Richard de Clare {Strongbow} weds Aoife, Dermot MacMurrough's daughter, in a strategic alliance.
| Political |
Updated By: History Editorial Network (HEN)
Published:
3 min read
In a strategic move, Richard de Clare, known as Strongbow, married Aoife, the daughter of Dermot MacMurrough, an Irish king. This union aimed to cement Strongbow's position in Ireland and secure his claims to the lands he and his Norman followers had conquered. The marriage added a layer of political complexity to the already tumultuous situation in Ireland.
Aoife's father, Dermot MacMurrough, had sought Strongbow's help to reclaim his lost kingdom in Leinster. In return for his assistance, Dermot offered Aoife's hand in marriage to Strongbow. The marriage not only solidified Strongbow's alliance with the Irish nobility but also allowed him to further consolidate his power in the region.
The union of Strongbow and Aoife had far-reaching consequences for the Norman invasion of Ireland. It led to increased Norman control over Irish territories and sparked further conflicts with indigenous Irish rulers. The marriage symbolized the merging of Norman and Irish interests, laying the foundation for centuries of Anglo-Norman influence in Ireland.
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Primary Reference: The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife - National Gallery of Ireland
Location : Ireland

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