Richard FitzGilbert de Clare (1130-1176), also known as Strongbow, was an Anglo-Norman who took part in the Norman Invasions of the 12th century. Lord of Leinster, he distinguished himself in numerous battles pitting the Irish against the Anglo-Normans, and repeatedly opposed Henry II on the question of the Conquest of the Kingdom of Ireland.
Richard FitzGilbert de Clare was born into a noble family, descended from the Capetians and Dukes of Normandy. Upon his father’s death, he inherited the title of Earl of Pembroke, and became the owner of lands in South Wales, Normandy and England.
Despite all these domains, Strongbow was in financial difficulty, and found no support from Henry II of England, who disparaged him at will.
The Norman Invasions of the 12th century were sparked by a conflict between 2 Irish kings: Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster, and Ruaidri O’Connor, Supreme King of Ireland. Dermot MacMurrough is driven out of his own kingdom by the supreme Irish king, and so decides to go to Henry II for help.
But Henry II saw this as a great opportunity to expand his kingdom and invade Ireland… He therefore authorized the Irish sovereign to recruit troops to continue the battle in Ireland.
Opportunistic, and understanding what was at stake, Strongbow asked Henry II for permission to leave for Ireland too, to take part in the Norman Conquest of Ireland. He saw it as an opportunity to make his fortune again and escape his creditors, while becoming Henry II’s vassal.
So he embarked with Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster, and struck a deal with him on board: the king agreed to give him his daughter Aiofe in marriage, and offered him a possible succession to the throne of Leinster. Strongbow’s troops landed in Ireland in August 1170 and immediately attacked the town of Waterford. Strongbow took the opportunity to marry Aoife, after obtaining Henry II’s consent. On September 21, 1170, Strongbow marched on Dublin, then attacked County Meath.
Faced with so many victories, Henri II feared that Strongbow and his other barons were becoming too powerful. Early in 1171, he ordered his vassals to return to England, on pain of having their lands seized. But Strongbow refused, and on Dermot MacMurrough’s death became King of Leinster.
This was the last straw for the Irish, who rose up, retook Waterford and laid siege to Dublin from July to August 1171. But the Normans were better equipped and better trained: they managed to keep the Irish at bay despite their offensive.
Strongbow then asked Henry II to return his lands in England and Normandy, but the English monarch categorically refused.
Despite this disagreement, Henry II seemed to want to appoint Strongbow as seneschal of Ireland, and Strongbow was forced to cede all Irish coastal towns to the king. In return, he was granted all other conquered lands as a direct vassal of the king, and kept Leinster.
Strongbow was finally summoned by the king in 1173 to fight in Normandy. Strongbow complied, and returned to Ireland in the autumn of the same year. Henry II entrusted him with the custody of the Kingdom of Ireland, and Strongbow decided to crush the last Irish uprisings. Although he suffered a violent defeat, he managed to subdue the Irish resistance, and finally divided the Irish lands between his various vassals in 1175. On October 6, 1175, he travelled to Windsor, England, for the signing of the Treaty of Windsor between Henry II and High King Ruaidri O’Connor.
Stronbow died on April 20, 1176, leaving behind a son, Gilbert FitzGilbert de Clare, who died in infancy, and a daughter Isabelle, married to Guillaume le Maréchal, who then reclaimed all his lands.
