Page 145 - Demo

Chapter Five 145
months after the taking of Dublin, in May 1171, King Dermot MacMurrough, ‘Dermot of the Foreigners,’ this individual of whom it was said ‘that no man in all Irish history is held in greater disrepute by his countrymen,” became ill and died at his royal residence in Ferns, county Wexford; after which, in Dublin, Strongbow then claimed the kingship of Leinster, according to his agreement with Dermot. But instead of satisfying his ambition, this claim of a provincial Irish throne almost proved to be his downfall as troubles began to gather thick and fast about him.
Strongbow’s success in Ireland alarmed the English monarch, the latter being of the belief that his subject’s aim was ultimately to make himself King of Ireland. Accordingly, Henry ordered that no more men should leave England to recruit Strongbow’s army and he further ordered that no arms or supplies of any kind should be sent to him from England. But more importantly, he also ordered Strongbow and his fellow-adventurers to London, to do homage and explain their actions. This command came to Strongbow at a most inoppor- tune time, for at that moment the Irish chiefs were making preparations to crush his forces, and as a result, and despite having already had unpleasant experiences of King Henry’s displeasure, Henry had earlier stripped him of the title, Earl of Pembroke, he was, for the time being, unable to comply with the royal command.
Things were also changing in Ireland. After Dermot’s death the princes of Leinster refused to accept Strongbow as their king. As we know, up to then they had wholeheartedly supported Dermot’s Norman allies, but now they rose against them and quickly and worry- ingly won back both Wexford and Waterford. Furthermore, the former Danish inhabitants of Dublin city who had been expelled by Strongbow, had in the aftermath gathered together a huge force of their kinsmen from abroad and in a great leet blockaded the city by sea; but contemporary reports claim that ‘by boldness and courage, combined with the clever strategy of Strongbow’s lieutenants in Dublin, the Danish force was defeated and the leet scattered.’
But before Strongbow could draw a relieved breath after this victory, he was confronted by another, but this time, much more formidable obstacle-a great united Irish army under the command of the High-King, Rory O’ Connor, which threatened to overwhelm him.
It was the Archbishop of Dublin, Laurence O’Toole who was responsible for gathering together this sizeable force, because it is told that he appealed for national unity and in doing so, he inspired the Irish princes, under Rory, to mobilize an Irish army, and march against