Read Online Ireland by Vincent McDonnell - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Vincent McDonnell
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a wooden structure was built on a hilltop, or mound, called a motte. Here, the inhabitants could take shelter from their enemies. Below the mound a structure called a bailey was built. This was an area surrounded by a wooden palisade fence within which houses were built, and cattle and other animals and food and supplies kept safe.
Over the next 200 years the Normans captured more and more Irish land. Their success was often due to the fact that the Irish kings were always fighting among themselves. They even sided with the Normans against their own countrymen. Much of Leinster, Munster and Connacht came under Norman control. The Normans built great stone castles to defend their conquests and we can still see them today in the Irish countryside. These castles were built at Dublin, Kilkenny, Limerick, Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Trim in County Meath and at many other locations.
The Normans also developed the towns, which had been founded by the Vikings. Later they built great medieval cathedrals and introduced a number of religious orders to Ireland, like the Dominicans and the Franciscans. They also introduced the feudal system of land ownership, which was common in England and Europe. Under this system, the lord owned the land and protected the people who worked for him. They, in turn, owed complete allegiance to their master, and had to fight for him when necessary.
Over time, friendships and alliances were established between the conquerors and the native Irish. Marriages took place between both sets of people and the Normans began to adopt Irish habits and customs and language. This led to a saying that the Normans ‘became more Irish than the Irish themselves’. They began to think of themselves as Irish, and felt that they no longer owed allegiance to an English king. This attitude brought English kings to Ireland from time to time, determined to assert their authority.
Gradually the Normans’ real power base became centred in the eastern half of the country, especially around Dublin. They also controlled the main towns around the coast. Elsewhere, Irish kings, chieftains and Normans lived side by side, though as usual, there was a good deal of fighting among them, with alliances being formed and broken on a regular basis.
One of the most important points about the coming of the Normans to Ireland was that from then on the English monarchs claimed Ireland as part of their kingdom. But like the High Kings before them, they did not control the whole country. Yet this claim meant that Ireland’s destiny was, from 1171 on, closely linked with that of England. Whenever there was a dispute in England over who should be the reigning monarch, it almost always affected Ireland. Battles for the English crown were later fought in Ireland, bringing great hardship on the people, including the descendants of the Normans. There were also many rebellions in Ireland to try and win her freedom from English rule, and for the next 800 years, Ireland was the scene of invasions, wars, rebellions, battles, sieges and famines, in which a great deal of blood was shed and tens of thousands of lives lost.
12
Robert the Bruce and the Spider
Y ou will have realised by now that kings always want to conquer other lands and become even more powerful and rich. Henry II had declared himself Lord of Ireland, and the English kings who succeeded him wanted to be kings of Scotland and Wales as well. This led to wars between England and Wales, and England and Scotland, and one of these latter conflicts brought war to Ireland.
After they had conquered England, the Normans took lands in Wales. You remember Strongbow was a Norman whose family seized lands at Pembroke. But yet no English king could truly claim to be king of Wales. It was not until 1272, when Edward I was king of England, that Wales was conquered. Edward didn’t like the Welsh or the Scots – he didn’t like the Irish either – and was determined to conquer Wales and Scotland.
Over the next 200 years the Normans captured more and more Irish land. Their success was often due to the fact that the Irish kings were always fighting among themselves. They even sided with the Normans against their own countrymen. Much of Leinster, Munster and Connacht came under Norman control. The Normans built great stone castles to defend their conquests and we can still see them today in the Irish countryside. These castles were built at Dublin, Kilkenny, Limerick, Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Trim in County Meath and at many other locations.
The Normans also developed the towns, which had been founded by the Vikings. Later they built great medieval cathedrals and introduced a number of religious orders to Ireland, like the Dominicans and the Franciscans. They also introduced the feudal system of land ownership, which was common in England and Europe. Under this system, the lord owned the land and protected the people who worked for him. They, in turn, owed complete allegiance to their master, and had to fight for him when necessary.
Over time, friendships and alliances were established between the conquerors and the native Irish. Marriages took place between both sets of people and the Normans began to adopt Irish habits and customs and language. This led to a saying that the Normans ‘became more Irish than the Irish themselves’. They began to think of themselves as Irish, and felt that they no longer owed allegiance to an English king. This attitude brought English kings to Ireland from time to time, determined to assert their authority.
Gradually the Normans’ real power base became centred in the eastern half of the country, especially around Dublin. They also controlled the main towns around the coast. Elsewhere, Irish kings, chieftains and Normans lived side by side, though as usual, there was a good deal of fighting among them, with alliances being formed and broken on a regular basis.
One of the most important points about the coming of the Normans to Ireland was that from then on the English monarchs claimed Ireland as part of their kingdom. But like the High Kings before them, they did not control the whole country. Yet this claim meant that Ireland’s destiny was, from 1171 on, closely linked with that of England. Whenever there was a dispute in England over who should be the reigning monarch, it almost always affected Ireland. Battles for the English crown were later fought in Ireland, bringing great hardship on the people, including the descendants of the Normans. There were also many rebellions in Ireland to try and win her freedom from English rule, and for the next 800 years, Ireland was the scene of invasions, wars, rebellions, battles, sieges and famines, in which a great deal of blood was shed and tens of thousands of lives lost.
12
Robert the Bruce and the Spider
Y ou will have realised by now that kings always want to conquer other lands and become even more powerful and rich. Henry II had declared himself Lord of Ireland, and the English kings who succeeded him wanted to be kings of Scotland and Wales as well. This led to wars between England and Wales, and England and Scotland, and one of these latter conflicts brought war to Ireland.
After they had conquered England, the Normans took lands in Wales. You remember Strongbow was a Norman whose family seized lands at Pembroke. But yet no English king could truly claim to be king of Wales. It was not until 1272, when Edward I was king of England, that Wales was conquered. Edward didn’t like the Welsh or the Scots – he didn’t like the Irish either – and was determined to conquer Wales and Scotland.
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