77. Diarmait Mac Murchada Invites the Anglo-Normans into Ireland, Leinster, Ireland 1167

Here we have a depiction of Diarmait, as found in Giraldus Cambrensis’s Expugnatio, dating from not long after the Norman Invasion. Unusual, really, for us, since most of our illustrations come from long after our subjects, and often aren’t of them at all. But here he is.

At the end of the 12th century, the kings of Ireland had been fighting amongst themselves, and the high king got involved, and what with one thing and another Diarmait Mac Murchada, who had been the king of Leinster, and then had been ousted, and then had gotten in again, got ousted again, and then had the very bad idea of getting help from the Anglo-Normans. And they did help, didn’t they, and then they took Ireland over.  This could have been foreseen by anybody who had been paying attention to how the Normans operated.  Diarmait, at any rate, got to be king again, though not for long, and then he got to live in infamy as a great traitor.  For the  Irish. The English liked him better. Michelle gets even more exercised than usual, because 1) colonialism, very bad, and 2) some scholars she found, also very bad. 

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One thought on “77. Diarmait Mac Murchada Invites the Anglo-Normans into Ireland, Leinster, Ireland 1167”

  1. True Crime Medieval team,

    WOW! What another amazing episode. I really appreciate the way you’ve drawn comparisons about colonialism from all of these different periods of history and set them up against one another to show how this tool can be used time and time again by the aggressor to justify conquest. It’s really quite sad to see so many other cultures undermined and diminished, and knowing how that ripple effect still very much affects all of us today. The survival of languages like Welsh, Irish, Navajo, and many others is a testament to the resilience and persistence of its people and their traditions. Though we may be unable to fully recreate these cultures, it is still possible to revitalize these marginal languages and pass them down to the next generations. I’ve not received a very thorough education about Irish history from American public schools, so this episode was a refreshing insight into its past, and the tumultuous relationships it has managed with all of these competing cultural groups. This podcast is such a joy for me, and I look forward to the next episode. Thank you again for all that you do!
    (P.S. I am SOOOO excited about the upcoming blood feast! Thank you for listening to my last suggestion ♥ )

    Your fan,

    Jakob Glemaker

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