Meiler Fitzhenry facts for kids
Meiler FitzHenry (also known as Meilyr) was an important nobleman who lived a long time ago, from Wales and Normandy. He was born around the mid-1100s and died in 1220. He became a very powerful judge in Ireland during a time when England was taking more control there.
Early Life and Family
Meiler FitzHenry was related to some very important people. His father, Henry FitzHenry, was an illegitimate son of King Henry I of England. This means Meiler was King Henry I's great-grandson! His mother, Nest, was the daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, who was the last king of a part of Wales called Deheubarth.
Because of his parents, Meiler was connected to both the powerful Norman families and the native Welsh royal families. Many famous people were his relatives, including Raymond le Gros, a brave knight, and Gerald of Wales, a well-known writer. He was also a cousin to King Henry II.
In 1158, Meiler's father was killed in a battle in Wales. Meiler, being the oldest son, inherited his father's lands in Wales, including areas called Narberth and Pebidiog in what is now Pembrokeshire.
Adventures in Ireland
In 1169, Meiler went to Ireland with his uncle, Robert FitzStephen. This was during the early days of the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland, when knights from England and Wales began to take control of Irish lands. Meiler quickly became known for his great bravery, even if it sometimes seemed a bit reckless.
He first showed his courage in 1169 during a fight in Ossory. He fought alongside his cousin, Robert de Barry. Meiler played a big part in this campaign, helping Diarmaid mac Murchadha, the King of Leinster, against another Irish king. After this, Meiler joined his uncle in helping Domnall Mór Ua Briain, the King of Thomond.
In 1171, Meiler was part of the group that helped break the siege of Dublin. The city was surrounded by an Irish army, but Meiler and his friends helped to defend it. The next year, in 1172, he was assigned to protect a castle for Hugh de Lacy.
A few years later, in 1173, Ireland faced more trouble when Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, also known as Strongbow, returned to England. Meiler was stationed in Waterford at the time. He bravely rode out to fight the Irish, even though he was outnumbered. He managed to fight his way back to Waterford, with his horse and shield full of battle scars!
In 1174, Meiler went back to Wales with his cousin, Raymond le Gros, but they both returned to Ireland later that year. When he came back, Meiler was given an area of land in Kildare. However, he later lost this land and was instead given a wild, forested area in Laois. In 1175, he joined Raymond le Gros in an attack on Limerick. Meiler was one of the first to swim across the River Shannon and helped hold off the Irish army until the rest of his side could cross.
Meiler was part of a group of powerful Norman families called the Geraldines. When a new governor arrived in Ireland, Meiler and his relatives quickly made him jealous. Later, Hugh de Lacy, who became the Chief Justice, took away Meiler's Kildare land but gave him Leix, a border area, instead. In 1182, de Lacy built a castle on Meiler's land in Leix and gave Meiler his niece to marry.
Working for King John
Around 1198, Meiler FitzHenry was chosen to be the chief judge, or "justiciar," of Ireland by John, who was then Lord of Ireland and later became King of England. King John reappointed him in 1200. Meiler traveled to Normandy to meet King John and was given more land in Kerry and Cork.
As the Lord Chief Justice, Meiler had to deal with many arguments and fights among the powerful Norman nobles in Ireland. One of his biggest challenges was John de Courci, who had conquered Ulster. De Courci often caused trouble for Meiler. However, Meiler had a big success when Hugh de Lacy was made Earl of Ulster in 1205. But soon after, Meiler and Lacy started fighting each other.
Another noble who caused problems was William de Burgh, who was trying to conquer Connacht. While De Burgh was causing damage there, Meiler and his helper, Walter de Lacy, led an army into De Burgh's lands in Munster. De Burgh lost his lands, though he eventually got most of them back after appealing to King John. Meiler also had disagreements with other nobles, including Walter de Lacy, his former colleague, over lands in Limerick.
In 1204, King John told Meiler to build a castle in Dublin. This castle would be used as a court of justice and for defense. Meiler also had to make the people of Dublin strengthen the city's walls.
In 1207, King John gave Meiler the land of Offaly, which belonged to William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, another powerful baron. This made many other barons in Ireland angry. There were many disputes and even fights over this land. Meiler FitzHenry remained the chief judge until 1208, when Offaly was finally returned to William Marshal. Even after he stopped being the chief judge, Meiler remained one of the most powerful barons in Ireland.
In 1212, Meiler's name appeared right after William Marshal's on a document where Irish barons promised their loyalty to King John. King John showed his appreciation for Meiler's work by giving him several gifts. Meiler was a very old man by 1219, when all the costs from his time as chief judge were finally paid.
Death and Legacy
Meiler FitzHenry died in 1220. He was buried in a place called Great Connell Priory in County Kildare.
Meiler founded Great Connell Priory in 1202. He gave this priory to a group of monks and gave them a lot of land, churches, and money to support them.
Family
Meiler FitzHenry had a son, also named Meiler, with Hugh de Lacy's niece. This son was old enough by 1206 to take land from another noble and had already caused a lot of damage in Tyrconnell with his raids. Meiler FitzHenry's older brother, Robert Fitzhenry, had died around 1180.
