Derbforgaill

Derbforgaill [d ʲ eɾ ˌ vɔɾɣɪʎ ], neuirisch Dearbhfhorghaill [d ʲ aɾə ˌ vɔɾiʎ ], English Derval (* 1108 in County Meath, Ireland, † 1193 in Ireland), was the daughter of Murchad Ua Maeleachlainn, king of Meath, and his wife Mór (d. 1137 ) daughter of Ua Briain Muirchertach. She is known as the " Helen of Ireland " because their abduction by Diarmait Mac Murchada, King of Leinster, in 1152 played a role in the occupation of Ireland by the Anglo - Normans.

Unusually, for a woman it is mentioned no less than five times in the contemporary annals: their abduction by Diarmait in 1152 ( Annals of Clonmacnoise ), ( even though she had left the end of next year Leinster again and had returned to the area her family to Meath ); their Foundation for the Cistercian Abbey of Mellifont, consisting of altar cloths, a golden cup and 60 ounces of gold, during the inauguration ceremony in 1157 ( Annals of the Four Masters ); their completion of the Nuns church Clonmacnoise in 1167 ( Annals of the Four Masters ); their retreat to Clonmacnoise in 1186 ( Annals of Ulster, Annals of Loch Ce ), and finally her death in Clonmacnoise in 1193 ( Annals of Ulster, Annals of the Four Masters ).

Her husband had Tigernán Ua Ruairc three children, Maelseachlainn ( anglis. Melaghlin, died 1162 ), Aodh, Crown Prince of Breifne, was killed by the Anglo-Normans in 1171 and Dubhchobhlaigh ( anglis. Dowchawley, died 1171 ), wife of Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair, high King of Ireland, but it is unclear which children were Derbforgaills of them.

The Abduction of 1152 has been interpreted in different ways. It seems that Derbforgaill consented, and that they took their cattle, and other movable possessions with them, all with her ​​younger brother Maeleachlainn permission. It is believed that this was a trial of their family of origin, the royal house of Meath, to include a new alliance with Diarmait Mac Murchada. To reaffirm contracts through marriage seems to be a standard practice in Ireland to have been the 12th century, which also shows Diarmait Mac Murchadas handing his daughter Aoife to Strongbow.

Most historians assume that it was not a love relationship, but dynastic politics.

Tigernán insisted on a claim for compensation of 100 ounces of gold, which was supported by his son- Ruaidrí Ua Conchobair ..

Swell

• Annals of Clonmacnoise, translated by Connell MacGeoghegan ( 1627 ), ed Denis Murphy ( 1896). The Annals of Clonmacnoise. Dublin: Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland. s.a. 1152 1167th
• Flanagan, Marie -Therese: Irish Society, Anglo- Norman Settlers, Angevin Kingship, Oxford, 1989.
• Ni Ghradaigh, Jenifer: But what exactly did she give? Derbforgaill and the Nuns ' Church, in Clonmacnoise Studies II, ed H. King, Dublin, 2003, pages 175-207.

• Irishman
• Born in 1108
• Died in 1193
• Woman
• Irish history