Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath
Encyclopedia
Hugh de Lacy
, Lord of Meath (died 25 July 1186, Durrow, Leinster) was an Anglo-Norman
magnate granted the lands of the Kingdom of Meath by Henry II
in 1172, during the Norman Invasion of Ireland
.
was born before 1135. He was the son of Gilbert de Lacy
(-c.1163), of Ewias, Weobley
and Ludlow
castles in the Marches of Wales, 4th Baron Lacy.
Hugh de Lacy is said to have had a dispute with Joscelin de Dinan as to certain lands in Herefordshire
in 1154. He was in possession of his father's lands before 1163, and in 1165–6 held fifty-eight and three-quarters knights' fees, and had nine tenants without knight service.
(Roderic), High King of Ireland
. Before Henry's departure about the end of March Lacy was granted Meath by the service of fifty knights and with almost royal authority; he was also put in charge of Dublin Castle
.
The grant of Meath was not accepted by Tighearnán Ó Ruairc, King of Bréifne, who ruled it at that time. Ó Ruairc refused to concede, but parlayed with De Lacy on the Hill of Ward
,in Meath. After negotiations stalled, a dispute ensued in which an interpreter was killed by a blow aimed at De Lacy, who fled; Ó Ruairc was killed by a spear-thrust as he mounted his horse, and he was decapitated. His head was impaled over the gate of Dublin Castle and later was sent to Henry II. The Annals of the Four Masters
say that Ó Ruairc was treacherously slain. From the account given by Giraldus Cambrensis
, it would appear that there was a plot to destroy Ó Ruairc.
De Lacy only escaped with difficulty; he seems to have left Dublin in charge of Earl Richard de Clare
by the king's orders, and to have commenced securing Meath by the erection of castles. Among these was Trim Castle
, which was put in charge of Hugh Tyrrell. The Song of Dermot and the Earl states And Skryne he then gave by charter to Adam de Feypo
he gave it and he built his castle there.
After this Lacy went back to England. On 29 December 1172 he was at Canterbury
, where, according to a story preserved by Giraldus, he reproved Archbishop Richard of Dover
for his boastful language. Next year he was fighting for Henry in France, and held Verneuil
against Louis VII
for a month; but at the end of that time the town was forced to capitulate.
He was sent over to Ireland as procurator-general in 1177, Richard de Clare having died shortly before. The grant of Meath was now confirmed, with the addition of Offelana, Offaly, Kildare
, and Wicklow
. As governor of Ireland Lacy secured Leinster and Meath, building numerous castles, while preserving the Irish in possession of their lands. He was subject to an accusation that he intended to seize the sovereignty of the island for himself. The author of the Gesta Henrici, however, says that Lacy lost his favour with Henry in consequence of complaints of his injustice by the Irish.
In 1181, he was recalled from his government for having married the daughter of Ruadri O Conchobair, King of Connaught and deposed High King of Ireland, without leave of Henry. But in the following winter Hugh was sent back, though with a co-adjutor in the person of one of the royal clerks, Robert of Shrewsbury. When, early in 1185, Henry sent his son John
over to Ireland, the young lord complained to his father that Hugh would not permit the Irish to pay tribute. This led to fresh disgrace, but Hugh remained in Ireland, and occupied himself as before with castle-building.
castle at Durrow, Tullamore
in 1186 at the instigation of An tSionnach (the Fox) and O'Breen (see Annals of the Four Masters, 1186.5). Prince John was promptly sent over to Ireland to take possession of his lands.
De Lacy was initially buried at Durrow Abbey
. In 1195 the archbishops of Cashel
and Dublin disinterred him and buried his body in Bective Abbey
in Meath
and his head in St. Thomas’s Abbey
, Dublin. A long controversy was then carried on between the two abbeys for his body, settled only in 1205 when his body was disinterred again and reburied in St. Thomas's Abbey, in the tomb of De Lacy's first wife.
Hugh was a benefactor of Lanthony Abbey, and also of many churches in Ireland, including the abbey of Trim.
