Dermot II MacMurrough, King of Leinster

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Diarmait na-nGhal mac Murchada, High King of Ireland of Leinster

Gaelic: Diarmait II na-nGhal mac Murchada, High King of Ireland of Leinster
Also Known As: "Dermot MacDonnchada", "Diarmait", "Diarmuid mac Murchada", "of the Foreigners", "King of Leinster in Ireland", "Dermod MacMurrough", "Dermot MacMurrough", "Dermot MacMorrogh or Dermot MacMorrow"
Birthdate:
Birthplace: Leinster, Ireland
Death: May 01, 1171 (60)
Ferns, Wexford, Wexford, Ireland
Place of Burial: The Cathedral Church of St Edan, Irland or, Ferns, County Wexford, Ireland
Immediate Family:

Son of Enna Mac Donnchad, King of Leinster
Husband of Mor O'Toole and Unknown mistress/es of Dermot mac Murchada
Partner of Derbforgaill
Father of Urlachan MacMurrough; St. Lawrence O'Toole; Donal Kavanagh MacMurrough, King of Leinster; Eva of Leinster, Countess Of Stirgoil; Connor Mac Diarmata / Conchobar Mac Dermit, Prince of Leinster Ireland and 3 others

Occupation: 58th and last King of Leinster, 78th King of Leinster, King of Leinster, King of Leinster Ireland, Rí Laighin
Managed by: Shirley Marie Caulk
Last Updated:

About Dermot II MacMurrough, King of Leinster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermot_MacMurrough

Diarmaid Mac Murchadha (later known as Diarmaid na nGall or "Dermot of the Foreigners"), anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough (1110 - 1 May 1171) was a King of Leinster in Ireland. Ousted as King of Leinster in 1166, he sought military assistance from King Henry II of England to retake his kingdom. In return, MacMurrough pledged an Oath of Allegiance to Henry, who sent troops in support. As a further thanks for his reinstatement, MacMurrough's daughter Aoife was married to Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke and a Cambro-Norman lord, known as "Strongbow". Henry II then mounted a larger second invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over Strongbow. Thereafter, parts or all of Ireland were ruled or reigned over by the monarchs of England.

Mac Murchadha was born in 1110, a son of Donnchadh, King of Leinster and Dublin; he was a descendant of Brian Boru. His father was killed in battle in 1115 by Dublin Vikings and was buried in Dublin, along with the body of a dog - this was considered a huge insult.

Mac Murchada had two wives (as allowed under the Brehon Laws), the first of whom, Mór Uí Thuathail, was mother of Aoife of Leinster and Conchobhar Mac Murchadha. By Sadhbh of Uí Fhaoláin, he had a daughter named Órlaith who married Domhnall Mór, King of Munster. He had two legitimate sons, Domhnall Caomhánach (died 1175) and Éanna Ceannsealach (blinded 1169).

After the death of his older brother, Mac Murchadha unexpectedly became King of Leinster. This was opposed by the then High King of Ireland, Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair who feared (rightly so) that Mac Murchadha would become a rival. Toirdelbach sent one of his allied Kings, the belligerent Tigernán Ua Ruairc (Tiernan O'Rourke) to conquer Leinster and oust the young Mac Murchadha. Ua Ruairc went on a brutal campaign slaughtering the livestock of Leinster and thereby trying to starve the province's residents. Mac Murchadha was ousted from his throne, but was able to regain it with the help of Leinster clans in 1132. Afterwards followed two decades of an uneasy peace between Ua Conchobhair and Diarmaid. In 1152 he even assisted the High King to raid the land of Ua Ruairc who had by then become a renegade.

Mac Murchada also is said to have "abducted" Ua Ruairc's wife Dearbhforghaill along with all her furniture and goods, with the aid of Dearbhforghaill's brother, a future pretender to the kingship of Meath. It was said that Dearbhforghaill was not exactly an unwilling prisoner and she remained in Ferns with MacMurrough, in comfort, for a number of years. Her advanced age indicates that she may have been a refugee or a hostage. Whatever the reality, the "abduction" was given as a further reason for enmity between the two kings.

After the death of the famous High King Brian Boru in 1014, Ireland was at almost constant civil war for two centuries. After the fall of the O'Brien family (Brian Boru's descendants) from the Irish throne, the various families which ruled Ireland's four provinces were constantly fighting with one another for control of all of Ireland. At that time Ireland was like a federal kingdom, and not a unitary state, with five provinces (Ulster, Leinster, Munster and Connaught along with Meath, which was the seat of the High King) each ruled by kings who were all supposed to be loyal or at least respectful to the High King of Ireland.

He also sponsored the successful career of churchman St Lawrence O'Toole (Lorcan Ua Tuathail). He married O'Toole's half-sister Mor in 1153 and presided at the synod of Clane in 1161 when O'Toole was installed as archbishop of Dublin.

