General Notes

EARLDOM OF ULSTER [IRL] (I)

HUGH DE LACY, 4th son of Hugh DE LACY, LORD OF MEATH, by his 1st wife, Rose, daughter of [---] DE MONMOUTH, was born circa 1176. From 1195 he was an ally, but from 1201 the enemy, of John de Curcy. On 31 August 1204 Hugh and his elder brother Walter were promised 8 cantreds of John de Curcy's lands in Ulster and on 13 November following, this grant was confirmed by charter. Being granted a safe-conduct to visit England in March 1205, he was given, on 2 May, the land of Ulster to be held by the same service as that done by John de Curcy; and on 29 May this grant was confirmed, on which date (or earlier) he was created EARL OF ULSTER. He was probably Justiciar of Ireland for a short time in 1208; but when William de Briouze fled to Ireland in 1210, where he was sheltered by the Lacys, Hugh fled to Scotland with William's wife and children after his capture. During the years 1211-19 he participated in the Albigensian Crusade. In September 1221 the King gave him and his retinue safe-conduct to return to England; and in December 1222 the lands which he had obtained from his brother Walter, together with those which he had obtained through his wife, were restored to him by King Henry. These efforts by the Crown to come to terms with Hugh failed. In the autumn of 1223 he invaded Ireland, attacked Meath, besieged Carrickfergus and demolished the castle of Coleraine; and it was not until October-November 1224 that William (Marshal), Earl of Pembroke, the newly appointed Justiciar [IRL], was able to make peace with him. In May 1226 Hugh's lands were granted to his brother Walter, and it was not until 20 April 1227 that he finally recovered his estates. He was loyal to the King during the rest of his life. In the conflict with Richard (Marshal), Earl of Pembroke, in 1234 he fought with Richard de Burgh on the King's side and he accompanied de Burgh in 1235 on his expedition to conquer Connaught. He was summoned to England to confer with the King in May 1234 and April 1237. When peace was made with Scotland in 1237, he was ordered to release all Scots goods in Ulster; and in 1238 he led a force into Tyrone and Donegal to dethrone Donnell MacLoughlin and place Brian O'Neill in control. Numerous churches benefited by his grants.

He married, 1stly, circa 1195, Lesceline, sister of Thomas DE VERDUN, daughter of Bertram DE VERDUN, Seneschal of Ireland, by his 2nd wife, Rohese. He married, 2ndly, Emeline, daughter and coheir of Walter DE RIDELISFORD, lord of Bray, by Annora. He died shortly before 26 December 1242 and was buried in the convent of the Franciscan Friars at Carrickfergus. Emeline, who had no issue by Hugh, married, between 8 February 1242/3 and 14 December 1244, Stephen LONGESPEE, sometime Seneschal of Gascony and Justiciar of Ireland, who died before her. She was living, 18 May 1275, and died shortly before 19 July 1276.  [Complete Peerage XII/2:168-71, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]