1171, King Henry, accompanied by Hugh de Lacy, landed a large army at Waterford

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Posted to de Lacy Chronicles Facebook 6th Oct 2021

1171, King Henry, accompanied by Hugh de Lacy, landed a large army at Waterford in Southern Ireland. King Henry realised he must now exercise the symbol of investiture from Pope Adrian IV and subject Ireland to English rule. He requested his loyal friend Henry de Lacy should accompany him in the Invasion and once Ireland fell. Henry would become The Kings Viceroy. Henry de Lacy pleaded not to be given the task due to his advancing age and the need to groom and prepare Robert de Lacy to become the Lord of Pontefract. He advised his King that a far better man for the role was his nephew, Hugh de Lacy. The King agreed. He would appoint Baron Hugh de Lacy of Weobley as his first Viceroy of Ireland at the appropriate time. In October 1171, King Henry, accompanied by Hugh de Lacy, landed a large army at Waterford in Southern Ireland to establish control over the Mercenary-Normans and the Irish. The Norman lords handed their conquered territory to Henry. They realised that the King could and would defeat them; Strongbow (Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke) intercepted Henry at Waterford, offering his apologies and begging forgiveness. Henry's anger must have subsided as he relented, allowing Strongbow to remain, Lord of Leinster only as a fiefdom, providing and that all the towns taken were now to be considered Crown land. Strongbow accepted and submitted to the authority of the King of England. Hugh de Lacy became the First Viscount of Ireland and Lord of Meath. The de Lacy family were now in Ireland and to stay