From inside the 1166, Ireland’s the latest Large King and you may Mac computer Murchadha’s only ally Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn got fallen, and you will an enormous coalition provided by Tighearnan Ua Ruairc (Mac computer Murchadha’s arch enemy) marched towards the Leinster. Ua Ruairc and his awesome partners took Leinster without difficulty, and Mac Murchadha along with his girlfriend rarely fled and their lifetime. Mac computer Murchadha escaped so you can Wales and you may after that in order to The united kingdomt and you may France, in order to have Queen Henry II’s agree to be acceptance hire troops to replace so you can Ireland and you may recover his kingship. For the returning to Wales, Robert Fitzstephen aided him plan out a good mercenary armed forces off Norman and you can Welsh troops, and additionally Richard de Clare, second Earl off Pembroke, alias Strongbow

In his absence, Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair (son out of Mac Murchadha’s previous adversary, High Queen Toirdhealbhach) came into existence this new Highest King out-of Ireland. Mac Murchadha organized not just to retake Leinster, however, to help you oust the new Ui Conchobhair clan and be the new High King from Ireland himself. He rapidly retook Dublin, Ossory and also the former Viking settlement out-of Waterford, and you may contained in this a short time got each of Leinster in the manage again. Then he marched to your Tara (up coming Ireland’s money) so you can oust Ruaidhri. Mac Murchadha gambled you to definitely Ruaidhri won’t damage the latest Leinster hostages he got (plus Mac computer Murchadha’s earliest man, Conchobhar Mac Murchadha). But not Ua Ruairc forced his hands plus they was in fact all of the killed.

Diarmaid’s army after that forgotten the fight. He delivered word to Wales and you can pleaded having Strongbow in the future in order to Ireland as fast as possible. Strongbow’s small force got in Wexford which have Welsh and Norman cavalry and took more each other Waterford and you may Wexford. They then got Dublin. MacMurrough is actually devastated after the loss of his boy, Domhnall, retreated so you’re able to Ferns and you can died a few months after.

Gerald out of Wales, a Cambro-Norman historian just who went along to Ireland and you will whose uncles and you will cousins had been popular troops throughout the armed forces off Strongbow, told you out-of Mac computer Murchadha:

Strongbow married Dermot’s daughter Aoife out-of Leinster in the 1170, given that she try a great heiress, and for that reason most of their (and his awesome followers’) land are supplied to him underneath the Irish Brehon legislation, and soon after reconfirmed lower than Norman laws. The wedding try dreamed and you will painted on Personal build from inside the 1854 by Daniel Maclise.

Into the Irish background books authored after 1800 on the period of nationalism, Diarmaid Mac Murchadha try often seen as a good traitor, but his intention wasn’t to aid an enthusiastic English attack out of Ireland, but instead to use Henry’s assist with end up being the Highest King away from Ireland themselves. He previously not a chance regarding once you understand Henry II’s fantasies when you look at the Ireland. Within his day, politics are according to dynasties and you will Ireland was not ruled because a unitary county. Therefore, Henry II don’t consider themselves to get English or Norman, however, French, and you will are simply giving an answer to this new realities on to the ground.

He extra “Lord out-of Ireland” to their many other titles

“Now Dermot are a guy significant out-of prominence and stout out-of frame; an excellent soldier whoever cardio was at the fray, and held valiant certainly his personal nation. Off commonly yelling his race-shout their sound came into existence hoarse. Individual that carry out oppress their deeper vassals, as he elevated in order to highest channel males out-of lowly birth. A great tyrant to their own subjects, he had been disliked by complete strangers; his give is facing every child, and each man’s hands up against your.”

After Strongbow’s successful intrusion, Henry II climbed the second and big attack from inside the 1171 to verify their control over their Norman sufferers, and this succeeded. Then approved this new distribution of your Irish leaders in Dublin. The guy including ensured one their ethical claim to Ireland, supplied by the 1154 papal bull Laudabiliter, try reconfirmed into the 1172 by the Pope Alexander III and by a beneficial synod of the many more single christian women Irish bishops within Cashel.