Maurice FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond
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Maurice FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond
(died 25 January 1356) was an Irish nobleman in the Peerage of Ireland
, Captain of Desmond Castle
in Kinsale
, so-called ruler of Munster
, and for a short time Lord Justice of Ireland.
The second son of Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald, 2nd Baron Desmond by his spouse Catherine (or Margaret), daughter of John, Lord Barry of Olethan
, he was created Earl of Desmond by Letters Patent
dated at Gloucester, England, 27 August 1329, by which patent also the county palatine of Kerry
was confirmed to him and his heirs male, to hold of the Crown by the service of one knight's fee.
In January 1330 he was summoned by Sir John Darcy, Lord Justice of Ireland, to fight armed Irish rebels, with a promise of the King's pay. John Lodge states, of his conduct, that this was the first introduction by this Earl of the extortion of Coigne and Livery with a suspension of English law and government in order to deal with the defection of all Munster
and a great part of Leinster
which had occurred in the reigns of Kings Edward II
and Edward III
within the space of thirty years.
Accepting the King's proposal, in addition to dealing with Munster and Leinster, he routed the O'Nolans and O'Murroughs and burned their lands in county Wicklow
and forced them to give hostages. He recovered the castle of Ley from the O'Dempsies, and had a liberate of £100 sterling dated at Drogheda
24 August 1335, in return for the expense he had incurred in bringing his men-at-arms, hobellars, and foot-soldiers, from various parts of Munster
to Drogheda, and there, with Lord Justice Darcy, dispersed the King's enemies.
In 1339 he was engaged against Irish rebels in county Kerry
where it is said he slew 1400 men, and took Nicholas, Lord of Kerry, prisoner, keeping him confined until he died as punishment for siding with the rebels against the Crown.
The same year he was present in the parliament held in Dublin. He was summoned by Writ dated at Westminster
10 July 1344, with Maurice, Earl of Kildare, and others, to attend the King at Portsmouth
"on the octaves of the nativity of the Virgin Mary", with twenty men-at-arms and fifty hobellars, at his own expense, to assist in the war against Philip, King of France.
In July 1355 he was appointed Lord Justice of Ireland for life, dying, however, the following January in Dublin Castle
.
He was interred in the Church of the Friars-preachers ot Tralee.
The first earl of Desmond married thrice: (1) 16 August 1312, Catherine, fifth daughter of Richard de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster, who died in Dublin in 1331. (2) Margaret, daughter of Connor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond, by whom he had no male issue. (3) Eleanor, daughter of Nicholas FitzMaurice, 3rd Baron Kerry.
By his first wife he had Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Desmond
.
By his third wife he had:
Earl of Desmond
The title of Earl of Desmond has been held historically by lords in Ireland, first as a title outside of the peerage system and later as part of the Peerage of Ireland....
(died 25 January 1356) was an Irish nobleman in the Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of Ireland
The Peerage of Ireland is the term used for those titles of nobility created by the English and later British monarchs of Ireland in their capacity as Lord or King of Ireland. The creation of such titles came to an end in the 19th century. The ranks of the Irish peerage are Duke, Marquess, Earl,...
, Captain of Desmond Castle
Desmond Castle
Desmond Castle is a tower house located in the town of Kinsale in County Cork, Ireland.- History :The castle was built as the Customs House for Kinsale about the year 1500 by Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Desmond, following the grant of the customs of the port of Kinsale to the Earls of Desmond...
in Kinsale
Kinsale
Kinsale is a town in County Cork, Ireland. Located some 25 km south of Cork City on the coast near the Old Head of Kinsale, it sits at the mouth of the River Bandon and has a population of 2,257 which increases substantially during the summer months when the tourist season is at its peak and...
, so-called ruler of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
, and for a short time Lord Justice of Ireland.
The second son of Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald, 2nd Baron Desmond by his spouse Catherine (or Margaret), daughter of John, Lord Barry of Olethan
De Barry Family
The de Barry family is an ancient family of Cambro-Norman origins which once had extensive land holdings in Wales and County Cork, Ireland. The founder of the family was a knight who assited in the Norman Conquest of England and Wales during the 11th century...
