Battle of the Curragh facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Battle of the Curragh Irish: Cath an Churraigh
The Curragh plains
Date 1 April 1234 Location The Curragh, Ireland Result Crown victory
Belligerents
Lordship of Ireland	Rebel forces
Commanders and leaders
Lord Offaly Lord Meath Earl of Ulster	Lord Leinster
Strength
140 Knights	15 Knights

The Battle of the Curragh (Irish: Cath an Churraigh) was an important fight that happened on April 1, 1234. It took place on the Curragh plain in County Kildare, Ireland. This battle was between soldiers loyal to King Henry III of England and forces led by Richard Marshal. Marshal was also known as the Lord of Leinster. He lost the battle and sadly died from his injuries a few days later.

Even though not many knights fought, this battle was very important. It marked the end of Richard Marshal's career. He was a popular leader who stood up for what he believed in.

Why Did the Battle of the Curragh Happen?

The fight between Richard Marshal and King Henry III had been going on for years. Marshal was unhappy because some foreign advisors had too much power over the King. The most important of these was Peter des Roches, the Bishop of Winchester.

In March 1234, King Henry and Marshal agreed to a truce. This meant they would stop fighting for a while. The main condition was that Peter des Roches had to leave the King's court.

Conflict in Ireland

However, trouble had already started in Ireland. Richard Marshal's brothers were fighting against some of the King's supporters. These supporters included Maurice FitzGerald, who was the King's chief judge in Ireland. Also involved were Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath and Hugh de Lacy.

Richard Marshal quickly traveled to Ireland to help his brothers. He met his enemies on the Curragh plain on April 1.

What Happened During the Battle?

At the Curragh, Richard Marshal was defeated and captured. He was taken to his castle in Kilkenny. He died there from his wounds on April 16, 1234.

Richard Marshal was very popular in England. People admired him for fighting against foreign influence in the King's court. Because of this, the stories about the battle might have been made to sound better than they really were.

Marshal's Brave Stand

According to these stories, Marshal was tricked into meeting his enemies at the Curragh. Then, his own soldiers supposedly left him. Instead of running away, he chose to stay and fight. The stories say he fought with only 15 knights against 140 of the King's men.

Marshal's popularity meant that many people in England were sad when he died. The foreign advisors, who were rumored to have caused the war in Ireland, became even more disliked. Despite this, King Henry III gave big rewards to Marshal's opponents in Ireland.

The Curragh in Modern Times

The Curragh plains are still famous today. They were used to film parts of the 1995 movie Braveheart, starring Mel Gibson. The plains helped recreate the look of the Battle of Stirling Bridge from the movie.