Ireland [antikvár]

Introduction t Ireland is a land of fascinating paradoxes: its landscape juxtaposes bleakness and lusciousness, while its history is one of turbulence and tragedy, of repression and rebellion, yet also of hope and fortitude. Clearly, in order to appreciate the country and its people fully, one must to try to understand its rich and troubled history. Although Ireland's origins are shrouded in the mists of time, it has been inhabited for at least 8000 years. However, of all the early settlers, it was the Beaker people - the Tuatua De Danaan - who left the greatest mark. Dedicated to the goddess Dana, legend has it that after their defeat by the invading Celts in arotmd 500 B.C. their mystical arts enabled them to survive to this day as "fairy people." Ireland was never invaded by the Romans; instead the Celts (or Gaels) were the first successful invaders from Europe, eventually forming Ireland's indigenous population. Their success was largely due to a highly organized social structure, in which their various clans were each ruled over by a petty king, who in turn owed allegiance to the High King (Ardri) in the centralized kingdom of Tara (established by King Niall of the Nine Hostages, who ruled in the late fourth century). Within the clans themselves an astonishingly detailed class system prevailed, cotKisting of free men, professionals, and slaves. By the early Christian era, the Celts had consolidated their power, and had estabhshed the Five Kingdoms of Ireland - Ulster, Meath, Leinster, Munster and Cormaught - which closely correspond to today's provincial divisions of Leinster, Munster, Connaught and Ulster. In 432 St. Patrick arrived in Ireland, bringing with him the flame of Christianity which, once kindled, would wield such overwhelming influence over Irish history and culture. The sympathetic assimilation of pagan practices helped assure the success of the new religion. The monastic system became particularly strong, and was accompanied by the fervent missionary zeal which sent St. Coltunba to lona. Irish monks were renowned for their learning and artistry and, when the rest of Europe was under the thrall of the barbarian Dark Ages, were responsible for keeping Christianity alive. However, for centuries the monasteries themselves were constantly under threat from another invading force: the marauding Vikings. By means of the skillful navigation of Ireland's waterways in their longboats, the Vikings were able to penetrate Ireland's heartland and carry off precious artifacts from the vulnerable monasteries. Although they later established trading colonies (such as Dublin and Cork), the Vikings were finally defeated by the Ardri Brian Bora in 1014 at the battle of Clontarf. Despite this success, infighting between the clans later crystallized into serious disunity, making Ireland ripe for exploitation. In 1152 Devorgilla, the wife of Tieman O'Rourke of Breftru, was abducted by Dermot MacMarrough, Kmg of Lemster, thus starting a quarrel which resulted in Dermot's alliance with the powerful Anglo-Norman Earl of Pembroke ("Strongbow") - an alliance which then led to the victory of the elite Norman forces at Waterford in 1169. In accordance with feudal custom, in 1172 Strongbow's overlord. King Henry II of England, asserted his sovereignty by force. For the next 800 years Ireland would be a battleground fought over by the forces of domination and independence. Despite the nominal subjugation of the Irish by the Anglo-Normans, in practice the Gaelic lords in the north and west remained relatively independent, leaving orJy the territory arotmd Dublin - "the Pale" -imder the control of the conquerors. Although Heiuy VIII proclaimed himself "King of Ireland" and tried to introduce his reformation into the country, it would be the reign of EUzabeth I which would mark a turrung point in the relatively laissez-faire Irish policy of the English monarchs up to then. Elizabeth I was determined to master Ireland, sending her favorite, the Earl of Essex, to suppress a major revolt led by Hugh O'Neill and Red Hugh O'Donnell of Ulster. Essex's failure doomed him to death, but in 1600 Lord Mountjoy arrived in Ireland, bratally smashing risings in Munster, and defeating a Spanish armada which had come to O'Neill's aid at Kinsale in 1601. Shortly afterward, m 1607 (in the reign of James I), the rebel Irish lords were forced to flee abroad. Facing no organized resistance, James I consolidated his victory by implementing strict anti-Catholic measures, including a system of plantations which apportioned Catholic-owned land to Protestant Scottish and English setflers. The outbreak of civil war in England, and the alarming prospect of Puritan rule, motivated the Irish to support Charles I and, after his execution, Charles II, and rebel in support of the Royalists. Cromwell's vengeance was ruthless, and by 1650 he had left Ireland broken and beaten. Yet in 1688 Ireland rose again, in support of the Cathohc James II. For a while Ireland became the backdrop for the "Glorious