter of his wife’s brother, who would go on to become Saint Laurence O’Toole.
After decades of fighting Dermot came into the favour of The High King Touglough O’Connor as he had fallen out with Tiernan O’Rourke. Dermot MacMurrough insulted O’Rourke by running away with his wife Dervogilla and also took her dowry.
Some sources state that she was kidnapped but it seems more likely that she was a willing participant. The event was to create further volatile feelings in an already tense situation between O’Rourke and Dermot.
Why did the Normans come to Ireland?
The reason for the Norman Invasion is very simple. Dermot MacMurrough’s main seat of power was at Ferns, Co Wexford. Ferns at this time was the religious capital of Ireland.
This is where the story of the Norman conquest of Ireland begins. It was the site of MacMurrough’s Castle, which was what we would know now as a Motte and Bailey style fortress.
He burned his fortress at the time of his removal from his throne so as that it could never be used against him.
The downfall of the King of Leinster came in the year 1166. Dermot MacMurrough’s mortal enemy Teirnan O’Rourke was crowned the High King of Ireland and one of his first acts was to depose Dermot. It was at this time that Dermot MacMurrough fled Ireland and made his way to the court of the King of England, Henry II who’s court was in Aquatine in France.
The purpose of his mission was to seek the permission of the King to recruit some of his Norman Knights to help him regain his throne. After meeting with Henry II, Dermot was given permission to gather up a force of Knights from Mercenaries within the Kingdom and retake his county.
On his return journey though Wales, he gathered the support of some of the most powerful Normans of the day and would forever change the course of history in his native land.
These Normans were lead by the infamous Norman Lord Richard De Clare, Earl of Pembroke and Striguil, better known as Strongbow.
The Normans.
To fully understand the warrior spirits and drive towards the conquest of other lands you must first understand who The Normans were and where they came from.
Every story starts with one person and in the case of the Normans that person was the infamous Viking warrior named Rollo. Rollo was a Viking Warrior Lord who after years of vicious fighting, finally agreed to swear his loyalty to the French King Charles III.
In return for this loyalty and protection against further Norse Raids on France, he was granted the lands that would become known as the Duchy of Normandy, around the area that we now know as Normandy, these lands would start to expand eventually forming an Empire. Normandy derives its name from the use of the Norseman, which became Northman and later turned into Norman, also giving their name to the area known as Normandy.
By the 10th Century the Norsemen had grown into there own unique and powerful culture, and they continued to evolve and adapt to the times and were advanced in military technology.
Their culture and warrior nature spread throughout Europe and to the near and Middle East They were of the Catholic faith and would eventually start their crusades in the Holy Land under the guise of Christianity.
They would forever leave their mark throughout Europe; they changed the landscape politically and culturally, their military campagins impacting the entire political and physical landscape of Medieval Europe. Their Romanesque architecture and massive defensive features such as their ferocious and imposing Castles that will forever dot the landscapes of Europe. They brought with them new technologies and industries that would forever change the known world, especially in the case of warfare.
Possibly one of the most important dates in history is 1066 when William the Conqueror followed though with his claim to the English Throne and took the country by force expanding Norman Conquest in Europe.
Conquering England was essential to their expansion as it not only brought with it massive lands, more importantly it brought the title of King, ensuring the Normans now held one of Europe’s largest kingdoms and strongest powerbases.
The Norman Empire spread through France, Italy, North Africa and eventually the Holy Land and modern day Turkey. (Byzantine is the name the Normans gave to modern day Istanbul) The Normans were by blood warriors and were exceptional at this inherited craft that seemed to flow in their veins.
The Normans created what is now known world wide as a Knight. Norman Knights were excellent warriors, keen to prove themselves in battles and tournaments as many were landless and were dependant on war to make their fortune.
This is when we see the creation of one The Middle Ages most popular words, chivalry. This word congers up images of gracious and loyal Knights like those from the tales of Arthur and his legendry Knights.
This word comes from the French word Chevalerie meaning horseman or horse soldiery, because first and fore most the Norman Knights were exceptional horsemen, their skill forever remembered in the Legends of the Medieval Era.
The Chivalric Code was a code of conduct that all Knights were required to follow. The code laid out how knights were meant to behave and governed the manners that they must have at royal courts, establishing the code of Honor.
They believed and followed church teachings. There was also a set of rules governing romance and behavior. Horses were Norman Knight’s bread and butters.
As they conquered the established powerbases in former Anglo-Saxon regions of England they created permanent settlements that are still visible today.
They brought with them massive defensive structures known as the Motte and Bailey, these are the forgotten castles of the Normans, and they were quick and easy to build and offered protection in the short term as they were made of wood.
However with time, the Normans began to replace these initial structures with stone, symbolizing their power and dominance over the local peoples.
Possibly the most famous Norman Structure build in England is still an enduring symbol of fear and horror, The Tower of London’s White Tower was started by William the Conquer. Some of the world’s most famous warriors and Kings were directly descendant from Rollo the Viking, such as Richard the Lionheart and Edward 1.
The next target on their list would be Ireland and the deposed King of Leinster played right into their hands, under the watchful eye of King Henry II.
