This post relates to the person known to history by thee nick-name Strongbow
The young Mortimer was left in charge, assisted by William Scrope. Like Strongbow and De Lacy after Henry II, they were kept busy putting down rebellions, burning and plundering, especially in Ulster. Continue reading The Marauding Mortimers #4: Roger Mortimer, Heir to the Throne
William has been called ‘The Greatest Knight’. Among several books about him, by far the most realistic and thoroughly researched is the two-volume series by Elizabeth Chadwick, The Greatest Knight and The Scarlet Lion. Continue reading Strongbow’s Son-in-Law
Henry remained in Ireland until Easter 1172. There is no record of how many of the 4500 men that accompanied him remained behind. Certainly he established garrisons in a number of places and he granted the citizens of Bristol the right to inhabit Dublin. Continue reading Henry II’s Irish Expedition
Men who had been unable to effectively control Wales and the Welsh border country were now given the equally difficult task of pacifying the Irish. Continue reading The Norman Invasion: an Irish Perspective.
De Clare took my hand as he spoke and led me to an empty hut that, I supposed, had been especially prepared for us. He stepped forward and took both hands in his, lowering his head to kiss each in turn. Continue reading The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife: A Union Bathed in Blood.
“We can ill afford to have such men as enemies,” he said in a final effort at persuasion.
I could see the logic of Father’s assertion but it only added to the burden of responsibility that now lay upon my shoulders.” Continue reading His Stag Do was a Massacre: 24th August 1170 the Sacking of Waterford.
By 23rd August he deemed the conditions right to set sail, setting not only the course of his ships, but that of his subsequent career and the history of Ireland and her neighbour for centuries to come. Continue reading Setting Course for Ireland
Whilst Raymond waited in his camp on a small peninsula on the border between Wexford and Waterford, what was keeping Strongbow? One can only imagine the difficulty of recruiting a private army at a time when every man of substance who wished to advance his career was pursuing opportunities to impress and, eventually, serve his king. Strongbow was not the only noble who had supported the wrong side during the Anarchy. There were others who needed to find a way of regaining the position they had lost with the upon coronation of Henry II. Meanwhile, Strongbow’s future son-in-law was making … Continue reading A Charismatic Leader Picks his Team
By sending the Irish party there – it was, after all, on their route back to Ireland – he could kill two birds with one stone. There were men there who would welcome a foreign expedition. They could report back on the likelihood of such a venture achieving success. Continue reading Men With Grievances.
How often did either party wonder if tomorrow would be the day when everything changed? Continue reading A Summer of Nervously Waiting: Ireland in 1170.
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