Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of Offaly
Encyclopedia
Gerald FitzMaurice, jure uxoris
1st Lord of Offaly (c. 1150 – 15 January 1204) was a Cambro-Norman
nobleman who settled in Ireland
, with his father, Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan
, founding the notable FitzGerald dynasty who were to play important roles in Irish history. By right of his wife, the heiress Eve de Bermingham, Gerald was granted the barony of Offaly, thus becoming the first Lord
. He is the ancestor of the Kildare branch of the dynasty.
in about 1150, the second eldest son of Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan and an unknown second wife. Gerald had one sister, Nesta, who was named after their celebrated grandmother, Princess Nest of Wales, and five brothers, including his eldest, William FitzMaurice, 1st Baron of Naas.
regain his kingdom. Both Gerald and his father were at the Siege of Dublin in 1171.Upon the death of their father, on 1 September 1176, Gerald's elder brother William granted him half the cantred
of Ophelan with centres at Maynooth
and Rathmore
. He was confirmed in them by Prince John
in 1185. In 1197, he took part in the conquest of Limerick
acquiring Croom, County Limerick.
Following Gerald's death on 15 January 1204, Eve would go on to marry two more times. Her second husband was Geoffrey FitzRobert, and her third, whom she married sometime after 1211, was Geoffrey de Marisco, Justiciar of Ireland.
Gerald was succeeded by his only son, Maurice who became 2nd Lord of Offaly.
Jure uxoris
Jure uxoris is a Latin term that means "by right of his wife" or "in right of a wife". It is commonly used to refer to a title held by a man whose wife holds it in her own right. In other words, he acquired the title simply by being her husband....
1st Lord of Offaly (c. 1150 – 15 January 1204) was a Cambro-Norman
Cambro-Norman
Cambro-Norman is a term used for Norman knights who settled in southern Wales after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Some historians suggest that the term is to be preferred to Anglo-Norman for the Normans who invaded Ireland after 1170 — many of whom originated in Wales. However, the term...
nobleman who settled in Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
, with his father, Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan
Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan
Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Maynooth, Naas, and Llanstephan) was a major figure in the Norman invasion of Ireland....
, founding the notable FitzGerald dynasty who were to play important roles in Irish history. By right of his wife, the heiress Eve de Bermingham, Gerald was granted the barony of Offaly, thus becoming the first Lord
Lord
Lord is a title with various meanings. It can denote a prince or a feudal superior . The title today is mostly used in connection with the peerage of the United Kingdom or its predecessor countries, although some users of the title do not themselves hold peerages, and use it 'by courtesy'...
. He is the ancestor of the Kildare branch of the dynasty.
Family
Gerald was born in WalesWales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
in about 1150, the second eldest son of Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan and an unknown second wife. Gerald had one sister, Nesta, who was named after their celebrated grandmother, Princess Nest of Wales, and five brothers, including his eldest, William FitzMaurice, 1st Baron of Naas.
Career
Gerald's father was the leader of the first landing of Normans who arrived in Ireland in 1169 to assist the exiled Irish King of Leinster Dermot MacMurroughDermot MacMurrough
Diarmait Mac Murchada , anglicized as Dermot MacMurrough or Dermod MacMurrough , was a King of Leinster in Ireland. In 1167, he was deprived of his kingdom by the High King of Ireland - Turlough Mór O'Connor...
regain his kingdom. Both Gerald and his father were at the Siege of Dublin in 1171.Upon the death of their father, on 1 September 1176, Gerald's elder brother William granted him half the cantred
Cantred
Cantred can mean:* a cantref, an obsolete administrative subdivision of Wales* one of the Baronies of Ireland, an obsolete administrative subdivision of Ireland...
of Ophelan with centres at Maynooth
Maynooth
Maynooth is a town in north County Kildare, Ireland. It is home to a branch of the National University of Ireland, a Papal University and Ireland's main Roman Catholic seminary, St. Patrick's College...
and Rathmore
Rathmore
Rathmore is a small town in Kerry, Ireland, lying immediately west of the border with Cork. It lies at the heart of the Sliabh Luachra area known for its traditional Irish music and culture. The local GAA club is Rathmore GAA. The SAG is in Rathmore and helps the elderly in the area...
. He was confirmed in them by Prince John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
in 1185. In 1197, he took part in the conquest of Limerick
Limerick
Limerick is the third largest city in the Republic of Ireland, and the principal city of County Limerick and Ireland's Mid-West Region. It is the fifth most populous city in all of Ireland. When taking the extra-municipal suburbs into account, Limerick is the third largest conurbation in the...
acquiring Croom, County Limerick.
Marriage and issue
Sometime around 1193, he married as her first husband, Eve de Bermingham (died June 1223- December 1226), daughter of Sir Robert de Bermingham. In marriage, he received the barony of Offaly, becoming the first FitzGerald Lord of Offaly. Together Gerald and Eve had one son:- Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of OffalyMaurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of OffalyMaurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly was a Norman-Irish peer, soldier, and Justiciar of Ireland from 1232 to 1245. He mustered many armies against the Irish, and due to his harsh methods as Justiciar, he received criticism from King Henry III of England...
, Justiciar of Ireland (1194- 20 May 1257), married Juliana N.N., by whom he had four sons.
Following Gerald's death on 15 January 1204, Eve would go on to marry two more times. Her second husband was Geoffrey FitzRobert, and her third, whom she married sometime after 1211, was Geoffrey de Marisco, Justiciar of Ireland.
Gerald was succeeded by his only son, Maurice who became 2nd Lord of Offaly.