Dermot MacMurrough requested the help of the Normans to regain his lost Kingdom, a decision that lead to one of the most important events in Irish History.
The Invasion.
At the time of the Norman Invasion of Ireland, it is important to remember that Ireland was divided into a large number of small Kingdoms.
The Kings of these kingdoms were often at war with each other and the High King overseeing the smaller Kingdoms, a position of great power in Ireland.
In 1166 Dermot MacMurrough was King of Leinster, and his arch-enemy Rory O’Connor became High King and deposed Dermot.
This was when he traveled to France to the Court of King Henry II to ask permission to recruit mercenaries from The Welsh Marches.
On his return journey, Dermot recruited some of the most ruthless Norman warriors of the time in Wales. He successfully obtained the support of Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, Lord of Striguil (Strongbow) and his allies within the Cambro-Norman Marches.
Richard De Clare was a shrewd negotiator, and his deal with Dermot MacMurrough stated that upon his death, he would inherit Dermot’s lands and the Kingdom of Leinster and that he would be married to Dermot’s daughter Aoife.
Some of the knights that would invade Ireland included Strongbow’s half-brothers Robert FitzStephen and Maurice FitzGerald.
They were to lead the first wave of troops that were to land on Irish soil.
FitzStephen landed at Bannow Bay in County Wexford in May 1169, they laid siege to the Norse stronghold of Wexford, as Wexford fell they began to move thought the province of Leinster, conquering everywhere they went.
Strongbow arrived after his advance party lead by Raymond Le Gros. They went on to conquer the Norse Town of Waterford, and this is where Strongbow married Dermot’s daughter Aoife.
Dermot returned to Ferns after the death of his son and within a few months died, making Strongbow the Lord of Leinster and the most powerful man in Ireland.
He had conquered, and in the mist of this great land grab that was engulfing Ireland, Strongbow got the Lion’s share of the land and fortune. This was to the dismay of King Henry II.
He had never trusted Strongbow, he was about to become Lord of one of Irelands most powerful Kingdoms, and he feared for the security of his own territories in Wales and England.
With his own personal wealth and power at stake, King Henry II took matters in hand and sailed to Ireland with an Army, to assert his authority over Ireland and the now very powerful Norman Lords.
One of these Knights was William Marshal who would eventually marry Strongbow and Aoife’s daughter Isabel.
In 1155 Pope Adrian IV gave Henry a Papal Bull, granting the King the authority to invade Ireland, this was primarily to keep order in the Church in Ireland but Henry was about to use it for his own means.
Henry landed at the Port of Waterford in 1171 with an army of Knights, heavy cavalry and men at arms the likes of which had never been seen in Ireland. This was the first time an English Monarch had ever set foot on Irish soil. Waterford and Dublin were made Royal Cities.
Pope Alexander III granted the lands of Ireland to Henry II. Henry’s youngest son John would be granted the title Lord of Ireland. John was never supposed to be King, but with the death of his brother Richard the Lionheart, he inherited The Crown.
With this development, John also became King of Ireland. Henry II was given the loyalty of many of the Irish Kings as they thought The King would be able to protect them and control the Norman that were rampaging though their lands.
This event resulted in the Treaty of Windsor in 1175. Strongbow Died in 1176, and his wife Aoife invoked her dower rights and lived out her live on her vast estates.
With the death of Strongbow, his daughter Isabel would become his sole heir, and she was put under the protection of the crown as a ward of the King held in the Tower of London, until she married the greatest knights that ever lived William Marshall, who would inherit all Strongbow’s lands and titles.
This Medieval power couple would go on to establish some of Irelands most famous towns and cities, Kilkenny and New Ross. They would commission castles and abbeys throughout southern Leinster and are known as one of the worlds greatest love stories
The impact of the Norman’s in Ireland.
The impact of the Notman conquest and influence is still visible today. From the time they landed at Bannow Bay on that faithful day in 1169, the Normans changed Ireland forever.
In the beginning they did not intermarry with the Irish or adapt to Irish culture, they stayed present but distant.
However this would change with time leading the phrase “More Irish then the Irish themselves”.
They were mainly settled in the east of Ireland in the areas they conquered and in the successful towns they established.
One of the main areas of Norman occupation would be called The Pale now the modern city of Dublin.
All along the East coast, you will find spectacular examples of Norman Castles that are still to this day imposing and frightening structures.
As the Normans and the Irish mixed, they both adapted and started to adopt parts of each other’s cultural differences.
Not only did they leave there mark on our landscape, their presence is still felt and recognized in some of Irelands most famous names, Roche, Tracy, Alyward, Burke, Fitzgerald and Barry to name but a few.
They may have conquered and changed the course of history but they also bestowed on us the magnificent stories of Ireland and magnificent architectural features such as castles and magnificent churches that dot our historic landscape.
These structures include some of Irelands most famous sites, such as Trim but also some of our most famous and beautiful towns such as the amazing city of Kilkenny and the stunning town of New Ross. Both of these amazing locations were founded by The Norman and not just conquered.
They left their mark on our landscape, and we are still shocked and awed by the dominating features they placed in stone on our ancient landscape.