In turn de Lacy divided the land among his barons (cf. The Song of Dermot and the Earl, a 12th century Norman French poem), the beneficiaries being:
Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter de Lacy (1180 – 1240) built Trim Castle
and Kilkea Castle
. Some time after 1196, the son of Hugh de Lacy, named Walter, granted “the whole land of Rathtowth” to his younger brother, Hugh. The sub-division of the county Meath was named the Barony of Ratoath, perhaps the first instance of the term barony used in Ireland for a division of a county.
Before 1155 Hugh married Rohese (Roysya) de Monemue (Monmouth), daughter of Baderon of Monmouth and Rohese de Clare (the daughter of Gilbert Fitz Richard
).
They had 9 children, 4 sons and 5 daughters:
Rohese died before 1180.
Hugh married 2nd Princess
Rose Ní Conchobair
, daughter of King of Ireland
, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
.
They had 2 children, a son and a daughter:
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
, Lord of Meath (died 25 July 1186, Durrow, Leinster) was an Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
magnate granted the lands of the Kingdom of Meath by Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
in 1172, during the Norman Invasion of Ireland
Norman Invasion of Ireland
The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...
.
Early life
Hugh de LacyDe Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
was born before 1135. He was the son of Gilbert de Lacy
Gilbert de Lacy
Gilbert de Lacy was a medieval Anglo-Norman baron in England, the grandson of Walter de Lacy a Norman soldier.-Background and family:...
(-c.1163), of Ewias, Weobley
Weobley
Weobley is a black and white village in Herefordshire, England.The name possibly derives from 'Wibba's Ley', a ley being a woodland glade and Wibba being a local Saxon landowner...
and Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
castles in the Marches of Wales, 4th Baron Lacy.
Hugh de Lacy is said to have had a dispute with Joscelin de Dinan as to certain lands in Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
in 1154. He was in possession of his father's lands before 1163, and in 1165–6 held fifty-eight and three-quarters knights' fees, and had nine tenants without knight service.
Career in Ireland
In October 1171 he went over to Ireland with Henry II, and early in 1172 was sent to receive the submission of Ruaidrí Ua ConchobairRuaidrí Ua Conchobair
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair , often anglicised Rory O'Connor, reigned as King of Connacht from 1156 to 1186, and from 1166 to 1198 was the last High King before the Norman invasion of Ireland .Ruaidrí was one of over twenty sons of King...
(Roderic), High King of Ireland
High King of Ireland
The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...
. Before Henry's departure about the end of March Lacy was granted Meath by the service of fifty knights and with almost royal authority; he was also put in charge of Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
.
The grant of Meath was not accepted by Tighearnán Ó Ruairc, King of Bréifne, who ruled it at that time. Ó Ruairc refused to concede, but parlayed with De Lacy on the Hill of Ward
Hill of Ward
The Hill of Ward, also known as the Hill of Tlachtga, is a hill in County Meath, Ireland. During medieval times it was the site of great festivals, including one at which winter fires were lit at Samhain, the precursor of the modern Halloween...
,in Meath. After negotiations stalled, a dispute ensued in which an interpreter was killed by a blow aimed at De Lacy, who fled; Ó Ruairc was killed by a spear-thrust as he mounted his horse, and he was decapitated. His head was impaled over the gate of Dublin Castle and later was sent to Henry II. The Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
say that Ó Ruairc was treacherously slain. From the account given by Giraldus Cambrensis
Giraldus Cambrensis
Gerald of Wales , also known as Gerallt Gymro in Welsh or Giraldus Cambrensis in Latin, archdeacon of Brecon, was a medieval clergyman and chronicler of his times...
, it would appear that there was a plot to destroy Ó Ruairc.
De Lacy only escaped with difficulty; he seems to have left Dublin in charge of Earl Richard de Clare
Richard de Clare
Richard de Clare may refer to:*Richard fitz Gilbert , lord of Clare and of Tonbridge, ancestor of the Clare family.*Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare Richard de Clare may refer to:*Richard fitz Gilbert (died 1090), lord of Clare and of Tonbridge, ancestor of the Clare family.*Richard fitz Gilbert de...
by the king's orders, and to have commenced securing Meath by the erection of castles. Among these was Trim Castle
Trim Castle
Trim Castle , Trim, County Meath, Ireland, on the shores of the Boyne has an area of 30,000 m². It is the remains of Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle...
