5 - Irish Ecclesiastical Politics and Anglo-Norman Sponsorship: The Patronage of the Vita S. Patricii

Summary

The commissioning of the Vita Patricii formed part of a wider project that involved the establishment of a new monastic community, the rededication and rebuilding of Down cathedral and the discovery of Patrick's relics in the Cathedral cemetery. It was also a text that publicly attested to the strong alliance formed between its three patrons, Archbishop Tomaltach of Armagh, Bishop Malachy of Down and the new ruler of Ulaid, John de Courcy. However, although the Vita is a product closely associated with the Anglo-Norman conquest of Ireland, analysis of the text indicates that it was conceived as a vehicle to represent the interests of its two ecclesiastical patrons rather than its secular sponsor. This chapter will first investigate the historical context of the work before examining how the Vita reflects contemporary ecclesiastical and political concerns. It will then discuss the more specific question of Jocelin's patronage and the author's relationship to John de Courcy.

Jocelin's patrons

The 1177 invasion of Down established John de Courcy as the ruler of the kingdom of Ulaid, a province that corresponds to the modern-day counties of Down and Antrim. Despite sporadic bouts of local resistance, by the early 1180s de Courcy had consolidated his hold on the area. However, this was not simply a story of Anglo-Norman invasion and oppression. As Seán Duffy points out, it seems that Irishmen were to be found among de Courcy's forces, while the relatively frequent appearance of the archbishop of Armagh, the bishops of Down and Connor, and the heads of the churches of Bangor and Saul in de Courcy's charters suggests that he quickly gained Irish clerical support. The joint commissioning of the Vita Patricii attests to the close relationship that developed between the new Anglo-Norman ruler of Ulaid and the two principal churchmen of the region, Tomaltach, archbishop of Armagh (1181–1201), and Malachy, bishop of Down (c.1176–1202). It was an alliance that benefited all parties. For de Courcy, it provided official and influential local acceptance, bolstering his political position. For the two churchmen, it provided necessary and welcome secular support.

Apart from the desired local acceptance of the new ruling order, there were a number of other political advantages to be gained by de Courcy through his prominent support of ecclesiastical interests. Scholars have stressed the colonization aspect of de Courcy's six religious foundations in Ireland.