Anglo-Norman nobles, led by Richard de Clare (nicknamed Strongbow), were invited to Ireland by the King of Leister in 1169.
They took control of the major towns and Henry II of England proclaimed himself
overlord of Ireland. In succeeding centuries, however, English power declined
and the Crown controlled just a small area around Dublin known as the Pale
(area which marked the limits of English influence from Norman to Tudor times).
Many of the Anglo-Norman barons living outside the Pale opposed English rule
just as strongly as did the native Irish clans.
1100
1169 Strongbow’s Anglo-Normans arrive at invitation of
exiled King of Leister, Dermot McMurrough
1172 Pope affirms King Henry II of England’s lordship over
Ireland
1177 John de Courcy’s forces invade Ulster
1200
1224 Dominican order enters Ireland and constructs friaries
1250
1260 Powerful Irish chieftain Brian O’Neill killed at the
Battle of Down
1297 First Irish Parliament meets in Dublin
1300
1315 Scots invade Ireland; Edward Bruce crowned king
1318 Bruce killed in battle
1348 The Black Death: one third of population killed in
three years
1350
1366 Statutes of Kilkenny forbid marriage between
Anglo-Normans and Irish
1394 King Richard II lands with army to reassert control; returns
five years later but with inconclusive
results
1400
1400 English force confront Irish horsemen on Richard II’s
return expedition
1000
1014 High King Brian Ború of Munster defeats joint army of
Vikings and the King of Leister at Clontarf
1450
1471 8th Earl of Kildare made Lord Deputy of
Ireland
1487 Kildare crowns Lambert Simnel “Edward VI” in Dublin
1491 Kildare supports Perkin Warbeck, pretender to the
English throne
1494 Lord Deputy Edward Poynings forbids Irish Parliament
to meet without royal consent
1496 Kildare regains Lord Deputy position