, which was put in charge of Hugh Tyrrell. The Song of Dermot and the Earl states And Skryne he then gave by charter to Adam de Feypo
Adam de Feypo
Adam de Feypo is first mentioned in The Red Book of the Echequer 1166, p283 as being one of the knights of Hugh de Lacy in Herefordshire, England. He was possibly a castellan of one of the de Lacy castles on the Welsh border...
he gave it and he built his castle there.
After this Lacy went back to England. On 29 December 1172 he was at Canterbury
Canterbury
Canterbury is a historic English cathedral city, which lies at the heart of the City of Canterbury, a district of Kent in South East England. It lies on the River Stour....
, where, according to a story preserved by Giraldus, he reproved Archbishop Richard of Dover
Richard of Dover
Richard was a medieval Benedictine monk and Archbishop of Canterbury. Employed by Thomas Becket immediately before Becket's death, Richard arranged for Becket to be buried in Canterbury Cathedral and eventually succeeded Becket at Canterbury in a contentious election...
for his boastful language. Next year he was fighting for Henry in France, and held Verneuil
Verneuil
-Places in France:*Verneuil, Charente, in the Charente département*Verneuil, Cher, in the Cher département*Verneuil, Marne, in the Marne département*Verneuil, Nièvre, in the Nièvre département...
against Louis VII
Louis VII of France
Louis VII was King of France, the son and successor of Louis VI . He ruled from 1137 until his death. He was a member of the House of Capet. His reign was dominated by feudal struggles , and saw the beginning of the long rivalry between France and England...
for a month; but at the end of that time the town was forced to capitulate.
He was sent over to Ireland as procurator-general in 1177, Richard de Clare having died shortly before. The grant of Meath was now confirmed, with the addition of Offelana, Offaly, Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
, and Wicklow
Wicklow
Wicklow) is the county town of County Wicklow in Ireland. Located south of Dublin on the east coast of the island, it has a population of 10,070 according to the 2006 census. The town is situated to the east of the N11 route between Dublin and Wexford. Wicklow is also connected to the rail...
. As governor of Ireland Lacy secured Leinster and Meath, building numerous castles, while preserving the Irish in possession of their lands. He was subject to an accusation that he intended to seize the sovereignty of the island for himself. The author of the Gesta Henrici, however, says that Lacy lost his favour with Henry in consequence of complaints of his injustice by the Irish.
In 1181, he was recalled from his government for having married the daughter of Ruadri O Conchobair, King of Connaught and deposed High King of Ireland, without leave of Henry. But in the following winter Hugh was sent back, though with a co-adjutor in the person of one of the royal clerks, Robert of Shrewsbury. When, early in 1185, Henry sent his son John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
over to Ireland, the young lord complained to his father that Hugh would not permit the Irish to pay tribute. This led to fresh disgrace, but Hugh remained in Ireland, and occupied himself as before with castle-building.
Death, aftermath and legacy
De Lacy himself was killed while supervising the construction of a MotteMotte-and-bailey
A motte-and-bailey is a form of castle, with a wooden or stone keep situated on a raised earthwork called a motte, accompanied by an enclosed courtyard, or bailey, surrounded by a protective ditch and palisade...
castle at Durrow, Tullamore
Tullamore
Tullamore is a town in County Offaly, in the midlands of Ireland. It is Offaly's county town and the centre of the district.Tullamore is an important commercial and industrial centre in the region. Major international employers in the town include 'Tyco Healthcare' and 'Boston Scientific'. In...
in 1186 at the instigation of An tSionnach (the Fox) and O'Breen (see Annals of the Four Masters, 1186.5). Prince John was promptly sent over to Ireland to take possession of his lands.
De Lacy was initially buried at Durrow Abbey
Durrow Abbey
Durrow Abbey is a historic site located off the N52 some 5 miles from Tullamore, County Offaly, Ireland.To this day, Durrow Abbey remains a largely undisturbed early historic and medieval monastic site containing a complex of archaeological monuments, ecclesiastical and secular, visible and...
