IRELAND

IN MEDIEVAL
TIMES

MARÍA SANZ

BOOK OF KELLS
 EARLY CHRISTIAN IRELAND
(400–800)
 Christianity replaced the earlier
polytheism and other forms of
Celtic paganism by the end of
the 7th century.
 This new faith was to have the
most profound effect on the
Irish.
 Tradition maintains that in 432
AD, ST. PATRICK arrived on
the island and converted the Kilkenny Round Tower
County Kilkenny
Irish to Christianity.
EARLY CHRISTIAN IRELAND (400–800)
Glendalough Monastic City

 Home to the most

important monastic sites
in Ireland, founded by St.
Kevin (6th century).
 The ‘City’ consists of:
monastic remains and the
impressive Round Tower
(30m high)

Kevin's monastery at Glendalough, County Wicklow

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGG3lN0BzUk
Stone Round towers
 9th-2th centuries. 18-40m high.
 Near a church or monastery.
 The cap (roof) usually conical.
 Single door, usually raised 2-3m
above, accessible by a ladder.
 Windows are slits in the stone.
 Main reason for the entrance-way
above ground level:
 to maintain the structural integrity
of the building: their round shape
is gale-resistant.
 Stone Round towers: Purpose
Several Hypothesis:
 A redoubt against Viking raiders.
Local population/ clerics would
enter using a ladder which could
be raised from within.
 To store religious relics and
other “plunderables”.
Problems with thes hypotheses:
 Many towers are not built in
ideal positions as watchtowers
for incoming attacks.
 The wooden doors easily
burned down.
 The chimney-like design would
carry upwards smoke inside
causing occupants to suffocate.
Primary reason: to act as a belfry
(bell tower).
EARLY CHRISTIAN IRELAND (400–800)
MONASTERIES

 Irish scholars excelled in the

study of Latin learning and
Christian theology in the
monasteries that flourished
shortly thereafter.
 Monks excelled in the fields
of ILLUMINATED
MANUSCRIPTS, and
produced such treasures as
the Book of Kells.

A page of the Book of Kells.

 Book of Kells
 Ireland's finest national treasure,

 the most sumptuous illuminated

manuscripts with ornamental motifs

 made by Celtic monks around 800.

 great beauty and excellent finishing

technique

 Written in Latin, it contains the four

Gospels.

 It is permanently displayed in the

library of Trinity College in Dublin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q13lkdJznos&t=199s
Book of Kells
THE VIKING ERA (800–1166)
Brian Boru, Irish hero  Vikings from Norway first
who fought the Vikings looted Ireland:
 plundered monasteries and
towns throughout the island
 interrupted the golden age of
Christian Irish culture
 By the early 840s they had
established settlements along
the Irish coasts: DUBLIN.
 this marked the beginning of
two centuries of intermittent
warfare.
The Battle of Clontarf, 1014
 Near Dublin
 Confronted the forces of Brian Boru’s harp at the Library
high king of Munster of Trinity College, Dublin
Brian Boru and a Norse-
Irish (Leinster) alliance.
 Brian's forces were
victorious.
 Brian Boru was killed.
 The Vikings of Dublin
were reduced to a
secondary power.
 It began the decline of
Viking power in Ireland.
 12th century
Ireland
 Ireland was divided politically into a
shifting hierarchy of petty kingdoms.

 Power was exercised by a few regional

dynasties vying against each other for
supremacy over the whole island.

 King Dermot MacMurrough of

Leinster was exiled by the new High
King of Connacht, Rory O'Conor.

 MacMurrough obtained permission

from Henry II to recruit Norman knights
to regain his kingdom

 The Norman landed in Ireland in 1167.

 Norman Ireland
 Dermot MacMurrough:
 Regained the control of several
counties.
 Named his son-in-law, the Norman
RICHARD DE CLARE, known as
Strongbow, heir to his kingdom.
 This marked the beginning of 800
years of direct ENGLISH rule and later
British involvement in Ireland.
 King Henry II:
 feared the establishment of a rival
Norman state in Ireland.
 resolved to establish his authority.
 awarded his Irish territories to his
younger son John (Lackland) with the
title Lord of Ireland.
 John I became King of England
 The Lordship of Ireland fell directly
under the English Crown.
The BLACK DEATH
 arrived in Ireland in 1348.
 hit harder the English and Norman
inhabitants of Ireland because they The Pale is in red
lived in towns and villages
 The Irish lived in dispersed rural
settlements.
 After it had passed:
 Gaelic Irish language and
customs came to dominate the
country again.
 The English-controlled territory:
 shrank to a fortified area around
Dublin, known as THE PALE
 had little real authority outside
the Pale.
 Wars of the Roses
the 15th century

 England's attention was diverted from Ireland by the

Wars of the Roses.
 The Lordship of Ireland lay in the hands of the powerful
FITZGERALD Earl of Kildare.
 Local Gaelic lords expanded their powers at the
expense of the English government in Dublin
 Central English authority in Ireland had almost
disappeared.