Meiler FitzHenry
Meiler Fitzhenry (also Meilyr FitzHenry ; † 1220 ) was a cambro-Norman nobleman and Justiciar of Ireland .
origin
Meiler was a son of Henry FitzHenry , an illegitimate son of the English King Henry I and the Welsh princess Nest ferch Rhys . His father fell during King Henry II's campaign against Wales in 1157 , and Meiler inherited his small estates at Narberth Castle and at Pebidiog in Pembrokeshire .
Participated in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland
When his two uncles Maurice FitzGerald and Robert FitzStephen led the first Anglo-Norman invasion force to Ireland in 1169 , Meiler joined them. Meiler distinguished himself in an attack on Ossory , which he undertook with his cousin Robert de Barry , and earned a reputation as an excellent warrior. In 1174 he returned to Wales with Raymond le Gros , but soon returned to Ireland with Raymond to support Richard Strongbow . In gratitude he received the Offaly rule . In 1175 he accompanied Raymond on a campaign to Limerick. Instead of Offaly, he received Leix .
Justiciar of Ireland
Under King Richard I he became royal governor of Ireland, and Richard's successor and brother Johann Ohneland confirmed him in 1200 as justiciar, as the king's representative, for Ireland. By order of Johann Meiler began in 1204 with the construction of Dublin Castle as the administrative center of the conquered island. However, English rule over Ireland was threatened by both the conquered Irish and the Anglo-Norman barons, who sought autonomy. As early as 1200 there was a dispute between Meiler and William de Braose , a favorite of the king. When successors to the archbishops of Armagh and Tuam were sought in 1201 and 1202 , Meiler tried to have Englishmen elected as bishops, which is why the elections were declared invalid. In early 1203, William de Burgh , the constable of Limerick , tried to conquer Connacht and oust the Irish chief Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair there, which was thwarted by Meiler. Thereupon de Burgh was replaced as constable in July 1203 and replaced by William de Braose. However, this gave the office to his son-in-law Walter de Lacy , who already owned extensive estates in Meath . Johann then ordered de Lacy to hand Limerick over to Meiler, which he and Braose ignored. Besides this conflict in Meath, Meiler had a conflict with John de Courcy , the conqueror of Ulster . De Courcy was defeated by Hugh and Walter de Lacy in 1205 , whereupon King John appointed Hugh de Lacy Earl of Ulster . Subsequently, however, de Lacy turned against his former ally Meiler.
When William Marshal , who was temporarily out of favor with King John, finally went to Ireland, Meiler ran into great difficulties. He had two royal fiefs in Kerry and Cork , but the Lord of Leinster was Marshal, which led to an ongoing dispute between the two. King John then ordered Meiler and Marshal to London. During his absence, Meiler's troops were defeated by Hugh de Lacy. Johann removed Meiler from his office and appointed his confidante John de Gray as the new Justiciar of Ireland. Still, Meiler remained a powerful baron in Ireland.
Family and offspring
He married a niece of Hugh de Lacy around 1182. His heir became his only surviving son, Meiler. In 1202 he founded an Augustinian priory in Greatconnell , where he is buried. His tombstone is one of the oldest preserved in Ireland.
literature
- Margaret McKeaerney: Fitzhenry, Meiler . In: Medieval Ireland: An Encyclopedia. Routledge, New York 2005. ISBN 1-135-94824-0 , p. 298
- Thomas Frederick Tout: Fitzhenry, Meiler (DNB00) , in: Dictionary of National Biography . Volume XIX . Macmillan, Smith, Elder & Co., London and New York 1889
Individual evidence
- ^ John T. Appleby: Johann "Ohneland". King of England . Riederer, Stuttgart 1965, p. 150
| personal data | |
|---|---|
| SURNAME | Meiler FitzHenry |
| ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Meilyr FitzHenry; Meiler Fitzhenry |
| BRIEF DESCRIPTION | cambro-Norman nobleman and lawyer of Ireland |
| DATE OF BIRTH | 12th Century |
| DATE OF DEATH | 1220 |