The Struggle for Mastery in Ireland, 1442-1540: Culture, Politics and Kildare-Ormond Rivalry

The Fitzgerald Earls of Kildare and the Butler Earls of Ormond were rival Anglo-Norman magnate families in late medieval and early modern Ireland, competing for power and influence, including the post of chief governor. This book challenges the anti-Kildare impression given by official documents, arguing that the rivalry was a more subtle and sophisticated conflict between two different concepts of what Ireland should be. The political war between the two families and the accompanying culture war played out over time, with the Fitzgeralds promoting Ireland as an integrated polity and the Butlers embodying traditional Cambro-Norman ideas of conquest.

Format: Hardback
Length: 202 pages
Publication date: 19 March 2024
Publisher: Boydell & Brewer Ltd

The Fitzgerald Earls of Kildare and the Butler Earls of Ormond were two of the most powerful Anglo-Norman magnate families in late medieval and early modern Ireland. They were rivals for power and influence throughout the island, particularly for the post of chief governor, the principal representative of the English crown in Ireland. Their struggle for mastery took many forms, ranging from competition for cultural hegemony to outright military confrontation. This book, based on extensive original research, including hitherto unexplored evidence from literary sources and material culture, seeks to challenge the anti-Kildare impression given by official documents such as the State Papers, which stressed that the objective of a military conquest of Gaelic Ireland was paramount. Instead, the book argues that the Kildare-Ormond rivalry was a more subtle and sophisticated conflict between two different concepts of what Ireland should be. The Fitzgeralds promoted the idea of Ireland as an integrated polity, with the recognition and co-option of leading figures in Gaelic Ireland. The Butlers, on the other hand, embodied the traditional Cambro-Norman ideas of conquest. However, it is further argued that these opposing positions were not fundamental but conditional, dependent upon which great house held the chief governorship. The book elaborates on these alternating concepts of Ireland, showing how the political war between the two magnate families and the accompanying culture war played out over time.

The Fitzgerald Earls of Kildare and the Butler Earls of Ormond were two of the most powerful Anglo-Norman magnate families in late medieval and early modern Ireland. They were rivals for power and influence throughout the island, particularly for the post of chief governor, the principal representative of the English crown in Ireland. Their struggle for mastery took many forms, ranging from competition for cultural hegemony to outright military confrontation. This book, based on extensive original research, including hitherto unexplored evidence from literary sources and material culture, seeks to challenge the anti-Kildare impression given by official documents such as the State Papers, which stressed that the objective of a military conquest of Gaelic Ireland was paramount. Instead, the book argues that the Kildare-Ormond rivalry was a more subtle and sophisticated conflict between two different concepts of what Ireland should be. The Fitzgeralds promoted the idea of Ireland as an integrated polity, with the recognition and co-option of leading figures in Gaelic Ireland. The Butlers, on the other hand, embodied the traditional Cambro-Norman ideas of conquest. However, it is further argued that these opposing positions were not fundamental but conditional, dependent upon which great house held the chief governorship. The book elaborates on these alternating concepts of Ireland, showing how the political war between the two magnate families and the accompanying culture war played out over time.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781837650521