Native Irish chieftains, not totally subdued after the Norman invasion
of Ireland, recovered a measure of their power in the later middle ages;
unfamiliar sources illuminate developments.
The Norman invasion of Ireland (1169) did not result in a complete
conquest, and those native Irish chieftains who retained independent
control of their territories achieved a recovery of power in the later
middle ages. KatharineSimms studies the experience of the resurgent
chieftains, who were undergoing significant developments during this
period. The most obvious signs of change were the gradual disappearance
of the title ri (king), and the ubiquitouspresence of mercenary
soldiers. On a deeper level, the institution of kingship itself had
died, as is shown by this study of the election and inauguration of
Irish kings, their counsellors, officials, vassals, army, and sources
ofrevenue, as they evolved between the twelfth and sixteenth centuries.
Sources such as the Irish chronicles, bardic poetry, genealogies, brehon
charters and rentals, family-tract and sagas are all used, in addition
to the more familiar evidence of the Anglo-Norman administration, the
Church, and Tudor state papers.
Dr KATHARINE SIMMS lectures in the Department of Medieval History,
Trinity College, Dublin.