PEMBROKE, RICHARD DE CLARE, 2ND EARL OF (d. 1176), commonly known as "Strongbow," son of Gilbert de Clare, the first earl, succeeded to his father's estates in 1148, but had forfeited or lost them by 1168. In that year Dermot, king of Leinster, driven out of his kingdom by Roderick, king of Con naught, came to solicit help from Henry II. He secured the services of Earl Richard, promising him the hand of his daughter Eva and the succession to Leinster. The earl crossed over in person (I I70), took both Waterford and Dublin, and was mar ried to Eva. But Henry II., jealous of this success, ordered all the troops to return by Easter 1171. In May Dermot died; this was the signal of a general rising, and Richard barely managed to keep Roderick of Connaught out of Dublin. Immediately afterwards he hurried to England to solicit help from Henry II., and surrendered to him all his lands and castles. Henry crossed over in Oct. I I 7 2 ; he stayed in Ireland six months, and put his own men into nearly all the important places, Richard keeping only Kildare. In 1173 Richard went in person to France to help
Henry II., and was present at Verneuil, being reinstated in Leinster as a reward. In 1174 he advanced into Connaught and was severely defeated, but fortunately Raymond le Gros re established his supremacy in Leinster. Early in 1176 Richard died, just as Raymond had taken Limerick for him. As he had no male issue his daughter, Isabel, became countess of Pembroke in her own right, and the title was borne by her 'husband, Sir William Marshal. (See below.) Strongbow was the statesman, as the Fitzgeralds were the soldiers, of the conquest. He was buried in the cathedral church of Dublin, where his effigy and that of his wife are still preserved.