Dermot MacMurrough &
Strongbow
My project on
Medieval life.
By Sophia Robinson
Dermot MacMurrough & Strongbow
In 1169 Dermot MacMurrough the king of leinster went to seek help from
Henry II who was the king of England. He wanted Henry to help him
defeat the other Gaelic kings, so he could make himself High King of
Ireland. Henry was
delighted with the invitation as he had been thinking of
invading Ireland. He had been given permission a few
years before that from the English pope, Adrian IV to
conquer Ireland in order to enlarge the boundaries of
the church.
In the same year Norman lords arrived in Ireland .So as a thanks,
Dermot’s daughter, Aoife married to Strongbow ( Richard De
Clare ).
Two years later Dermot died. As he had no
sons Strongbow became King of Leinster!
In 1172 King Henry came over to Ireland with an army
of 4,000 soldiers and 500 knights, this was because Henry
thought that Stongbow was becoming too powerful.
So in 1172 Henry Declared himself Lord of Ireland!
This began the connection between
Ireland and England, which lasted
for 800 years.