Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster

Richard Óg de Burgh
Born 1259
Died 29 July 1326
Athassel Priory, near Cashel
Title 2nd Earl of Ulster
Tenure 1271-1326
Other titles 3rd Baron of Connaught
Nationality Irish
Predecessor Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster
Successor Elizabeth de Burgh, 4th Countess of Ulster
Spouse(s) Margaret
Parents Walter de Burgh
Aveline FitzJohn

Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and 3rd Baron of Connaught (1259 – 29 July 1326), called The Red Earl and often named as Richard de Burgo, was one of the most powerful Irish nobles of the late 13th and early 14th centuries.

Early life

A son of Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster (of the second creation) and Lord of Connacht.[1] Walter de Burgh was the second son of Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Lord of Connaught and Egidia de Lacy. "Richard Óg", means "Richard the Young", which may be a reference to his youth when he became earl in 1271, or to differentiate him from his grandfather, Richard Mór.

Earl of Ulster

Richard Óg was the most powerful of the de Burgh Earls of Ulster, succeeding his father in Ulster and Connacht upon reaching his majority in 1280.[1] He was a friend of King Edward I of England, and ranked first among the Earls of Ireland. Richard married Margaret, the daughter of his cousin John de Borough and Cecily Baillol.[2] He pursued expansionist policies that often left him at odds with fellow Norman lords.

His daughter Elizabeth was to become the second wife of King Robert the Bruce of Scotland. However, this did not stop him leading his forces from Ireland to support England's King Edward I in his Scottish campaigns and when the forces of Edward Bruce invaded Ulster in 1315, the Earl led a force against him, but was beaten at Connor in Antrim. The invasion of Bruce and the uprising of Felim Ó Conchúir in Connacht left him virtually without authority in his lands, but Ó Conchúir was killed in 1316 at the Second Battle of Athenry, and he was able to recover Ulster after the defeat of Bruce at Faughart.[1]

He died on 29 July 1326 at Athassel Priory, near Cashel, County Tipperary.

Children and family

Annalistic references

From the Annals of the Four Masters:

Family tree

  Walter de Burgh of Burgh Castle, Norfolk.
 =Alice[3]
  |
  |_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
  |                                    |                                                |                              |
  |                                    |                                                |                              |
 William de Burgh, died 1205.    Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent, died 1243.  Geoffrey de Burgh, died 1228.  Thomas de Burgh
  |                                        (issue; John and Hubert)                          
  |____________________________________________________________________________
  |                                                                          |                                             
  |                                                                          |                                              
  Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught                Richard Óge de Burgh    
  |                                                      (ancestor of Ulick Burke of Annaghkeen)
  |__________________________________________________________________
  |                                                               |
  |                                                               |
  Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster                William Óg de Burgh
  |                                                               |
  |                                                               |
  Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster          Edmond Albanach de Burgh
  |
  |___________________________________________________________________
  |                                                                 |
  |                                                                 |
  John de Burgh                                           Edmond de Burgh, 1298-1338.
  |                                                                 |    
  |                                                                 |_______________________
  William Donn de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster                         |                      |
  |                                                                 |                      |
  |                                                            Sir Richard, fl. 1387.   Sir David, fl. 1387.
  Elizabeth de Burgh, 4th Countess of Ulster                        |                  |
  |                                                                 |                      |
  |                                                      Burke of Castleconnell  Burke of Muskerryquirk 
  Philippa, 5th Countess of Ulster                       Burke of Brittas
  |                                          
  |
  Roger Mortimer, 4th Earl of March

Notes

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Curtis, Edmund (2004) [1950]. A History of Ireland (6th ed. ed.). New York: Routledge. pp. 78, 83–86. ISBN 0-415-27949-6.
  2. http://www.tudorplace.com.ar/BOROUGH.htm and Medlands http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/IRELAND.htm#WalterBurghUlster1died1271B[]
  3. References (family tree)
    • A New History of Ireland, volume IX, Oxford, 1984;
      • Earls of Ulster and Lords of Connacht, 1205-1460 (De Burgh, De Lacy and Mortimer), p. 170;
      • Mac William Burkes: Mac William Iochtar (de Burgh), Lords of Lower Connacht and Viscounts of Mayo, 1332-1649, p. 171;
      • Burke of Clanricard: Mac William Uachtar (de Burgh), Lords of Upper Connacht and Earls of Clanricard, 1332-1722.

References

Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by
Walter de Burgh
Earl of Ulster
1271–1326
Succeeded by
William Donn de Burgh