In 1166, Ireland's new High King and Mac Murchadha's only ally Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn had fallen, and a large coalition led by Tighearnán Ua Ruairc (Mac Murchadha's arch enemy) marched on Leinster. Ua Ruairc and his allies took Leinster with ease, and Mac Murchadha and his wife barely escaped with their lives. Mac Murchadha fled to Wales and from there to England and France, in order to have King Henry II's consent to be allowed recruit soldiers to bring back to Ireland and reclaim his kingship. On returning to Wales, Robert Fitzstephen helped him organize a mercenary army of Norman and Welsh soldiers, including Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, alias Strongbow

In his absence, Ruaidhrí Ua Conchobhair (son of Mac Murchadha's former enemy, High King Toirdhealbhach) had become the new High King of Ireland. Mac Murchadha planned not only to retake Leinster, but to oust the Uí Conchobhair clan and become the High King of Ireland himself. He quickly retook Dublin, Ossory and the former Viking settlement of Waterford, and within a short time had all of Leinster in his control again. He then marched on Tara (then Ireland's capital) to oust Ruaidhrí. Mac Murchadha gambled that Ruaidhrí would not hurt the Leinster hostages which he had (including Mac Murchadha's eldest son, Conchobhar Mac Murchadha). However Ua Ruairc forced his hand and they were all killed.

Diarmaid's army then lost the battle. He sent word to Wales and pleaded with Strongbow to come to Ireland as soon as possible. Strongbow's small force landed in Wexford with Welsh and Norman cavalry and took over both Waterford and Wexford. They then took Dublin. MacMurrough was devastated after the death of his son, Domhnall, retreated to Ferns and died a few months later.

Strongbow married Dermot's daughter Aoife of Leinster in 1170, as she was a great heiress, and as a result much of his (and his followers') land was granted to him under the Irish Brehon law, and later reconfirmed under Norman law. The marriage was imagined and painted in the Romantic style in 1854 by Daniel Maclise.

In Irish history books written after 1800 in the age of nationalism, Diarmaid Mac Murchadha was often seen as a traitor, but his intention was not to aid an English invasion of Ireland, but rather to use Henry's assistance to become the High King of Ireland himself. He had no way of knowing Henry II's ambitions in Ireland. In his time, politics was based on dynasties and Ireland was not ruled as a unitary state. In turn, Henry II did not consider himself to be English or Norman, but French, and was merely responding to the realities on the ground.

Gerald of Wales, a Cambro-Norman historian who visited Ireland and whose uncles and cousins were prominent soldiers in the army of Strongbow, said of Mac Murchadha:

"Now Dermot was a man tall of stature and stout of frame; a soldier whose heart was in the fray, and held valiant among his own nation. From often shouting his battle-cry his voice had become hoarse. A man who liked better to be feared by all than loved by any. One who would oppress his greater vassals, while he raised to high station men of lowly birth. A tyrant to his own subjects, he was hated by strangers; his hand was against every man, and every man's hand against him."

After Strongbow's successful invasion, Henry II mounted a second and larger invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over his Norman subjects, which succeeded. He then accepted the submission of the Irish kings in Dublin. He also ensured that his moral claim to Ireland, granted by the 1154 papal bull Laudabiliter, was reconfirmed in 1172 by Pope Alexander III and also by a synod of all the Irish bishops at Cashel. He added "Lord of Ireland" to his many other titles.

Ua Conchobhair was soon ousted, first as High King and eventually as King of Connaught. Attempting to regain his provincial kingdom, he turned to the English as Mac Murchadha had before him. The Lordship directly controlled a small territory in Ireland surrounding the cities of Dublin and Waterford, while the rest of Ireland was divided between Norman and Welsh barons. The 1174 Treaty of Windsor, brokered by St Lawrence O'Toole with Henry II, formalized the submission of the Gaelic clans that remained in local control, like the Uí Conchobhair who retained Connacht and the Uí Néill who retained most of Ulster.

Dermot's descendants continued to rule parts of Leinster until the Tudor re-conquest of Ireland in the 1500s. Today they live on with the surname "MacMurrough Kavanagh" at Borris in Co. Carlow and at Maresfield, East Sussex, being one of the few surviving "Chiefs of the name".



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermot_MacMurrough

Diarmait or Diarmaid Mac Murchadha (later known as Diarmaid na nGall or "Diarmaid of the Foreigners"), anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough (1110–1 May 1171), was a King of Leinster in Ireland. Ousted as King of Leinster in 1166, he sought military assistance from King Henry II of England to retake his kingdom. In return, MacMurrough pledged an Oath of Allegiance to Henry, who sent troops in support. As a further thanks for his reinstatement, MacMurrough's daughter Aoife was married to Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke and a Cambro-Norman lord, known as "Strongbow". Henry II then mounted a larger second invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over Strongbow, resulting in the Lordship of Ireland.



Diarmaid Mac Murchadha (later known as Diarmaid na nGall or "Dermot of the Foreigners"), anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough (1110 - 1 May 1171) was a King of Leinster in Ireland. Ousted as King of Leinster in 1166, he sought military assistance from King Henry II of England to retake his kingdom. In return, MacMurrough pledged an Oath of Allegiance to Henry, who sent troops in support. As a further thanks for his reinstatement, MacMurrough's daughter Aoife was married to Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke and a Cambro-Norman lord, known as "Strongbow". Henry II then mounted a larger second invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over Strongbow, since when parts or all of Ireland has been ruled or reigned over by the monarchs of England.

