In the lack Ruaidhri Ua Conchobhair (kid away from Diarmuid’s former challenger, High Queen Toirdhealbhach) has been around since the new Highest Queen of Ireland
Following loss of the fresh new popular Higher Queen Brian Boru within the 1014, Ireland is at almost constant municipal conflict for 2 ages. Following fall of O’Brien relatives (Brian Boru’s descendants) from the Irish throne, different families which ruled Ireland’s four provinces had been constantly assaulting together to possess power over each of Ireland. At the time Ireland was particularly a federal empire, and never a unitary county, with four provinces (Ulster, Leinster, Munster, and you can Connaught together with Meath, which had been the latest seat of one’s Higher King) for every influenced from the kings who have been every supposed to be faithful or perhaps sincere with the Higher Queen off Ireland.
For the 1166, Ireland’s the Highest Queen and you will Diarmuid’s only friend Muircheartach Ua Lochlainn got fallen, and you may a massive coalition provided because of the Tighearnan Ua Ruairc (Diarmuid’s archenemy) marched toward Leinster. Diarmuid escaped to Wales and after that to help you England and you can France, in order to have Queen Henry II’s accept to end up being greet recruit soldiers to displace to Ireland and you will reclaim his kingship. With the back again to Wales, Robert Fitzstephen helped your organize a beneficial mercenary armed forces off Norman and Welsh troops, also Richard de Clare, next Earl of Pembroke, alias Strongbow.
Diarmuid structured not just to retake Leinster, but so you can oust brand new Ui Conchobhair clan and start to become the latest Highest Queen from Ireland themselves. The guy easily retook Dublin, Ossory, together with previous Viking payment away from Waterford, and you may within a short while got each one of Leinster within his handle once again. Then he marched into Tara (following Ireland’s financial support) to help you oust Ruaidhri. Diarmuid gambled one Ruaidhri wouldn’t damage the brand new Leinster hostages which he’d (as well as Diarmuid’s oldest kid, Conchobhar Mac Murchadha). But not Ua Ruairc pressed his give and so they was in fact most of the slain.
Ua Ruairc and his partners took Leinster with ease, and you may Diarmuid along with his spouse rarely escaped due to their life
Diarmuid’s military following shed the battle. He sent phrase to Wales and pleaded with Strongbow to come to Ireland as soon as possible. Strongbow’s short push got from inside the Wexford that have Welsh and Norman cavalry and you can took over one another Waterford and Wexford. Then they grabbed Dublin. Diarmuid try devastated following loss of their man, Domhnall, retreated in order to Ferns and you may died a few months afterwards.
Within the Irish record guides authored immediately following 1800 from the ages of nationalism, Diarmuid MacMorrough is actually tend to named an effective traitor—probably the most notorious traitor in the Irish record, in reality—but his intention wasn’t to greatly help a keen English invasion away from Ireland, but rather to utilize Henry’s assist with become the Higher Queen regarding Ireland themselves. He’d not a chance of knowing Henry II’s hopes and dreams within the Ireland. In the time, politics is centered on dynasties and you will Ireland wasn’t ruled because a single state. Consequently, Henry II don’t think himself as English otherwise Norman, however, French, and you may was just responding to this new knowledge on to the ground.
Gerald off Wales, good Cambro-Norman historian exactly who visited Ireland within the 1185 and you may whose uncles and cousins was basically popular soldiers on the army away from Strongbow, repeated its views of Diarmuid: «Now Diarmuid was one tall off prominence and you will stout from frame; a soldier whoever heart was in the newest fray, and you will kept valiant one of his very own country. Out-of often yelling their competition-scream his voice came into existence hoarse. One who carry out oppress their better vassals, while he raised to highest channel men out of lowly birth. A good tyrant so you’re able to his own subjects, he had been disliked of the complete strangers; their give is actually up against all the son, and each man’s hand up against him.»