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Revision as of 07:42, 30 January 2005 by Alai (talk | contribs) (Spelling)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Ruaidri Ua Conchobair (d. 1198), king of Connacht and High King of Ireland, was the son of Toirdhealbhach Ua Conchobhair king of Connacht who had obtained the high kingship in 1151 but lost it in 1154 through the rise of Muirchertach MacLochlainn. His name has been anglicized as Rory O'Connor.
He succeeded to Connacht in 1156 and after ten years became high king like his father. His ill-advised persecution of Diarmait MacMurchada of Leinster furnished the pretext for the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland. Ruaidri endeavoured to expel the invaders, but was driven west of the Shannon. He delayed his submission to Henry II until 1175, with the Treaty of Windsor which was negotiated on his behalf by Archbishop of Dublin, Lorcan Ua Tuathail. Under this agreement, he held Connacht as his vassal and exercised lordship over all the native kings and chiefs of Ireland; in return he undertook to pay an annual tribute, though the treaty did not put an end to the wars of the Norman adventurers. He held out till 1191; but then, weary of strife, retired to the cloister. He died in 1198.
See Giraldus Cambrensis, Opera, vol. v. (Rolls Series); G Orpens Song of Dermot and the Earl (1892); W Stubbs's edition of Benedictus Abbas (Rolls Series); Miss K Norgate's England under the Angevin Kings, vol. ii. (1887).
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)