Mac Murchadha was born in 1110, a son of Donnchadh, King of Leinster and Dublin; he was a descendant of Brian Boru. His father was killed in battle in 1115 by Dublin Vikings and was buried, in Dublin, along with the body of a dog - this was considered a huge insult.

Mac Murchada had two wives (as allowed under the Brehon Laws), the first of whom, Mór Uí Thuathail, was mother of Aoife of Leinster and Conchobhar Mac Murchadha. By Sadhbh of Uí Fhaoláin, he had a daughter named Órlaith who married Domhnall Mór, King of Munster. He had two legitimate sons, Domhnall Caomhánach (died 1175) and Éanna Ceannsealach (blinded 1169).



Diarmuid Mac Murchadha (later known as Diarmaid na nGall or "Dermot of the Foreigners"), anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough, was a King of Leinster in Ireland. Ousted as King of Leinster in 1166, he sought military assistance from King Henry II of England to retake his kingdom. In return, Diarmuid pledged an oath of allegiance to Henry, who sent troops in support. As a further thanks for his reinstatement, Diarmuid's daughter Aoife was married to Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke, who was a Cambro-Norman lord, known as "Strongbow." Henry II then mounted a larger second invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over Strongbow, and since that time parts or all of Ireland has been ruled or reigned over by the monarchs of England.

Diarmuid had two wives (as allowed under the Brehon Laws), the first of whom, our ancestor Mór Uí Thuathail (anglicized as Mor O'Toole), was mother of our ancestor Aoife of Leinster and Conchobhar Mac Murchadha. By Sadhbh of Uí Fhaoláin, Diarmuid had a daughter named Órlaith who married Domhnall Mór, King of Munster.

After the death of his older brother, Diarmuid unexpectedly became King of Leinster. This was opposed by the then High King of Ireland, Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair, who feared (rightly so) that Diarmuid would become a rival. Toirdelbach sent one of his allied Kings, the belligerent Tigernán Ua Ruairc (Tiernan O'Rourke) to conquer Leinster and oust the young Diarmuid. Ua Ruairc went on a brutal campaign slaughtering the livestock of Leinster and thereby trying to starve the province's residents. Diarmuid was ousted from his throne, but was able to regain it with the help of Leinster clans in 1132. Afterward followed two decades of an uneasy peace between Ua Conchobhair and Diarmuid. In 1152 he even assisted the High King to raid the land of Ua Ruairc who had by then become a renegade.

Diarmuid also is said to have "abducted" Ua Ruairc's wife Dearbhforghaill along with all her furniture and goods, with the aid of Dearbhforghaill's brother, a future pretender to the kingship of Meath. It was said that Dearbhforghaill was not exactly an unwilling prisoner and she remained in Ferns with Diarmuid, in comfort, for a number of years. Her advanced age indicates that she may have been a refugee or a hostage. Whatever the reality, the "abduction" was given as a further reason for enmity between the two kings.

After the death of the famous High King Brian Boru in 1014, Ireland was at almost constant civil war for two centuries. After the fall of the O'Brien family (Brian Boru's descendants) from the Irish throne, the various families which ruled Ireland's four provinces were constantly fighting with one another for control of all of Ireland. At that time Ireland was like a federal kingdom, and not a unitary state, with five provinces (Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and Connaught along with Meath, which was the seat of the High King) each ruled by kings who were all supposed to be loyal or at least respectful to the High King of Ireland.

In 1166, Ireland's new High King and Diarmuid's only ally Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn had fallen, and a large coalition led by Tighearnán Ua Ruairc (Diarmuid's archenemy) marched on Leinster. Ua Ruairc and his allies took Leinster with ease, and Diarmuid and his wife barely escaped with their lives. Diarmuid fled to Wales and from there to England and France, in order to have King Henry II's consent to be allowed recruit soldiers to bring back to Ireland and reclaim his kingship. On returning to Wales, Robert Fitzstephen helped him organize a mercenary army of Norman and Welsh soldiers, including Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, alias Strongbow.

In his absence Ruaidhrí Ua Conchobhair (son of Diarmuid's former enemy, High King Toirdhealbhach) had become the new High King of Ireland. Diarmuid planned not only to retake Leinster, but to oust the Uí Conchobhair clan and become the High King of Ireland himself. He quickly retook Dublin, Ossory, and the former Viking settlement of Waterford, and within a short time had all of Leinster in his control again. He then marched on Tara (then Ireland's capital) to oust Ruaidhrí. Diarmuid gambled that Ruaidhrí would not hurt the Leinster hostages which he had (including Diarmuid's eldest son, Conchobhar Mac Murchadha). However Ua Ruairc forced his hand and they were all killed.

