Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke

That's why I'm bothering to read the whole thing.

On this day in 1170, Anglo-Norman knight Richard de Clare, also known as Strongbow, landed in Waterford.

He had been summoned to Ireland by the deposed king of Leinster, McDermott McDermott, who lost his title to the High King of Ireland, Rory O'Connor, in 1166, four

years

I mean, the counties were there, but the territories themselves didn't conform to the counties necessarily.

Let's put it that way.

Strongbow would prove his best ally, McMurray's.

McMurray offered Strongbow the hand of his daughter, Aoife, in marriage.

She was in her day the loveliest woman of Cambria, and perhaps of Britain, but the fabled mantle of Tregow, which according to her own mythology will fit none but the chaste, had not rested upon the white shoulders of Nesta, the daughter of Rhys Ap Tudor.

Her girlish beauty had attracted the notice of Henry I, to whom she bore Robert Fitzroy and Henry Fitzhenry, the former the famous Earl of Gloucester, and the latter the father of two of Strongbow's most noted companions.

Afterwards, by consent of her royal paramour, she married Gerald, Constable of Pembroke, by whom she had Maurice Fitzgerald, the common ancestor of the Kildare and Desmond Geraldines.

While living with Gerald at Pembroke, Owen, son of Cadogan, Prince of Powys, hearing of her marvellous beauty at a banquet given by his father at the castle of Abertevi, came by night to Pembroke, surprised the castle, and carried off Nesta and her children into Powys.

But a still more important ally waited to treat with Dermid on his return to Bristol.

This was Richard de Clare, called variously from his castles or his country, Earl of Strigl and Chepstow, or Earl of Pembroke.

From the strength of his arms he was nicknamed Strongbow, and in our annals he is usually called Earl Richard, by which title we prefer hereafter to distinguish him.

His father, Gilbert de Clare, was descended from Richard of Normandy, and stood no further removed in degree from that duke than the reigning prince.

In Wales, Dermot found ambitious men constrained by royal oversight and eager for land and power.

The most prominent among them was Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, or as we will call him going forward, Strongbow.

Dermot McMurrah struck a deal with Strongbow.

In exchange for leading an army to Ireland, Strongbow would receive the hand of Dermot's daughter Aoife in marriage, along with the succession to the Kingdom of Leinster upon Dermot's death.

This was a major breach of Gaelic law and the tanistry system I mentioned earlier.

Dermot actually returned to Ireland in 1166, and after being confronted by Rory O'Connor, he pledged his allegiance to Rory and was allowed the kingship of a smaller kingdom within Leinster.

The first Normans arrived at Banno Bay, County Wexford, in May 1169, led by Robert Fitz Stephen.

While I didn't mention it at the time, both Myler Fitz Henry and Strongbow's uncle, Hervey de Montmorency, were also part of that initial wave.

She was in her day the loveliest woman of Cambria, and perhaps of Britain, but the fabled mantle of Tregau, which, according to her own mythology, will fit none but the chaste, had not rested upon the white shoulders of Nesta, the daughter of Rhys Aptuder.

Her girlish beauty had attracted the notice of Henry I., to whom she bore Robert Fitzroy and Henry Fitzhenry, the former the famous Earl of Gloucester, and the latter the father of two of Strongbow's most noted companions.

Afterwards, by consent of her royal paramour, she married Gerald, constable of Pembroke, by whom she had Maurice Fitzgerald, the common ancestor of the Kildare and Desmond Geraldines.

While living with Gerald at Pembroke, Owen, son of Cadogan, prince of Powys, hearing of her marvellous beauty at a banquet given by his father at the castle of Aberdevey, came by night to Pembroke, surprised the castle and carried off nesta and her children into powys gerald however had escaped and by the aid of his father-in-law rhys recovered his wife and rebuilt his castle a d eleven o five the lady survived this husband and married a second time stephen constable of cardigan by whom she had robert fitzstephen and probably other children One of her daughters, Anchorad, married David de Berry, the father of Geraldus and Robert de Berry.

But a still more important ally waited to treat with Dermid, on his return to Bristol.

This was Richard de Clare, called variously, from his castles or his country, Earl of Strigall and Chepstow, or Earl of Pembroke.

From the strength of his arms he was nicknamed Strongbow, and in our annals he is usually called Earl Richard, by which title we prefer hereafter to distinguish him.

His father, Gilbert de Clare, was descended from Richard of Normandy, and stood no further removed in degree from that duke than the reigning prince.