Home ⋅ Published Books ⋅ Strongbow in Ireland and the Angevin empire: The charter evidence

Strongbow in Ireland and the Angevin empire: The charter evidence
Share by Email Share on Messenger Share on Whatsapp Share on Whatsapp

By: Marie Therese Flanagan
Publisher: Four Courts Press Ltd
Published: October 2026
Pages: 400
Categories: History, Humanities, Non-Fiction
Language: English
Available as: Hardback
On sale at:
ISBN-13: 9781801512121

This book explores the career in Ireland of Strongbow, the first Anglo-Norman lord of Leinster, in the broader context of his interests and that of his family within the Angevin empire where he held lands in England, south Wales and Normandy. It draws on a body of documentary evidence that has not been sufficiently exploited in tracing the beginnings of the colonial advance into Ireland from 1167 onwards. Strongbow’s charters are genuinely contemporary by comparison with the principal narrative accounts which date from around 1190, a generation after the intrusion of the first invaders. The charters of Strongbow’s father, Earl Gilbert of Pembroke, are included for the light they shed on what exactly Strongbow inherited from his father in Pembroke. The charters of Strongbow’s mother, Countess Isabel, highlight the family’s landholdings in Normandy, while two charters of his wife, Aífe, shed light on her role as a widow sustaining family interests and adroitly negotiating across legal and cultural boundaries between Ireland and Britain. Last but not least, a charter of Strongbow’s sister, Isabel, in which she anticipates that she could become heir to his estates, highlights that until Strongbow married Aífe in 1170 he was in the precarious position of not having a legitimate heir to succeed him.

Other Books From this Category

View More From This Category

About Us

Irish Interest in based on one very simple idea: to bring the contents of any Irish bookshop to people everywhere, especially those outside Ireland who do not have the possibility of keeping abreast of new books published in Ireland. The Irish Interest web platform is purely a provider of information about new publications. The aim of the site is to have every publishing house in Ireland adding their latest titles as they become available. Hyperlinks to each title bring users of the site directly to the publisher's web area or to a sales site where books can be purchased.

Privacy Policy

Irishinterest.ie and its owners strive at all times to preserver the privacy of all personal information stored on its website and servers. Information deemed to be private and confidential will not be communicated to any parties or divulged in any way. Cookies and similar technologies Irishinterest.ie and its owners are not responsible for external data collection entities. Third party sites with access to Irishinterest.ie may be able to acquire or assimilate data. Cookies and similar technologies can be utilized by third parties accessing our site without our knowledge.

Terms & Conditions

Irishinterest.ie, Irishinterest.com, and its owners take no responsibility for information issued on its site that is posted by third parties. It is the sole responsibility of the third parties who utilize the site for publication of any information to ensure that such information is correct and does not infringe laws and the rights of others who may be affected by publication of such information. Disputed material will be removed pending clarification.