Diarmuid's army then lost the battle. He sent word to Wales and pleaded with Strongbow to come to Ireland as soon as possible. Strongbow's small force landed in Wexford with Welsh and Norman cavalry and took over both Waterford and Wexford. They then took Dublin. Diarmuid was devastated after the death of his son, Domhnall, retreated to Ferns and died a few months later.

In Irish history books written after 1800 in the age of nationalism, Diarmuid MacMorrough was often seen as a traitor--the most notorious traitor in Irish history, in fact--but his intention was not to aid an English invasion of Ireland, but rather to use Henry's assistance to become the High King of Ireland himself. He had no way of knowing Henry II's ambitions in Ireland. In his time, politics was based on dynasties and Ireland was not ruled as a unitary state. In turn, Henry II did not consider himself to be English or Norman, but French, and was merely responding to the realities on the ground.

Gerald of Wales, a Cambro-Norman historian who visited Ireland in 1185 and whose uncles and cousins were prominent soldiers in the army of Strongbow, repeated their opinions of Diarmuid: "Now Diarmuid was a man tall of stature and stout of frame; a soldier whose heart was in the fray, and held valiant among his own nation. From often shouting his battle-cry his voice had become hoarse. A man who liked better to be feared by all than loved by any. One who would oppress his greater vassals, while he raised to high station men of lowly birth. A tyrant to his own subjects, he was hated by strangers; his hand was against every man, and every man's hand against him."

See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermot_MacMurrough for considerably more information, and where Diarmuid is generally referred to as Mac Murchadha.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermot_MacMurrough



Here lie the remains of Diarmald Mac Murcada (Dermott Mac Morrough) King of Leinster. Born 1111 - Died 1171.

Burial: Cathedral Church of Saint Edan Ferns County Wexford, Ireland



Diarmait Mac Murchada (Modern Irish: Diarmait mac Murchadha or Diarmaid mac Murchadha), anglicised as Dermot MacMurrough or Dermod MacMurrough (26 June 1110 – 1 May 1171), was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deprived of his kingdom by the High King of Ireland – Ruaidri Ua Conchobair. The grounds for the dispossession were that MacMurrough had, in 1152, abducted Derbforgaill, the wife of the King of Breifne, Tiernan O'Rourke (Irish: Tighearnán Ua Ruairc). To recover his kingdom, MacMurrough solicited help from King Henry II of England. In return, MacMurrough pledged an oath of allegiance to Henry, who sent troops in support. As a further thanks for his reinstatement, MacMurrough's daughter Aoife was married to Richard de Clare, the 2nd Earl of Pembroke (nicknamed "Strongbow"). Henry II then mounted a larger second invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over Strongbow, resulting in the Lordship of Ireland. MacMurrough was later known as Diarmait na nGall (Irish for "Diarmait of the Foreigners").

Early Life and Family

MacMurrough was born around 1110, a son of Donnchad mac Murchada, King of Leinster and Dublin. His father's grandmother Dervorgilla (Derbforgaill) was a daughter of Donnchad, King of Munster and therefore she was a granddaughter of Brian Boru. His father was killed in battle in 1115 by his cousin Sigtrygg Silkbeard, king of the Dublin Vikings, and was buried by them in Dublin along with the body of a dog, considered to be a huge insult.

MacMurrough had two wives (as allowed under the Brehon Laws), the first of whom, Sadb Ní Faeláin, was mother of a daughter named Órlaith who married Domnall Mór, King of Munster. His second wife, Mór Ní Tuathail, was mother of Aoife / Eva of Leinster and his youngest son Conchobar Mac Murchada. He also had two other sons, Domhnall Caomhánach mac Murchada and Énna Cennselach mac Murchada (blinded 1169). Diarmait Mac Murchada is buried in the Cathedral graveyard of Ferns village.

King of Leinster

After the death of his older brother, Enna mac Donnchada Mac Murchada, Dermot unexpectedly became King of Leinster. This was opposed by the then High King of Ireland, Toirdelbach Ua Conchobair who feared (rightly) that Mac Murchada would become a rival. Toirdelbach sent one of his allied Kings, the belligerent Tigernán Ua Ruairc (Tiernan O'Rourke) to conquer Leinster and oust the young Mac Murchada. Ua Ruairc went on a brutal campaign slaughtering the livestock of Leinster and thereby trying to starve the province's residents. Mac Murchada was ousted from his throne, but was able to regain it with the help of Leinster clans in 1132. Afterwards followed two decades of an uneasy peace between Ua Conchobair and Diarmait. In 1152 he even assisted the High King to raid the land of Ua Ruairc who had by then become a renegade.

Mac Murchada also is said to have abducted Ua Ruairc's wife Derbforgaill (English: Dervorgilla) along with all her furniture and goods, with the aid of Derbforgaill's brother, a future pretender to the kingship of Meath. Other sources[who?] say that Derbforgaill was not an unwilling prisoner and that she remained in Ferns with MacMurrough in comfort for a number of years. Her advanced age indicates that she may have been a refugee or a hostage. Whatever the reality, the abduction was given as a further reason for enmity between the two kings.

