Strongbow

The coming of the Normans to Ireland from 1169 is a pivotal moment in the country's history. It is a period full of bloodthirsty battles, both between armies and individuals. With colourful personalities and sharp political twists and turns, Strongbow's story is a fascinating one.

Combining the writing style of an award-winning novelist with expert scholarship, historian Conor Kostick has written a powerful and absorbing book about the Normans in Ireland, and the stormy affairs of an extraordinary era.



Conor Kostick is a novelist and historian living in Dublin; he holds a PhD and a gold medal from Trinity College Dublin. His research into medieval history has won a number of awards, including the Dublinia Medieval Essay Prize, the Marsh's Library Fellowship, and the prestigious European Marie Curie award. His other history books include The Siege of Jerusalem: Crusade and Conquest in 1099; Revolution in Ireland and – together with Lorcan Collins –The Easter Rising: A Guide to Dublin.

Genealogical Table' page 8

List of Historical Figures 11

Chronology 12

Maps 15

Preface 19

1 Normanitas 23

2 Humiliation 53

3 Alliance 86

4 Clashes and Reckonings 117

5 Strongbow in Ireland 141

6 1171: A Year of Crises 162

7 King Henry 11 in Ireland 186

8 Legacy 219

Afterword and Further Reading 230

Other Sources 233

Notes 234

Index 236