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 Baron Roger de Lacy of Pontefract Castle was one of the principal military leaders to King Richard I, Richard the Lionheart. During his ten year reign, Richard only briefly entered England. More known for fighting in European Wars and leading Crusades to Palestine. Find out more about Rogers close involvement with King Richard at www.delacychronicles.com
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 Knight's fee. A King or feudal Anglo-Norman overlord with sufficient status and landholding within England or Ireland had the right to grant the title ‘Sir’ and a knights fee in perpetuity. The size of the rent-free fee required acreage able to produce a good crop or revenue depending on its location, the richness of its soil and the local climate, as well as the presence of other exploitable resources such as fish-weirs, quarries of rock or mines of minerals. If a knight's fee includes a manor, an average size would be between 1,000 and 5,000 acres, but may on granting contain, forest and yet to be developed moorland as well as the title, Sir, be regarded as Squire. Ho often served as the local magistrate. In return, the Knight paid homage and fealty, giving a vow of loyalty to his overlord, either by offering a significant internal role or, in most cases, military service. A knight was required to maintain the dignity of knighthood, which meant that he should live in suitable style and be well-turned out in battle, with the necessary number of esquires and retainers to serve him and his horses. All the de Lacy barons granted many Knights Fees throughout England and Ireland. Most were given to loyal de Lacy cousins. They became the eyes, ears and caretakers for de Lacy interests away from the castles.
Click or Tap Comments immediately above here Posted to de Lacy Chronicles Facebook 19th Oct 2021  General Pierce de Lacy returned to Ireland. King James II finally came to the throne on February 6, 1685; it seemed likely that the strong support of the Anglicans would make him one of the most powerful of the 17th-century British kings. Roman Catholics were admitted to the Privy Council and subsequently to the high offices of state. While still a Colonel, Peirce de Lacy had been sent into exile by the English. As a General in the original French Irish Brigade, Pierce recognised that this was the right time to return from exile in France. He made an unsuccessful petition for the restoration of de Lacy estates in Limerick. He was facing accusations that it involved him in a plot to annex Ireland from England and then re-annexe it to France. His claim was denied, and a counterclaim had been issued against him. Thankfully, his long service and reputation saved him. On February 12, 1689, the Convention Parliament declared that James had abdicated and offered the British crown to William and Mary. In July, William (of Orange) arrived in Ireland with a large army facing and conquering James at the battle of the Boyne.
Click or Tap Comments immediately above here Posted to de Lacy Chronicles Facebook 14th Oct 2021  Hastings England 5.30 am Oct 14th, 1066. William Duke of Normandy and his Barons stepped onto the English shore. With time to spare, they disembarked the whole of the Norman army. They then made ready for the forthcoming battle with King Harold's forces. Walter and his sons, Roger and Hugh, all three who had their own, command fought under the overall supervision of Duke William's close cousin William FitzOsbern. They met the English soldiers head-on, fighting with extraordinary valour in the centre of the battle. Ilbert de Lacy, under the command of William’s half-brother Bishop Odo led repeated cavalry attacks on King Harold’s flanks. The de Lacy family played a crucial role in the days victory over Harold's tired English army. King William, having conquered the armies of King Harold and gained for himself the English throne. William knew full well by 1067 that he was yet to conquer England. To the West and North. King Harold may have been the King of England but continually put down fellow Anglo-Saxon uprisings outside the old Wessex and Mercia regions. Harold had never subdued the Welsh Britton’s. Even less the Jutes, Franks and Angle's along the East English Coast. In the Fens, the only treaty’s kept the uneasy peace. England in the North was constantly under attack by Viking raiding parties. The Anglo-Viking population of the area was just as likely to pay homage to one leader as another. The de Lacy family were now in England and to stay.
Click or Tap Comments immediately above here 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
Click or Tap Comments immediately above here Posted to de Lacy Chronicles Facebook 6th Oct 2021  General Sir George de Lacy Evans. Soldier, Member of Parliament. Born 1787 in County Limerick, His grandfather Patrick de Lacy of Milltown, County Limerick, married Elizabeth Barry. Their daughter Elizabeth married John Evans. As both John Evans and Elizabeth came from de Lacy stock, they adopted the double-barrelled name of de Lacy Evans. George was born in 1787 at the family home in Moig, County Limerick. Educated in England at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. George de Lacy Evans started his military career as a cadet with the East India Company. Entering at 18, the 22nd (Cheshire) Regiment of Foot, holding the junior officer rank of Ensign, a year later obtaining a full commission as a Lieutenant. On the outbreak of the Peninsular war in 1808, George de Lacy Evans transferred to the 3rd Dragoon Guards. He served there for two years in a staff capacity, where he played both a conspicuous and substantial role. The War of 1812, and de Lacy Evans was part of the British expeditionary army sent to America. He was serving on the staff of Major General Robert Ross. The Army landed at Benedict on the Maryland Coast. George de Lacy Evans appointment was as deputy quartermaster. An essential role for an expeditionary force, thousands of miles away from home. He was present at the Battle of Bladensburg and, soon after, the Burning of Washington. He fought at Baltimore in September. In the New Orleans operations in December 1814, he was wounded on both occasions. He was recognised for his bravery and leadership in India, The Peninsular War, and the American expedition; he was promoted successively, Captain, Major, and then Colonel. Three promotions within six months.
Click or Tap Comments immediately above here Posted to de Lacy Chronicles Facebook 27th Sept  In 1284, Henry de Lacy became King Edwards legislative ramrod. As the King's councillor, Henry de Lacy together with his chief administrator, Robert Burnell, Bishop of Bath, spent five years creating new statutes and reforming others. Henry handled both the creation and steering through parliament the legal reforms of King Edward I. They included: Reorganisation of the fiscal system of the realm. Better representation for the people. Betterment and the growth of Guilds. Henry de Lacy and Bishop Robert were also the architects of a system of courts which would be run by the people for the King, not by the King. It was these reforms in 1290 that created three divisions within the new legal system: the King’s Bench, the Court of Common Pleas and the Court of the Exchequer. English law today contains elements from all three divisions: the Magistrates Court, The Crown Court, and The High Court.
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