Church Builder

As king of Leinster, in 1140–70 Dermot commissioned Irish Romanesque churches and abbeys at:

  • Baltinglass – a Cistercian abbey (1148)
  • Glendalough
  • Ferns (his capital – St Mary's Abbey Augustinian Order)
  • Killeshin

He sponsored convents (nunneries) at Dublin (St Mary's, 1146), and in c.1151 two more at Aghade, County Carlow and at Kilculliheen near Waterford city.

He also sponsored the successful career of churchman St Lawrence O'Toole (Lorcan Ua Tuathail). He married O'Toole's half-sister Mor in 1153 and presided at the synod of Clane in 1161 when O'Toole was installed as archbishop of Dublin.

Exile and Return

In 1166, Ireland's new High King and Mac Murchada's only ally Muirchertach Ua Lochlainn had fallen, and a large coalition led by Tigernán Ua Ruairc (Mac Murchada's arch enemy) marched on Leinster. The High King deposed Mac Murchada from the throne of Leinster. Mac Murchada fled to Wales and from there to England and France seeking the support of Henry II of England in the recruitment of soldiers to reclaim his kingship. Henry authorised Diarmait to seek help from the Anglo-Norman and Cambro-Norman lords in his kingdom. Those who agreed to help included Richard de Clare (nicknamed "Strongbow") and half-brothers Robert Fitz-Stephen and Maurice FitzGerald. Fitz-Stephan was accompanied by his half-nephew Robert de Barry. Strongbow was offered Diarmait's daughter Aoife in marriage and promised the kingship of Leinster on Diarmait's death. Robert and Maurice were promised lands in Wexford and elsewhere for their services. In Mac Murchada's absence, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair (son of Mac Murchada's former enemy, the High King Turlough Mór O'Connor) had become the new High King of Ireland.

On returning to Wales, Robert Fitz-Stephen helped him organise a mercenary army of Norman and Welsh soldiers. Landing at Bannow Bay, they laid siege to Wexford which fell in May 1169. After a period of inactivity, they went on to raid the Kingdom of Ossory. They then launched raids to the north, in the territories of the Uí Tuathail, the Uí Broin and the Uí Conchobhair. He marched on Tara (the political capital at the time) to oust O'Connor. Mac Murchada gambled that the High King would not hurt the Leinster hostages which he had (including Mac Murchada's eldest son, Conchobar Mac Murchada). However Ua Ruairc forced his hand and they were all killed. Although he had been distracted by disturbances else where in the kingdom, the High King could no longer ignore this powerful force.

He marched his forces into Leinster and, with the mediation of the Church, the commanders of the two armies began negotiations at Ferns, Diarmait's political base. An agreement was reached, whereby Diarmait was allowed to remain King of Leinster with Diarmait for his part recognising Ua Conchobair as High King. Some historians maintain that the treaty with Ua Conchobair included a secret agreement whereby Diarmait undertook to bring in no more foreign mercenaries and to send away Fitz-Stephen and his men as soon as Leinster was subdued. It's possible that Mac Murchada's hand may have been forced by the arrival at Wexford in May 1170 of Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan and his force of 10 knights, thirty men-at-arms and a hundred archers and foot soldiers. Mac Murchada and Fitzgerald marched on the Norse–Gaelic city of Dublin which surrendered. Within a short time, all Leinster was again in Mac Murchada's control. Emboldened by these victories, he send Fitz-Stephen to the assistance of this son-in-law, Domnall Mór Ua Briain, the King of Thomond.

In the opinion of some historians, Mac Murchada's plans may have been limited to the recovery of his throne; only later when the superiority of the mercenary arms had overawed the Gaelic nobility of Ireland did he consider tilting at the high kingship itself. According to the contemporary historian, Gerald of Wales, he was advised by Fitz-Stephen and FitzGerald to write to Strongbow requesting assistance. Strongbow sent an advance party under Raymond le Gros, arriving himself 1170 at the Norse-Gaelic settlement of Waterford. Following the fall of Waterford, the promised marriage of Aoife and Strongbow took place. As a result, much of his (and his followers') land was granted to him under Norman law but contrary to Brehon law. The marriage was imagined and painted in the Romantic style in 1854 by Daniel Maclise.

Mac Murchada was devastated after the death of his youngest son, Conchobar, retreated to Ferns and died a few months later.

Later Reputation

The scholar Áed Ua Crimthainn was probably Diarmait's court historian. In his Book of Leinster, Áed seems to be the first to set out the concept of the rí Érenn co fressabra, the "king of Ireland with opposition", later more widely adopted. This described Diarmait's ambitions and the achievements of his great-grandfather Diarmait mac Maíl na mBó.

In Irish history books written after 1800 in the age of nationalism, Diarmait Mac Murchada was often seen as a traitor, but his intention was not to aid an English invasion of Ireland, but rather to use Henry's assistance to become the High King of Ireland himself. He may not have known of Henry II's ambitions in Ireland or was blinded by his own ambition from seeing them. In his time, politics was based on dynasties and Ireland was not ruled as a unitary state. In turn, Henry II did not consider himself to be English or Norman, but a French Angevin, and was merely responding to the realities on the ground.

