England under the Angevin Kings, Volumes I and II

CHAPTER III. (Part 2 of 3)

In early May 1169 Robert Fitz-Stephen landed at Bannow with thirty knights, sixty men-at-arms, and three hundred archers, accompanied by Meiler Fitz-Henry, Miles Fitz-David, Robert de Barri, and Hervey of Mountmorris; next day Maurice de Prendergast arrived from Milford with ten knights and archers. With five hundred Irishmen Dermot took Wexford in two days, establishing headquarters at Ferns. An Ossory expedition brought two hundred heads to his feet. By 1169 Irish princes and Dublin Ostmen confederated under Roderic; Dermot pledged to acknowledge him, but Maurice Fitz-Gerald’s landing with 140 men prompted an immediate march on Dublin, harrying the country until citizens promised obedience. In 1170 Donell O’Brien of Limerick threw off Roderic with Fitz-Stephen’s help. Dermot aspired to monarchy but lacked forces; Strongbow had not yet come.

Richard of Striguil, lands forfeited, lingered seeking Henry’s favor; Dermot’s renewal forced his hand. Henry ironically bade him go. On S. Bartholomew’s eve 1170 Richard landed at Waterford with twelve hundred men. Next day Raymond the Fat, sent three months before with ten knights and seventy archers, joined him after beating off three thousand Irish and Ostmen at Dundonulf. On August 25 Richard and Raymond attacked Waterford; three assaults carried town and citadel, seven hundred citizens slain, Ragnald and the two Sihtrics captured. Richard married Eva at Waterford, then with Dermot marched through Glendalough to avoid Roderic, arriving at Dublin on S. Matthew’s day. Dermot demanded surrender; Archbishop Laurence intervened; Hasculf Thorgils’ son promised to surrender the citadel next day, but Raymond and Miles Cogan attacked prematurely, carrying town and citadel. Hasculf escaped to the Orkneys; Dublin was sacked and left under Miles Cogan, Richard guarded Waterford, Dermot raided from Ferns.

Irish clergy at Armagh decreed liberation of English slaves in vain. Dermot died at Ferns in May 1171 “without will, without penance, without the Body of Christ, without unction.” A wiking fleet from Norway, the Hebrides, Orkney, and Man appeared under Hasculf and “John the Wode”—the last wiking fight on British soil. Fifteen hundred northmen were slain, five hundred drowned; John fell by Miles Cogan’s hand; Hasculf was captured and beheaded.

Dermot’s death weakened the invaders; his devise of the kingdom to Richard was void in Irish law. By midsummer 1171 the whole country rose. Roderic mustered the north; Archbishop Laurence of Dublin called up the south; Jarl Godred of Man was hired with thirty ships. Sixty thousand Irish besieged the six-hundred garrison in Dublin: Roderic with thirty thousand at Castle-Knock, Mac-Dunlevy at Clontarf, Donell O’Brien at Kilmainham, Murtogh Mac-Murrough at Dalkey, with Breffny, Meath, Oiriel, and Leinster tribes (save Wexford and Kinsellagh).

For two months they were blockaded. Their sole hope was Robert Fitz-Stephen, besieged in Carrick at Wexford with five knights. Donell Kavanagh brought news Wexford must be relieved within three days. A council sent Maurice de Prendergast and Archbishop Laurence to Roderic offering surrender if Richard held Leinster; Roderic refused—the knights might keep Dublin, Waterford, and Wexford, no more. That afternoon the garrison sallied, surprising Roderic’s camp at bathing time; fifteen hundred Irish were slain, the victors returning with a year’s provisions. The army dispersed; Richard marched to relieve Wexford—too late. Wexford and Kinsellagh men, failing to storm Carrick, resorted to fraud: bishops and monks swore on relics that Dublin was taken and the earl slain. Robert surrendered in despair; his followers were slaughtered, he and his five knights chained. The Wexford men fired their town and took refuge on Beg-Erin, threatening to send Richard his friends’ heads.

Despite this, the invaders gained ground. The king of North Munster forsook Roderic. Tighernan O’Ruark’s attack on Dublin failed. Murtogh of Kinsellagh surrendered his principality and accepted re-grant. Donell Kavanagh was invested with the rest of Leinster. But Richard’s triumphs were checked: his uncle Hervey of Mountmorris returned with word Henry was coming and required Richard’s attendance. Richard hurried to Wales, met Henry on the border, was forgiven on surrendering Dublin and the coast towns and doing homage for Leinster. He accompanied Henry to Pembrokeshire, where a fleet of four hundred ships carrying four thousand men was assembling.