Henry II, the council of Oxford and Angevin overlordship in Leinster, 1177–85

This paper contextualises an original, hitherto overlooked, charter of Robert Poher that sheds new light on King Henry II’s overlordship in Ireland. From its text it may be inferred that Henry infringed on the rights of Strongbow as lord of Leinster by granting Robert Poher land that was to be held by him and his heirs directly of the king and his heirs. The charter dates from around the time of a royal council held at Oxford in 1177 when, in the wake of Strongbow’s death, Henry II made a tripartite custodial division of the military services owing from Leinster. Henry’s action predates the better-known encroachments on the prerogative rights of the lord of Leinster by his son, John, following the assumption in 1185 by the latter’s personal household of responsibility for Angevin lordship in Ireland.