Gerald of Wales, a Cambro-Norman historian who visited Ireland in 1185 and whose uncles and cousins were prominent soldiers in the army of Strongbow, repeated their opinions of Mac Murchada:

"Now Dermot was a man tall of stature and stout of frame; a soldier whose heart was in the fray, and held valiant among his own nation. From often shouting his battle-cry his voice had become hoarse. A man who liked better to be feared by all than loved by any. One who would oppress his greater vassals, while he raised to high station men of lowly birth. A tyrant to his own subjects, he was hated by strangers; his hand was against every man, and every man's hand against him."

Death and Descendants

After Strongbow's successful invasion, Henry II mounted a second and larger invasion in 1171 to ensure his control over his Norman subjects, which succeeded. He then accepted the submission of the Irish kings in Dublin in November 1171. He also ensured that his moral claim to Ireland, granted by the 1154 papal bull Laudabiliter, was reconfirmed in 1172 by Pope Alexander III, and also by a synod of all the Irish bishops at the Synod of Cashel. He added "Lord of Ireland" to his many other titles. Before he could consolidate his new Lordship he had to go to France to deal with his sons' rebellion in 1173.

Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair was soon ousted, first as High King and eventually as King of Connacht. Attempting to regain his provincial kingdom, he turned to the English as Mac Murchada had before him. The Lordship directly controlled a small territory in Ireland surrounding the cities of Dublin and Waterford, while the rest of Ireland was divided between Norman and Welsh barons. The 1175 Treaty of Windsor, brokered by St Lawrence O'Toole with Henry II, formalised the submission of the Gaelic clans that remained in local control, like the Uí Conchobair who retained Connacht and the Uí Néill who retained most of Ulster.

Diarmait's male-line descendants such as Art Mac Art continued to rule parts of Leinster until the Tudor conquest of Ireland in the 16th century.

Diarmait died 1 May 1171 and was buried in Ferns Cathedral, where his grave can be seen in the outside graveyard.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dermot_MacMurrough


http://www.wikitree.com/wiki/MacMurrough-19


Dermot was the deposed King of Leinster.


ID: I05741 Name: Diarmait na-nGall MacMurchada Sex: M Birth: 1100 in King of Munster Birth: ABT 1100 in King of Leinster Birth: 1100 in King of Leinster, Leinster, Ireland Birth: 1100 in rí Laigin/King of Leinster [Laigen] Death: 1 MAY 1171 Reference Number: 5741 Note: Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster was the son of Enna, King of Leinster. He died in 1171. Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster gained the title of King Dernot of Leinster.

Children of Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster Urlachan+ Aoife MacMurrough+ d. a 1189

[655098494] Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster Male Father: Donnchad Macmurchada, King of Dublin [1310196988]++ AR7 Mother: Orlaith [1310196989]++ AR7 Name: Dermot MacMurrough++ AR7 Name: Diarmait MacMurchada++ AR7 Name: Dermot MacMurrough King of Leinster++ P1:223 P2:18 Name: Dermot McMurrough++ S777:120-121 Birth: (1100)++ AR7 Nobility Title: (1135) King of Leinster++ AR7 Death: (1 JAN 1171)++ AR7 Nobility Title: King of Ireland++ AR7

Source References: [S756] Ancestral Roots of Sixty Colonists Who Came To New England before 1700 (AR7) [S757] Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemange's Descendants, Vol. I (P1) [S758] Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemange's Descendants, Vol. II (P2) [S777] A Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages of the British Empire

