Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke

Richard de Clare (1130 – 20 April 1176), 2nd Earl of Pembroke, also Lord of Leinster and Justiciar of Ireland (sometimes known as Richard FitzGilbert), was an Anglo-Norman nobleman notable for his leading role in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. Like his father, Richard is commonly known by his nickname, Strongbow.

After his son and heir, Gilbert, died childless before 1189, the earldom passed through Richard's daughter Isabel de Clare and to her husband, William Marshal.

Nickname
During the Middle Ages, official documents, with few exceptions, were written in Latin; in the Domesday Exchequer annals, written between 1300 and 1304 (that means, over 120 years after Richard's death), he was referred to as "Ricardus cognomento Stranghose Comes Strugulliae", which translates to "Richard, known as Stranghose, earl of Striguil" (modern Chepstow).

In reality, Stranghose is probably a different spelling of Striguil. In the 14th century, the nickname was finally rendered as "Strongbow".

Early life
Richard de Clare was the son of Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke and his wife, Isabel de Beaumont, daughter of Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester and mistress of King Henry I. Richard also had a sister, Basilea de Clare.

Gilbert died in about 1148, and Richard inherited his father’s possessions when he was roughly 18 years old. It is possible that the title of Earl of Pembroke was never recognized, and in 1154 Henry II deprived Richard of the title for siding against his mother, Empress Matilda, during the Anarchy. In fact, Richard’s contemporaries referred to him as "Count Striguil", for his marcher lordship of Striguil where he had a fortress.

Background
In 1167 the King of Leinster, Dermot MacMurrough, was deprived of his title by Rory O'Connor, the High King of Ireland, for having abducted Dervorgilla, the wife of Tiernan O'Rourke, King of Breifne, 15 years prior. In order to recover his kingdom, Dermot embarked from Bristol on 1 August 1166 to ask for help to Henry II of England. He met the king in Aquitaine, in the autumn, but Henry only sent him a letter and did not offer his military support. On his return to Wales, Dermot tried to rally some forces, but failed. This is when he met Richard De Clare and the other lords of the Welsh Marches.

Dermot came to an agreement with Richard: if the latter helped the deposed king in the retaking of Leinster, he could have Aoife, Dermot's eldest daughter, in marriage, along with the succession to the crown if it was regained. Since Henry II's letter to Dermot was general in nature, Richard wanted to obtain the king's specific consent to travel to Ireland. In 1168 he raised the issue at court and he was granted permission.

Campaign in Ireland
Dermot and Richard raised a large army, commanded by Raymond FitzGerald, which included Welsh archers. The army sailed in Ireland and took the Ostman towns of Wexford, Waterford and Dublin between 1169 and 1170. On 23 August 1170, Richard embarked on his ships at Milford Haven to join the force; however, a royal messenger arrived to forbid him to go. Richard sailed anyway and ignored the king's wishes.

Dermot died in May 1171, and his son Donal MacMurrough claimed the kingdom of Leinster in accordance to the Brehon laws. Richard, in turn, claimed the kingship in the right of his wife. At the same time he sent his uncle, Hervey de Montmorency, on an embassy to Henry II to appease the king who was growing worried with Richard's increasing power. Henry offered to return Richard's lands in France, England and Wales (which he had confiscated) in exchange for the conquered possessions in Ireland. Richard accepted and surrendered Dublin, Waterford and other fortresses to the English king, only keeping Kildare.

Henry crossed over to Ireland in October 1172 and stayed there for six months, stationing his own men where needed. His rule in Ireland was accepted by both the Gaelic and the Norman lords, and the relationship between him and Richard was restored. Richard, in fact, also agreed to help Henry with the revolt in France in 1173 and as a reward he was given his possession of Leinster back. In 1174 he tried to advance into Munster but was defeated in the battle of Thurles.

Death and succession
Richard de Clare died in June 1176 of an infection in either his leg or foot. He was buried in Holy Trinity Church, Dublin, together with his uncle-in-law, Laurence O'Toole, Archbishop of Dublin. King Henry II took Richard's possessions for himself and placed a royal official in charge of them, protecting the inheritance of Richard's children. Richard's wife Aoife was given her dower rights and possibly held Striguil until the Welsh rebellion of 1184/85.

Richard was first succeeded by his son Gilbert. When Gilbert died, still a minor, the inheritance passed onto Richard's daughter Isabel. Isabel, on the wishes of Henry II and his son Richard the Lionheart, was given in spouse to William Marshal, who became the Earl of Pembroke for jure uxoris.

Marriage and issue
By an unknown mistress, Richard de Clare fathered two daughters:
 * Aline de Clare, married William FitzMaurice FitzGerald, baron of Naas
 * Basilia de Clare, married Robert de Quincy, Constable of Leinster.

On about 26 August 1171, in Reginald's Tower (Waterford), Richard de Clare married Aoife MacMurrough. Their children were:
 * Gilbert de Clare, 3rd Earl of Pembroke, who died a minor in 1185
 * Isabel de Clare, 4th Countess of Pembroke, who became Countess of Pembroke in her own right in 1185 (on the death of her brother) until her own death in 1220.

Legacy
Richard de Clare was first interred in Dublin's Christ Church Cathedral where an alleged effigy is located. Richard de Clare's actual tomb-effigy was destroyed when the roof of the Cathedral collapsed in 1562. The one on display dates from around the 15th century and bears the coat of arms of an unknown knight, and is the effigy of another local knight. Richard de Clare was buried in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin within sight of the cross according to an eyewitness, Giraldus Cambrensis. There is little evidence to support the tradition that he was buried either in St Edan's Cathedral, Ferns, Christ Church Cathedral, Waterford or Dominican priory, Kilkenny. References to 'de Clare' being buried in Gloucester Cathedral refer to his father, while those to 'Strongbow' in Tintern abbey refer probably to Walter or Anselm Marshall, both of whom died in 1245.

In popular culture
The English cider brand Strongbow is named after him.