Siege of Dublin (1171) facts for kids

The Siege of Dublin was a big fight in 1171. It happened when Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the last High King of Ireland, tried to take the city of City of Dublin back from the Anglo-Normans. He didn't succeed, and the Normans kept control of Dublin.

What Was the Siege of Dublin?

The Siege of Dublin was a major event during the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. It was an attempt by the Irish to push back the Norman invaders. The Normans had recently captured Dublin, a very important city.

Who Was Involved?

On one side was Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, the High King of Ireland. He was the most powerful Irish ruler at the time. He gathered a huge army from different parts of Ireland. Some stories say his army had as many as 60,000 soldiers.

On the other side were the Normans, led by Richard de Clare, also known as Strongbow. Strongbow was a very skilled military leader. He had a much smaller force, only about 500 to 600 men. These men were a mix of Normans, Cambro-Normans (Normans from Wales), Anglo-Normans (Normans from England), and Flemings.

Why Did It Happen?

The Normans had been invading Ireland since 1169. They had taken control of many areas, including Dublin. Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair wanted to stop their expansion and reclaim Irish lands. Taking Dublin back was a key goal to weaken the Norman hold on Ireland.

The Battle for Dublin

Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair's large army surrounded Dublin. They set up four different camps around the city. This was meant to cut off the city and starve the Normans inside.

Strongbow and his men were trapped inside Dublin. They had limited supplies. Just a few months before, Strongbow had successfully defended Dublin from another Irish attack. He had led a surprise charge, called a sally, out of the city gates. This attack had driven the previous attackers away.

Strongbow's Surprise Attack

This time, Strongbow decided to use a similar tactic. Instead of waiting to be starved out, he planned a daring surprise attack. During the night, Strongbow led his small army out of Dublin. They quietly moved towards one of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair's camps.

The Normans launched a sudden attack on the sleeping Irish camp. This caught the Irish soldiers completely by surprise. The attack was swift and brutal.

The Irish Retreat

The Norman attack caused great confusion and panic among the Irish forces. About 1,500 Irish soldiers were killed in the surprise raid. The rest of the Irish army, shocked and disorganized, began to retreat. They scattered and left the area.

Outcome of the Siege

The surprise attack was a huge success for Strongbow and the Normans. Despite being greatly outnumbered, they managed to break the siege. Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair's attempt to retake Dublin failed.

This victory was very important for the Normans. It helped them keep their control over Dublin and further establish their power in Ireland. The siege showed Strongbow's clever military skills and the effectiveness of his small, well-trained army against a much larger force.