Also called Dermot MacMurrough.3 rí Laigin Diarmait na-nGall MacMurchada married Cacht Ó Moore, daughter of rí Laigsi Cú Chocríche Ó Moore.4 He was born in 1100 in Leinster, Ireland.2 He was the son of rí Laigin Donnchad mac Murchada Uí Chennselaig and Orlaith MacBranain. King of Leinster in Ireland, between 1126 and 1171.5,3 He married Mor ingen Muirchertaig Ó Toole, daughter of rí Uí Muiredaig Muirchertach Ó Toole and Cacht ingen Loigsig Ua Mórdha, circa 1140 in Lough Carmen, Wexford, Leinster, Ireland. He abducted the wife of his rival for the kingdom of Meath, Tiernan O'Rourke [Tighern%C3%A1n Ua Ruairc], King of Breifne, sealing the hatred between these two kings before 1166.6 He was saw his kingdom invaded by Ruairi O'Connor [Ruadr%C3%AD Ua Conchobair] of Connacht, and Tiernan O'Rourke, on the death of the high-king Muirchertach MacLochlainn, Diarmat's greatest ally and protector, and on this occasion the Ostmen (Norsemen) of Dublin also participated, and he was ousted from his kingship in Leinster in 1166.6 He returned to Ireland with a small force of Welsh and Flemish under Richard FitzGodebert, and along with native Irish support to regain control of his homeland, Ui Ceinnsealaigh in southest Leinster, Dermot attempted to reclaim his kingship of Leinster in 1167.6 Annals of Ulster 1167: "Diarmait Mac Murchadha came from over sea this year. / Diarmait Mac Murchadha do thuidecht tar muir in bliadhain-si."7 He solicited succor from the Norman King Henry II in 1168.8 He was defeated southest of Carlow town by the high-king Ruairi O'Conor and his ally Tiernan O'Rourke in 1168 in Carlow town.6 He recaptured Wexford from the Norse-Irish with the assistance of the Normans under Robert fitz Stephen and Maurice de Prendergast circa 5 May 1169.6 He arrived in Waterford, after Richard de Clare, aka Strongbow, had taken the town, on 25 August 1170.6 Annals of Tigernach 1171: "Diarmuid Mac Murchadha, rí Laigen & Gall, & fer buaidhirtha na Banba & aidhmillti Erenn, iar toichestal Gall & iar n-gnath-milled Gaedel, iar n-argain & iar n-dian-scailedh chell & coicrich, do ég iar cínd bliadne do galar etualaing tria mirbuile Findén & Cholaim Chille & na naem aile ro airg."9 Annals of Ulster 1171: "Diarmait Mac Murchadha, king of the Fifth of Leinster, after destroying many churches and territories, died in Ferna without Unction, without Body of Christ, without penance, without a will, in reparation to Colum-cille and Finnian and to the saints besides, whose churches he destroyed. / Diarmait Mac Murchadha, rí Coicidh Laighen, iar milledh ceall n-imdha & tuath, do éc i Ferna, cen ongadh, cen Corp Crist, cen aithrighi, cen timna, i n-einech Coluim Cille & Finnein & na naem archena, isa cella ro mhíll."10 Annals of the Four Masters 1171: "Diarmaid Mac Murchadha, King of Leinster, by whom a trembling sod was made of all Ireland, -after having brought over the Saxons, after having done extensive injuries to the Irish, after plundering and burning many churches, as Ceanannus, Cluain-Iraird, &c.,-died before the end of a year after this plundering, of an insufferable and unknown disease; for he became putrid while living, through the miracle of God, Colum-Cille, and Finnen, and the other saints of Ireland, whose churches he had profaned and burned some time before; and he died at Fearnamor, without making a will, without penance, without the body of Christ, without unction, as his evil deeds deserved." ( (an unknown value)).5 He died on 1 May 1171 in Ferns, Leinster, Ireland, at age 71 years. He died at Fearnamor, without making a will, without penance, without the body of Christ, without unction, "as his evil deeds deserved."5,9

Child of rí Laigin Diarmait na-nGall MacMurchada and Cacht Ó Moore: Orlacan MacMurrough+

Child of rí Laigin Diarmait na-nGall MacMurchada and Mor ingen Muirchertaig Ó Toole: Eva MacMurrough+ b. c 1141

[S206] With additions and corrections by Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr. and assisted by David Faris Frederick Lewis Weis, Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America before 1700 (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., Inc., 1992), 175-6. Hereinafter cited as Weis: AR 7th ed.. [S278] A Descent from Adam, online http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/2444/Adam.htm, The Line of Diarmait, King of Ireland, 119. Hereinafter cited as DfAdam. [S206] With additions and corrections by Walter Lee Sheppard, Jr. and assisted by David Faris Frederick Lewis Weis, Weis: AR 7th ed., Line 66.26. [S278] DfAdam, online http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Aegean/2444/Adam.htm, The Line of Ír, 105. [S334] Emma Ryan Vol. 1, Myriam Priour Vol. 2 & 3 and Floortje Hondelink Vol. 4, compiler, Annala Rioghachta Eireann: Annals of the kingdom of Ireland by the Four Masters, from the earliest period to the year 1616 (College Road, Cork, Ireland: CELT: Corpus of Electronic Texts: a project of University College, Cork, 1998), M1171.4. Hereinafter cited as A4M. [S636] Ireland History in Maps, online http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/kilkenny/2/iremaps.htm. Hereinafter cited as Ireland: History in Maps. [S897] [unknown], The Annals of Ulster, AD 431-1131 (College Road, Cork, Ireland : University College Cork, 1997), U1167.6. Hereinafter cited as AU. [S215] Revised by others later George Edward Cokayne The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct, or Dormant, I-XIII (in 6) (Thrupp, Stroud, Gloucestershire, GL5 2BU: Sutton Publishing Limited, 2000), II:125. Hereinafter cited as CP. [S297] Unknown, The Annals of Tigernach (University College Cork, Ireland: Corpus of Electronic Texts, 1996), T1171.3. Hereinafter cited as AT. [S897] [unknown], AU, U1171.2.


b) DONCHAD, son of MURCHAD King of Leinster & his wife --- (-1115). King of Leinster. The Annals of Tigernach (Continuation) record that “the son of Murchad, son of Diarmait, son of Máel na mbó” won a battle in 1114[689]. The Annals of Tigernach (Continuation) record that “Donnchad son of Murchad king of Leinster” was killed in battle by “Domnall son of Murchertach Húa Bríáin” in 1115[690]. m ---. The name of Donchad´s wife is not known. Donchad & his wife had one child:

