Richard Mór de Burgh 1st Lord of Connaught | |
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 The inverted shield of Richard de Burgh from 'Historia Anglorum' (c.1250–59): British Library, Royal MS.14 CVII Historia Anglorum. | |
| Justiciar of Ireland | |
| In office 13 February 1228 – 16 June 1232 | |
| Preceded by | Geoffrey de Marisco |
| Succeeded by | Hubert de Burgh, 1st Earl of Kent |
| Personal details | |
| Born | c. 1194 |
| Died | c. 1242 |
| Spouse | Egidia de Lacy, Lady of Connacht |
| Children | Sir Richard de Burgh Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster William Óg de Burgh Alice de Burgh Margery de Burgh Matilda de Burgh Daughter de Burgh |
| Parents |
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Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Lord of Connacht (English:/dəˈbɜːr/də-BUR;c. 1194 – 1242[1] or 1243[2][3]), was anAnglo-Normanaristocrat who was Seneschal ofMunster andJusticiar of Ireland (1228–32).
Richard Mór de Burgh was born towards the end of the year in 1193 (and came of age in 1214). He was the eldest son and heir ofWilliam de Burgh and his wife (daughter ofDomnall Mór Ua Briain,King of Thomond). Richard's principal estate was in the barony ofLoughrea where he built a castle in 1236 and a town was founded. He also foundedGalway town andBallinasloe. The islands onLough Mask and Lough Orben were also part of his demesne.
From the death of his father (1206) until he reached his majority and received his inheritance (1214), Richard was a ward of the crown of England. In1215 he briefly served in the household of his uncle,Hubert de Burgh, Earl of Kent. In 1223 (and again in1225) he was appointed Seneschal ofMunster and keeper ofLimerick Castle.[4]
In1224, Richard claimedConnacht (which had been granted to his father but never, in fact, conquered by him): he asserted that the grant to the Gaelic kingCathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair (after William de Burgh's death in 1206), had been on condition of faithful service and that the king's son,Aedh mac Cathal Crobdearg Ua Conchobair (who succeeded that year) had forfeited it.[citation needed] Richard had the favour of his uncle,Hubert, justiciar of England, and was later awarded Connacht (May1227). Having been given custody of the counties of Cork and Waterford and all the crown lands of Decies and Desmond, he was appointedJusticiar of Ireland (1228–32). In 1230 he was able to send the King 2000 marks, the proceeds of atax of one-sixteenth on ecclesiasticalbenefices. He was removed from office in 1232, but his disgrace was short-lived.
When, in1232, his uncleHubert fell from grace, Richard was able to distance himself and avoid being campaigned against byHenry III. It was only in1235, when he summoned the whole feudal host of the English lords and magnates to aid him, that he finally expelled the Gaelic king,Felim mac Cathal Crobderg Ua Conchobair, from Connacht. Richard and his lieutenants received great shares of land, while Felim was obliged to pay homage and was allowed to hold only fivecantreds (in Roscommon), while Richard held the remaining 25 cantreds of Connacht in chief of the crown of England. De Burgh took the title of "Lord of Connacht".[1]
Before 21 April 1225, he marriedEgidia de Lacy (daughter ofWalter de Lacy and his wifeMargaret de Braose), with which alliance he acquired the cantred ofEóghanacht Caisil with the castle of Ardmayle in Tipperary. Richard and Egidia had three sons and four daughters:
Richard de Burgh fell ill on a voyage to France and died shortly before 17 February 1243.
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| Preceded by Geoffrey de Morisco | Justiciar of Ireland 1228–1232 | Succeeded by |
