Isabel de Clare was born in Leinster in 1172 to Aoife Mac Murrough and Richard de Clare (‘Strongbow’), Earl of Pembroke and Striguil. Following her brother Gilbert’s death in 1184, Isabel became sole heir and one of the wealthiest heiresses in the…

Attempting to regain his lost kingdom of Leinster, Dermot Mac Murrough sailed to Bristol with his daughter Aoife in c.1168 to seek assistance from Henry II. No help was forthcoming, although Henry did give him permission to seek assistance from his…

Very few women are written about in the high Medieval period; often a mere mention as someone’s wife or mother. Not so with Nest. Born in c.1085, Princess Nest was the daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, king of Deheubarth, the old Welsh kingdom of…