The Medieval Irish Kings and the English Invasion

Seán Ó Hoireabhárd is Postdoctoral Researcher at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, specialising in Gaelic Irish history between the eleventh and fourteenth centuries.

Introduction

1: The Scene
2: Methodology and Presentation
3: The Historiographical Status Quo

Connacht and the Shannon

Introduction

4: Making the Shannon work for Connacht
I: A new king
II: Toirdelbach & Leth Moga
III: Toirdelbach & Leth Cuinn
IV: Bridges & Fleets

5: Rúaidrí Úa Conchobair’s kingship
I: From inauspicious beginnings to national supremacy
II: King of Ireland
III: Leinster, the fly in the ointment

6: Treat and retreat
I: The Treaty of Windsor
II: Retreat

7: Cathal’s rise and Connacht’s decline
I: Cathal Crobderg
II: English infringement of the Shannon frontier & the threat of conquest
III: Plantagenet vassals

8: Conquest

Conclusion

The Uí Néill and the North

Introduction

9: The North & the Phony War
I: The North
II: Phony War

10: Muirchertach Mac Lochlainn’s kingship
I: A new partnership in the North
II: Downfall

11: The disintegration of the North
I: Airgíallan ascendency
II: The rise of Cenél Conaill
III: The struggles of the Cenél nEógain

12: The impact of the English invasion
I: Incursions and conquests
II: The lordship of Ulaid

13: Foiled conquests
I: Defending the North from De Courcy
II: Defending the North from King John

Conclusion

Munster and Leth Moga

Introduction

14: The kings of Leth Moga
I: Brian Bóraime’s strategy
II: Following Brian’s lead

15: Internal and external divisions
I: Crisis in Leth Moga
II: Two royal houses, two kingdoms
III: The Thomond–Desmond border
IV. Leinster’s position in Leth Moga

16: The impact of the English invasion
I: The capitals before the invasion
II: The capitals during the invasion
III: Leadership in Leth Moga

17: Circumscription and conquest
I: Prince John’s grants in Munster
II: The restriction of Irish Thomond and Desmond

Conclusion

Kingship

Introduction

18: The kingship of Ireland in the twelfth century
I: The historiography of the kingship of Ireland
II: The character of the kingship of Ireland
III: The nature of twelfth-century Irish politics

19: Defining ‘opposition’ and ‘exile’
I: ‘Opposition’
II: ‘Exile’

Invasion

Introduction

20: Changing political dynamics

21: Military approaches

22: Individual actions

Conclusion

Bibliography

Appendices