1. ENNA (-1126). King of Leinster. The Annals of Tigernach (Continuation) record that “Toirdelbach son of Ruaidri king of Ireland” gave “the kingship of the Foreigners to the king of Leinster” in 1125[691]. The Annals of Tigernach (Continuation) record that “Enna son of Donnchad son of Murchad king of Leinster” died in 1126, after which “Toirdelbach Húa Conchobair king of Ireland” was made king of Leinster, unsuccessfully challenged by “Cormac Mac Carthaig king of Desmond”[692]. m ---. The name of Enna´s wife is not known. Enna & his wife had one child:

a) DIARMAIT (-Fermanagh 1 May 1171). King of Leinster. The Annales Cambriæ record that "Diermit rex filius Murcath" was expelled from Ireland by his people and went to the English king, recording in later passages that he returned to Ireland and built "castellum Carrec iuxta Wisefordiam" in 1170, and died in 1172[693]. "Diarmicius Rex Lageniensium" donated "terram…Balidubgaill" to All Saints Dublin by undated charter witnessed by "…Enna filio meo…"[694]. The Annals of Tigernach (Continuation) record that Henry II King of England arrived in Ireland in 1171, went to Dublin where he received “the kingship of Leinster and of the men of Meath, Brefne, Oriel and Ulster”[695]. The Expugnatio Hibernica records the death "apud Fernas circa kal Mai" of "Dermitius Murchardi filius" [in 1171][696]. m MOR, daughter of ---]. The primary source which confirms her marriage has not yet been identified. Mistress: (1152) DERBFORGAILL, wife of TIERNAN O'Rourke King of Breifny, daughter of MURCHAD O'Malaghlin King of Meath & his wife ---. The Expugnatio Hibernica records that "Dermitius…Murchardi filius Langeniensium princeps" eloped with "Ororicio…Medensium rege…uxor ipsius Omachlachelini filia" [in 1152][697]. The Annals of Tigernach (Continuation) record that “Diarmait Mac Murchada king of Leinster forcibly carried off out of Meath the wife of Húa Ruairc…Derb-forgaill daughter of Murchad with her wealth” in 1152, adding in a later passage that she “came again to Húa Ruairc by flight from Leinster” in 1153[698]. Diarmait & his wife had two children:

i) AOIFE [Eva] (-after 1189). The Annales Cambriæ record that "Ricardus comes de Striguil" invaded Ireland in 1171 and married "filiam Diermit regis"[699]. The Expugnatio Hibernica records the marriage of "filia…Dermitii, Eva" and Earl Richard[700]. She was styled Countess of Ireland in 1185, but Countess of Strigoil in 1186[701]. m (Waterford [26 Aug 1171]) RICHARD de Clare "Strongbow" Earl of Pembroke, son of GILBERT de Clare "Strongbow" Earl of Pembroke & his wife Isabel de Beaumont ([1130]-Dublin 20 Apr 1176, bur Dublin, Holy Trinity). In [1168] he promised Dermot King of Leinster to help him recover his kingdom in return for the hand of his daughter and eventual succession to the crown. He landed near Waterford 23 Aug 1170, and marched to Dublin. He acceded to the demand of King Henry II to surrender his Irish conquests to him and was granted Leinster in fee[702].
ii) URLACHAN . The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified. m DONOUGH [Donald] More King of Thomond, son of TADHG King of Thomond & his wife --- (-1194).
Dermot had three illegitimate children by unknown mistresses:
iii) ENNA (-1168 or after). "Diarmicius Rex Lageniensium" donated "terram…Balidubgaill" to All Saints Dublin by undated charter witnessed by "…Enna filio meo…"[703]. The Expugnatio Hibernica records that "Ossiriæ princeps Duvenaldus" [Dounchad [Donough] Lord of Ossory] blinded "Dermitio…filium eiusdem primogenitum"[704]. The Annals of Tigernach (Continuation) record that “Enna Mac Murchada crownprince of Leinster” was blinded in 1168 by “Donnchad Mac Gilla Pátraic king of Ossory”[705].
iv) CONNOR (-1170). The Expugnatio Hibernica records that "Dermitio" gave "filium suum Chuchurum" as hostage to Roderic of Connaught [in 1169][706]. The Expugnatio Hibernica records that Roderic killed Dermot's son [in 1170][707].
v) DOMNALL Caemanach (-killed 1175). The Annals of Ulster record the death in 1175 of "Domnall Caemanach son of Diarmaid Mac Murchadha king of Leinster…[slain]”[708].

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Dermot II MacMurrough, King of Leinster's Timeline

1110
November 1110
Leinster, Ireland
1120
1120
Ireland
1128
1128
Dublin, Kildare, Ireland
1143
1143
Leinster, Éireann
1145
April 26, 1145
Kingdom of Leinster, Ireland
1171
May 1, 1171
Age 60
Ferns, Wexford, Wexford, Ireland
1171
Age 60
Chapter House, Gloucester Cathedral or, The Cathedral Church of St Edan, Irland or, Ferns, County Wexford, Ireland
????
Ireland