In 1177, during the Norman Invasion of Ireland, John de Courcy acquired land in eastern Ulster that included the small village of Belfast (on the ford of the rivers Farset and Lagan). To consolidate his power over the area, de Courcy ordered the construction of fortifications in Belfast and nearby Carrickfergus resulting in the erection of Belfast Castle and Carrickfergus Castle. The original site of Belfast Castle was roughly where modern-day Castle Place and High Street meet in Belfast city centre. The castle was attacked, recovered, destroyed and rebuilt many times.