Earldom of Ulster

The Earldom of Ulster was an Anglo-Norman lordship in north-eastern Ireland, founded in 1177 by John de Courcy, who conquered much of the Gaelic Irish kingdom of Ulaid. It was the most important Anglo-Norman lordship in northern Ireland and part of the Lordship of Ireland, with its capital at Carrickfergus Castle. The earldom covered most of present-day Antrim and Down, and briefly extended west to Lough Foyle. It suffered significantly during the Bruce campaign in the 1310s, leading to its decline. By the 15th century, the earldom was restricted to coastal enclaves, and the title passed to the Crown in 1461, when the entity was dissolved.