Henry II: An Imperialist King?

Page 6 of 9

• 1. Approach to empire
• 2. Relations with France
• 3. Campaigns in Wales
• 4. Approach to Ireland
• 5. Henry lands in Ireland
• 6. Conclusions on Ireland
• 7. Henry and Scotland
• 8. Feudal control
• 9. Find out more
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Conclusions on Ireland

What do we gather from this? First, Strongbow himself only got involved in Ireland once he could guarantee that he was going to profit from it, and the timing of Dermot's death does not inspire confidence. Secondly, Henry seemed indifferent to Ireland until one of his great landholders put himself in a position of power there (like Henry and Aquitaine!). At this point, he tried to prevent Normans from going over there. Only when this failed, and the High-King of Ireland failed to assert control over this rogue vassal, did Henry intervene personally, seemingly at the invitation of those Irish opposed to their ineffective High-King. Thirdly, the Irish themselves seem to have treated Henry like an alternative High-King, even building a ritual hall in which to give their submission.

Like Wales, once the situation had resolved, Henry seems to have lost interest. He left Ireland in 1172 with Strongbow in control of Meath and Leinster, and Rory still High-King. In 1173, he was so preoccupied with the revolt of Henry the Younger that Rory could devastate Meath with impunity; then in 1175, he came to an agreement with Rory in the Treaty of Windsor. This recognised Rory's right to his ancestral kingdom of Connacht, but retained direct Norman control over Meath and Leinster. Rory agreed to hold the rest of Ireland as Henry's vassal, and was given control of Limerick and Cork.

'...Henry seemed indifferent to Ireland until one of his great landholders put himself in a position of power there...'

In this respect, Henry had taken over Ireland, holding one quarter of it through Strongbow and his heirs, while exerting feudal overlordship of the rest through Rory O'Connor. Rory remained High-King of Ireland and had a free hand, but was unable to control the rapaciousness of the Norman incomers, who had several generations of practice in Wales to fall back on. In 1177, Henry once again intervened, granting the lands of Thomond and Desmond to the Normans who had taken them and taking back control of Limerick and Cork. At this time, Robert fitzStephen, who had rehabilitated himself in Henry's service in 1173, was given a half-portion of Cork to look after. Since Rory did not complain, this could be seen as Henry reasserting control over his unruly Norman barons before they got completely out of hand.

Rory retired to a monastery in 1183, leaving his daughter in marriage to Henry's vice-regent in Leinster, Hugh de Lacy (Strongbow had died in 1176). Henry responded by making his own son John vice-regent, but John was even more ineffectual than Rory had been, and succeeded only in alienating both the Irish and the Normans, even prompting Rory to come back out of retirement against him. He returned to England frustrated in 1185, leaving Rory attempting to wrest control of Connacht back from his son, Connor, with the help of Norman mercenaries.

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Published: 2001-04-01