1366

Lionel of Clarence Departs Ireland

On November 7, 1366, Lionel of Antwerp, Duke of Clarence, and third son of King Edward III of England, departed Ireland. Lionel had been appointed King's Lieutenant of Ireland in 1361, with the ambitious goal of asserting English authority and restoring order to the English lordship, which was facing significant challenges from Gaelic resurgence. His tenure was marked by efforts to enforce English law and customs, notably through the Statutes of Kilkenny, which aimed to prevent the assimilation of English settlers into Irish culture. Despite these efforts, his time in Ireland was largely unsuccessful in achieving lasting stability, and his departure signaled a continuation of the complex Anglo-Irish relationship.