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History and Ideals of Gaelic Traditionalism v 1.6
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1315 CE - Edward Bruce proclaimed King of Ireland by Larry Chamberlin Edward Bruce was invited into Ireland by Domnál Ó Néill, king of Ulster (Tír Eoghain), as an attempt to rally the numerous Irish kingdoms and chieftains around a dynamic leader. He was not the first foreigner to be invited to rule in Ireland. The Irish kings had earlier recognized the need for a strong, centralizing leader, and attempted to revive the high Kingship. In 1258 the lot fell to Brian Ua Néill, of Cenél Eógain, but he died in 1260, at the Battle of Downpatrick. In 1263, the offer of the high kingship went to Hakon, the King of Norway, who also died soon after. At least Edward was Gaelic. In 1314 CE, the choice of Edward seemed brilliant at the time, since Robert the Bruce had just won a stunning victory at Bannockburn, with Edward's assistance. The hope was that the glamour of the Scottish struggle would help to win support for the Irish cause; then Edward could muster a united Irish attack to clear English intervention from the entire island. Perhaps, even, the twin forces of Scotland and Ireland could lead to a resurgence in all Celtic peoples forcing the English into a defensive posture at last. At first the strategy seemed to work. With Robert's blessing, Edward came to Ireland on 25 May 1315, near Larne, County Antrim, with 200 ships and 6000 experienced soldiers, accepting the mantle of liberator from the Ulster chieftains and, soon after, by Fedlimid Ua Conchobhair, king of Connacht. He led these forces to initial and resounding victories at Dundalk and Connor against the Red Earl, Richard de Burgo (who had been too proud to ask help of Edward II). He defeated Roger Mortimer, the Norman lord of Trim in Meath, and captured Carrickfergus in September 1316. He was greatly aided by the fact that the Norman lords were as suspicious of each other as they were wary of Edward Bruce. He was crowned high King in an almost convincing manner at Faughart, County Louth, in Ulster. Outside of Ulster, however, kings and chieftains were less enthusiastic. The end began in the early months of 1317, as Edward found that it was much easier to get the title than to use it in any effective manner. With his brother, Robert the Bruce, as his guest, Edward attempted a progress through the Munster regions, seeking allegiance from that quarter, but the journey turned to a disaster for him. The circuit coincided with the North European famine of 1315-17, and the Scottish army ravaged the countryside for provisions, and generally destroyed holdings as proof of Edward's power, leaving scant remains for the peasants wherever they passed: the natives despised what they saw as ignoble Scottish interlopers. As with all previous would-be Irish monarchs before him, Edward had to deal with the extremely decentralized Irish power bases, the so-called 'fatal flaw' of Irish politics. He never got more than a fraction of the kingdoms throughout the country to recognize his legitimacy. Had the under-kings and the provincial Kings suspended their own intrigues and maneuverings for power, and given Edward more than lip service, the history of Ireland and Scotland might have been radically different. As it was, Edward, in the Fall of 1318, faced the Norman and Irish forces under John de Berminghan, at Faughart. Edward was defeated, losing his life in the very place he had been crowned king of Ireland two years earlier. Thus ended the hopes of a combined Celtic resistance to Norman England forever. The most direct impact of Edward's brief hour on the stage was the utter anarchy Ireland suffered through for the next generations. Norman lords and Celtic kings alike found their power splintered, with alliances shifting radically and frequently.
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