. In 1195 the archbishops of Cashel
Archbishop of Cashel
The Archbishop of Cashel is an archiepiscopal title which takes its name after the town of Cashel, County Tipperary in Ireland. The title is still in use in the Roman Catholic Church, but in the Church of Ireland it was downgraded to a bishopric in 1838....
and Dublin disinterred him and buried his body in Bective Abbey
Bective Abbey
Bective Abbey is a Cistercian abbey on the River Boyne in Bective, County Meath, Ireland. The abbey founded by Murchad O'Maeil-Sheachlainn in 1147 as a 'daughter house' of Mellifont Abbey. Although nothing remains except old ruins and walls, it is in a remarkable state of preservation...
in Meath
County Meath
County Meath is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the ancient Kingdom of Mide . Meath County Council is the local authority for the county...
and his head in St. Thomas’s Abbey
Liberty of Thomas Court and Donore
The Liberty of Thomas Court and Donore was one of several manors, or liberties, that existed in Dublin, Ireland since the arrival of the Anglo-Normans in the 12th century...
, Dublin. A long controversy was then carried on between the two abbeys for his body, settled only in 1205 when his body was disinterred again and reburied in St. Thomas's Abbey, in the tomb of De Lacy's first wife.
Hugh was a benefactor of Lanthony Abbey, and also of many churches in Ireland, including the abbey of Trim.
Feudal arrangements
Henry II applied to Ireland the feudal system of land tenure, displacing Murchadh Ó Maoilseachlainn, king of Meath or Tara. Henry granted Hugh de Lacy “the land of Meath in as full a measure as Murchadh...or anyone before or after him held it.” By this grant, known as a Liberty, within the territory de Lacy was granted power equal to that of the king himself, the only reservation being that the king could dispose of Church lands anywhere. A person with this jurisdiction was known as a Count and the territory over which he ruled was called a county. One of the privileges of a Count Palatine such as de Lacy was that he could create barons or inferior lords.In turn de Lacy divided the land among his barons (cf. The Song of Dermot and the Earl, a 12th century Norman French poem), the beneficiaries being:
- Hugh Tyrrell, who obtained the Barony of CastleknockBarony of CastleknockThe Barony of Castleknock meaning "Cnucha's Castle" is one of the baronies of Ireland, an historical geographical unit of land. It takes its name from the suburban village of the same name - Castleknock. The town with the biggest population in the barony is Blanchardstown.-Location:It is one of...
; - Gilbert de AnguloGilbert de Angulo-Biography:A son of Jocelyn de Angulo, Gilbert held the barony of Machaire Gaileng . Upon his rebellion in 1195 all his lands were forfeited - given by Walter de Lacy to his brother, Hugh, about 1198 - and Gilbert and his brothers Phillip and William outlawed.Gilbert fled English jurisdiction and...
(or Gilbert de Nangle), who became Baron of NavanNavan-People:Navan was the childhood home of Pierce Brosnan, who appeared in the television series Remington Steele and was the fifth film actor to play James Bond. TV personality Hector Ó hEochagáin, and comedians Dylan Moran and Tommy Tiernan also hail from Navan....
and obtained Morgallion; - Jocelin, son of above Gilbert, who obtained Navan;
- William de Musset;
- Adam de FeypoCusackCusack is an Irish family name of Norman origin, originally from Cussac in Guienne , France. The surname died out in England, but is common in Ireland, where it was imported at the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century....
(or Adam de Phepoe), who obtained Skryne by charter; - Gilbert FitzThomas;
- Hugh de Hose (or Sir Hugh Hussey Kt.), who became Baron of Galtrim
- Hussey;
- Thomas Fleming;
- Adam Dullard (or Adam Dollard);
- Gilbert de Nugent;
- Risteárd de TiúitRisteárd de TiúitRisteárd de Tiúit was a member of Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke's Irish invasion force, and Lord Chief Justice of Ireland...
