King John's Castle sits on the southern bank of the River Shannon. Alongside is Thomond Bridge.

King John's Castle is the name given to several large castles built in Ireland during the reign of King John of England (1166-1216). The best preserved is the large castle built in the center of Limerick City. This castle is located on King's Island, next to the River Shannon. Other castles are located in Naas (County Kildare), Carlingford (County Louth) and Athenry (County Galway). Trim Castle in County Meath and Odiham Castle in Basingstoke in the UK are also known as King John's Castle. Photo of King Johns Castle in Limerick City, Ireland. ... Photo of King Johns Castle in Limerick City, Ireland. ... The River Shannon, Irelands longest river, divides the West of Ireland (mostly the province of Connaught) from the east and south (Leinster and most of Munster). ... John of England depicted in Cassells History of England (1902) John (French: Jean) (December 24, 1166/67–October 18/19, 1216) reigned as King of England from 1199 to 1216. ... The Alcázar of Segovia, Spain A castle (from the Latin castellum, diminutive of castra, a military camp, in turn the plural of castrum or watchpost), is a fort, a camp and the logical development of a fortified enclosure. ... This article is about the city in Ireland. ... Kings Island is an area of Limerick City, Ireland. ... The River Shannon, Irelands longest river, divides the West of Ireland (mostly the province of Connaught) from the east and south (Leinster and most of Munster). ... Naas (Irish: Nás na Rí/An Nás) is the county town of County Kildare, Ireland. ... County Kildare (Irish: Cill Dara) is an Irish county located to the southwest of County Dublin in the province of Leinster. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... County Louth (An Lú in Irish) is a county on the east coast of Ireland. ... Athenry (Irish: Átha an Rí) is an agricultural town in County Galway, Ireland. ... County Galway / Conndae na Gaillimhe or Contae na Gaillimhe is located on the west coast of Ireland. ... Trim Castle, Trim, Ireland covers an area of 3 hectares, it is the remains of the largest castle in Europe, which was Norman in origin, built primarily by Hugh de Lacy and his son Walter de Lacy. ... Meath (An Mhí in Irish) is a county in the Republic of Ireland, the county is often informally called The Royal County. ... View from Basingstoke railway station forecourt Basingstoke is a new town in the county of Hampshire in the UK. It is the seat of the Basingstoke and Deane district. ... The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is a country in western Europe, and member of the Commonwealth of Nations, the G8, the European Union, and NATO. Usually known simply as the United Kingdom, the UK, or (inaccurately) as Great Britain or Britain, the UK has four constituent...

King John's Castle, Limerick

The walls, towers and fortifications remain today, and are a visitor attraction. The remains of a Viking settlement were uncovered during the construction of a visitor centre at the site. Viking (disambiguation). ...

The Viking sea-king, Thormodr Helgason, built the first permanent Viking stronghold on Inis Sibhtonn (King's Island) in 922. He used the base to raid the length of the River Shannon from Lough Derg to Lough Ree, pillaging ecclesiastical settlements. In 937 the Limerick Vikings clashed with those of Dublin on Lough Ree and were defeated. In 943 they were defeated again when the chief of the local Dalcassian clan joined with Ceallachan, king of Munster and the Limerick Vikings were forced to pay tribute to the clans. The power of the Vikings never recovered, and they reduced to the level of a minor clan, however often playing pivotal parts in the endless power struggles of the next few centuries. Viking (disambiguation). ... Kings Island is an area of Limerick City, Ireland. ... Events Births Deaths March 26 - Al-Hallaj, Sufi writer and teacher Categories: 922 ... The River Shannon, Irelands longest river, divides the West of Ireland (mostly the province of Connaught) from the east and south (Leinster and most of Munster). ... Lough Derg (Loch Deirgeirt in Irish) is the largest lake in the Republic of Ireland and the second largest in Ireland overall. ... Lough Ree (Loch Rí in Irish) is a lake in the midlands of Ireland, the second of the three major lakes on the River Shannon. ... Events Athelstan wins the Battle of Brunanburh September 21 - Magdeburg is now the capital of the Holy Roman Empire, after a Diet held by Otto I, Holy Roman Emperor Births Deaths July 14 - Arnulf I of Bavaria Categories: 937 ... Dublins Hapenny Bridge. ... Events King Constantin II of Scotland retires and becomes a monk, succeeded by his cousin Malcolm I of Scotland Births Deaths Harald I of Norway Categories: 943 ... Alternate uses: See Munster (disambiguation). ...

The arrival of the Anglo-Normans to the area in 1172 changed everything. Domhnall Mor O'Brien burned the city to the ground in 1174 in a bid to keep it from the hands of the new invaders. The Anglo-Normans finally captured the area in 1195, under King John. In 1197 local legend claims Limerick was given its first charter and its first Mayor, Adam Sarvant. A castle, built on the orders of King John and bearing his name, was completed around 1200. Events Duke Richard of Aquitaine becomes Duke of Poitiers. ... Events Vietnam is given the official name of China. ... Events Priory of St Marys, Bushmead, founded. ... Events Amalric II succeeds Henry II of Champagne as king of Jerusalem. ... Events University of Paris receives charter from Philip II of France Births Matthew Paris, English Benedictine monk and chronicler (approximate date). ...

Under the general peace imposed by the Norman rule, Limerick prospered as a port and trading center. By this time the city was divided into an area became known as "English Town" on King's Island, while another settlement, named "Irish Town" had grown on the south bank of the river. A 1574 document prepared for the Spanish ambassador attests to its wealth: Events April 14 - Battle of Mookerheyde. ...

Limerick is stronger and more beautiful than all the other cities of Ireland, well walled with stout walls of hewn marble... There is no entrance except by stone bridges, one of the two of which has 14 arches, and the other 8 ... for the most part the houses are of square stone of black marble and built in the form of towers and fortresses.

See Also

• King John of England
• History of Limerick City

John of England depicted in Cassells History of England (1902) John (French: Jean) (December 24, 1166/67–October 18/19, 1216) reigned as King of England from 1199 to 1216. ... The City of Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland and a major cultural and industrial center. ...

External links

• Shannon Heritage site (http://www.shannonheritage.com/KJC.htm)
• Carlingford Castle (http://www.fjiordlands.org/carlnfrd/kingjs.htm)
• Naas Castle (http://kildare.ie/local-history/naas/king-johns-castle-naas.htm)
• Odiham Castle (http://www.basingstoke-canal.org.uk/castle.htm)
• Trim Castle (http://www.historic.irishcastles.com/trim.htm)
• Athenry Castle (http://homepage.eircom.net/~foregan/history/carcastle.html)