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Illustration from manuscripts of
Topographia Hibernica and Expugnatio Hibernica
(The Topography of Ireland & The Conquest of Ireland)
written in 1187 and 1189
by Giraldus Cambrensis (Gerald of Wales)
National Library of Ireland Ms. 700

Dermot MacMurrough, King of Leinster

Illustration from the right margin of page 205 (Expugnatio Hibernica)


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Source: National Library of Ireland Ms. 700

In 1166 Dermot MacMurrough was forced to flee his kingdom after being defeated by Rury O'Connor, High King of Ireland. Arriving in England, he sought the help of King Henry II, who allowed him to recruit an armed force. MacMurrough returned to Ireland in 1167 with a small force and won back some of his ancestral lands. He was followed in 1169 by the Anglo-Norman force that restored him to his kingdom.

Chapter VI: The description of Dermitius, son of Murchard.

From `The Conquest of Ireland' by Sylvester Giraldus Cambrensis, 1189
Edited by Thomas Wright, 1863

   Dermitius was tall in stature, and of large proportions, and, being a great warrior and valiant in his nation, his voice had become hoarse by constantly shouting and raising his war-cry in battle. Bent more on inspiring fear than love, he oppressed his nobles, though he advanced the lowly. A tyrant to his own people, he was hated by strangers; his hand was against every man, and the hands of every man against him. Meanwhile, Roderic sent messengers to Fitz-Stephen, with great presents and offers, to endeavour to persuade him to depart in peace and amity, from a country in which he could challenge no sort of right; but the message was fruitless. The envoys then applied to Mac Murchard, exhorting him to unite his forces with theirs in exterminating, the foreigners, and promising that on his so doing the whole of Leinster should be peaceably restored to him, and that Roderic would enter into a treaty of close alliance with him; they alleged many reasons concerning their common country and nation, and used much speech to induce him to take this course; but all to no purpose.

The translated text of Expugnatio Hibernica PDF