, who received land in Westmeath and Longford; later Barony of Moyashell, in Westmeath; - Robert de Lacy, who obtained Rathwire;
- Geoffrey de Constantine Kilbixi, who obtained 'good and fine land' near Rathconarty;
- William le PetitCusackCusack is an Irish family name of Norman origin, originally from Cussac in Guienne , France. The surname died out in England, but is common in Ireland, where it was imported at the time of the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century....
; who obtained Castle Brack, Magherdernon and Rathkenny; - Meiler Fitz Henry, who obtained Ardnorcher;
- Richard de Lachapelle.
Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter de Lacy (1180 – 1240) built Trim Castle
Trim Castle
Trim Castle , Trim, County Meath, Ireland, on the shores of the Boyne has an area of 30,000 m². It is the remains of Ireland's largest Anglo-Norman castle...
and Kilkea Castle
Castles in Ireland
-See also:*Abbeys, priories and historic houses**List of historic houses in Northern Ireland**List of abbeys and priories in the Republic of Ireland**List of historic houses in the Republic of Ireland*Castles**Castles in Northern Ireland...
. Some time after 1196, the son of Hugh de Lacy, named Walter, granted “the whole land of Rathtowth” to his younger brother, Hugh. The sub-division of the county Meath was named the Barony of Ratoath, perhaps the first instance of the term barony used in Ireland for a division of a county.
Family
Hugh de Lacy was married twice.Before 1155 Hugh married Rohese (Roysya) de Monemue (Monmouth), daughter of Baderon of Monmouth and Rohese de Clare (the daughter of Gilbert Fitz Richard
Gilbert Fitz Richard
Gilbert Fitz Richard was son and eventual heir of Richard Fitz Gilbert of Clare and heiress Rohese Giffard. He succeeded to his father's possessions in England in 1091; his brother, Roger Fitz Richard, inherited his father's lands in Normandy. Gilbert's inheritance made him one of the wealthiest...
).
They had 9 children, 4 sons and 5 daughters:
- Walter de LacyWalter de LacyWalter de Lacy was Lord of Meath in Ireland and Ludlow in Shropshire in the Welsh Marches.- Life :With his father Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath he built Trim Castle , Trim, County Meath....
(1166-1241) - Hugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of UlsterHugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of Ulster125px|right|thumb|[[coat of arms|Arms]] of Hugh de LacyHugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of Ulster was the younger son of Hugh de Lacy, and founded the Earldom of Ulster....
(bef.1179-1242) - Gilbert de Lacy
- Son de Lacy (Robert?) (died young)
- Aegida de Lacy, who married Richard de Burgh
- Elayne (Elena) de Lacy, who married Richard de Beaufo (Belfou)
- Daughter de Lacy, who married Sir William FitzAlan, son of Sir William FitzAlan, Lord of Oswestry, and Isabel de Say.
- Daughter de Lacy, who married Geoffrey de Marisco, Justiciar of Ireland, son of Jordan de Marisco, Justiciar of Ireland.
- Daughter de Lacy
Rohese died before 1180.
Hugh married 2nd Princess
Princess
Princess is the feminine form of prince . Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or his daughters....
Rose Ní Conchobair
Rose Ní Conchobair
Rose Ní Conchobair, Princess of Connaught and Ireland, Lady of Meath, fl. 1180.Rose was one of some thirteen children of King of Ireland, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair. About 1180 she married Hugh de Lacy, 1st Earl of Ulster . De Lacy had five daughters and two sons by his first wife Rose de Monmouth...
, daughter of King of Ireland
King of Ireland
A monarchical polity has existed in Ireland during three periods of its history, finally ending in 1801. The designation King of Ireland and Queen of Ireland was used during these periods...
, Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair
Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair , often anglicised Rory O'Connor, reigned as King of Connacht from 1156 to 1186, and from 1166 to 1198 was the last High King before the Norman invasion of Ireland .Ruaidrí was one of over twenty sons of King...
.
They had 2 children, a son and a daughter:
- William Gorm de Lacy (declared illegitimate by Henry II of EnglandHenry II of EnglandHenry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
) - Ysota de Lacy