Henry II and Ireland

Question 1

When did Henry II invade Ireland?

Answer 1

1169
1171

Question 2

Why was invading Ireland not a priority to Henry II?

Answer 2

Henry became distracted by other issues
Ireland wasn’t exactly wealthy or attractive

Question 3

How was the Irish viewed throughout Europe?

Answer 3

Semi-barbaric as they fought unamoured with primitive weapons

Question 4

Why was Henry II interested in invading Ireland?

Answer 4

His desire to conqueror Ireland was to provide for his landless younger brother, William

Question 5

Why was controlling Ireland difficult?

Answer 5

Ireland was not easy land to control as it was divided up into small kingdoms and local loyalties were intensely important in Ireland

Question 6

How was Ireland connected to Henry’s territories?

Answer 6

The Irish church had looked to Canterbury for leadership

Question 7

Why did the Pope believe that an invasion of Ireland was necessary?

Answer 7

Pope saw it as a desire to reform the Irish church

Question 8

Why did Henry II regain interest in Ireland in the late 1160’s?

Answer 8

The political situation in the country led the driving out of King of Leinster

Question 9

Who was the King of Leinster?

Answer 9

Dermot Macmurrough

Question 10

What did Dermot Macmurrough do after being driven out of Ireland?

Answer 10

In August 1166, he sailed to England with his daughter, Aife, and sought the aid of Henry II

Question 11

Despite Henry being in Aquitaine, how did Henry II respond to Dermot Macmurrough?

Answer 11

Henry gave him permission to recruit a military force in which Dermot raised in South Wales and persuaded a noble to lead the invasion in return for his daughters hand in marriage and succession of Leinster

Question 12

Who was the noble that Dermot Macmurrough persuaded to lead the invasion?

Answer 12

Richard FitzGilbert de Clare

Question 13

What was Richard FitzGilbert de Clare also known as?

Answer 13

Strongbow

Question 14

Between which years did Dermot raise his army?

Answer 14

1167-1169

Question 15

Which Norman lords helped in the invasion of Ireland?

Answer 15

Richard FitzGodebert
Robert FitzStephen
Maurice FitzGerald

Question 16

What was the result of Dermots invasion of Ireland?

Answer 16

By September 1170, Dublin was captured by Dermots army led by Strongbow

Question 17

Why was Henry concerned by the success of the invasion of Ireland?

Answer 17

It troubled Henry as many of his nobles were now powerful and more difficult to control

Question 18

Who did Henry II capture Ireland for?

Answer 18

His newly born son John

Question 19

Overall why did Henry invade Ireland in 1169?

Answer 19

Dermot Macmurrough asked for help to win his title back, Henry couldn’t help but gave permission for him to use his forces to help
Henry personally doesn’t invade but many of his nobles help capture Dublin
Henry’s last son was born in 1166 so maybe Henry wanted land for his son

Question 20

How did Henry II react to the success of the invasion of Ireland in 1169?

Answer 20

Henry tried to restrain the nobles by ordering an “embargo” on shipping and ordered his vassels to come back to England

Question 21

What effect did this “embargo” have on the nobles?

Answer 21

The measures had little effect and was obvious that only Henry’s personal intervention would prevent his vassals from growing their own kingdoms in Ireland

Question 22

What actions did Henry II take in October 1171?

Answer 22

Henry, with his own force of knights (500 approximately), crossed Milford Haven in Wales to Waterford in Ireland

Question 23

How did Henry’s nobles react to his march to Ireland?

Answer 23

The nobles submitted at once because if they didn’t then they would put their land in jeopardy

Question 24

Overall why did Henry invade Ireland in 1171?

Answer 24

Henry’s nobles were too successful for his liking and wanted to restrain them so placed an embargo and ordered them to return
The measures Henry took had little effect so Henry intervened.
Again, maybe he wanted land for John
Thomas Becket was murdered in 1170, acting on the pope’s laudibiliter would be a conciliatory

Question 25

What was the possible main motivations for Henry’s invasions of Ireland?

Answer 25

Controlling the barons
Governing the country
Winning over the Irish church

Question 26

Why could it argued that “controlling the barons” was the main motivation for invading Ireland?

Answer 26

Henry faced a lot of opposition from Ireland such as the Kings of Ulster and Meath as well as Rory O’connor of Connacht whom rejected Henry’s claims.
However Henry was able to establish an angevin control as Leinster was held by Richard FitzGerald from the English king. Henry also held the towns of Dublin, Wrexford and Waterford by royal officials.
Also, He bestowed Meath upon Hugh de Lacy as the native ruler refused to accept overlordship

Question 27

Why could it be argued that “governing the country” was the main motivation for invading Ireland?

Answer 27

Hugh de Lacy was Henry’s attempt to establish a firm government by making him Warden of Dublin and the Chief Justiciar of Ireland
Attempts were made to assert greater control in 1174 but Henry recalled Hugh de Lacy, Strongbow and many others from Ireland when his other territories threatened to rebel.
In 1174, Henry lacked control of Ireland

Question 28

Why could it be argued that “winning over the Irish church” was the main motivation for invading Ireland?

Answer 28

Henry held a Synod of the Irish church in the winter of 1171-1172 which cemented his acceptance from the Irish church.
Henry was also able to represent himself as a loyal servant of the Roman Catholic church following the murder of Becket.
He was also drawn back to France by the promise of absolution from a papal legate for his role is Beckets murder. Due to the pope’s absences, Henry and his officials was left to conquer the territories that he had permitted to take.