In the 12th century, the Normans, led by Richard de Clare the Earl of Pembroke, who was also known as Strongbow, teamed up with exiled Irishman Dermot MacMurrough and invaded Ireland. Not wanting Strongbow to establish his own kingdom so close to England, King Henry II headed over to Ireland to establish himself as the head of the country, but he soon gave the lands of Leinster province to Strongbow as a gift for his service along with allowing Strongbow to be the leader of the new colony, as long as he answered to the king. This was the first English conquest of Ireland. The English never had an easy time ruling Ireland. That initial conquest was only successful until the early 14th century, and Ireland was left along until Henry VII tried