, he was created Earl of Desmond by Letters Patent
Letters patent
Letters patent are a type of legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch or president, generally granting an office, right, monopoly, title, or status to a person or corporation...
dated at Gloucester, England, 27 August 1329, by which patent also the county palatine of Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
was confirmed to him and his heirs male, to hold of the Crown by the service of one knight's fee.
In January 1330 he was summoned by Sir John Darcy, Lord Justice of Ireland, to fight armed Irish rebels, with a promise of the King's pay. John Lodge states, of his conduct, that this was the first introduction by this Earl of the extortion of Coigne and Livery with a suspension of English law and government in order to deal with the defection of all Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
and a great part of Leinster
Leinster
Leinster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the east of Ireland. It comprises the ancient Kingdoms of Mide, Osraige and Leinster. Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the historic fifths of Leinster and Mide gradually merged, mainly due to the impact of the Pale, which straddled...
which had occurred in the reigns of Kings Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
and Edward III
Edward III of England
Edward III was King of England from 1327 until his death and is noted for his military success. Restoring royal authority after the disastrous reign of his father, Edward II, Edward III went on to transform the Kingdom of England into one of the most formidable military powers in Europe...
within the space of thirty years.
Accepting the King's proposal, in addition to dealing with Munster and Leinster, he routed the O'Nolans and O'Murroughs and burned their lands in county Wicklow
County Wicklow
County Wicklow is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Mid-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wicklow, which derives from the Old Norse name Víkingalág or Wykynlo. Wicklow County Council is the local authority for the county...
and forced them to give hostages. He recovered the castle of Ley from the O'Dempsies, and had a liberate of £100 sterling dated at Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
24 August 1335, in return for the expense he had incurred in bringing his men-at-arms, hobellars, and foot-soldiers, from various parts of Munster
Munster
Munster is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the south of Ireland. In Ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial purposes...
to Drogheda, and there, with Lord Justice Darcy, dispersed the King's enemies.
In 1339 he was engaged against Irish rebels in county Kerry
County Kerry
Kerry means the "people of Ciar" which was the name of the pre-Gaelic tribe who lived in part of the present county. The legendary founder of the tribe was Ciar, son of Fergus mac Róich. In Old Irish "Ciar" meant black or dark brown, and the word continues in use in modern Irish as an adjective...
where it is said he slew 1400 men, and took Nicholas, Lord of Kerry, prisoner, keeping him confined until he died as punishment for siding with the rebels against the Crown.
The same year he was present in the parliament held in Dublin. He was summoned by Writ dated at Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
10 July 1344, with Maurice, Earl of Kildare, and others, to attend the King at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
"on the octaves of the nativity of the Virgin Mary", with twenty men-at-arms and fifty hobellars, at his own expense, to assist in the war against Philip, King of France.
In July 1355 he was appointed Lord Justice of Ireland for life, dying, however, the following January in Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle
Dublin Castle off Dame Street, Dublin, Ireland, was until 1922 the fortified seat of British rule in Ireland, and is now a major Irish government complex. Most of it dates from the 18th century, though a castle has stood on the site since the days of King John, the first Lord of Ireland...
.
He was interred in the Church of the Friars-preachers ot Tralee.
The first earl of Desmond married thrice: (1) 16 August 1312, Catherine, fifth daughter of Richard de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster, who died in Dublin in 1331. (2) Margaret, daughter of Connor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond, by whom he had no male issue. (3) Eleanor, daughter of Nicholas FitzMaurice, 3rd Baron Kerry.
By his first wife he had Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Desmond
Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Desmond
Maurice FitzMaurice FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Desmond was the son of Maurice FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond. He married Beatrice de Stafford, daughter of Ralph de Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford and Margaret Audley, and died without any male issuse, and was therefore succeeded in the Earldom by his...
.
By his third wife he had:
- Nicholas (described by Lodge as "an idiot"), ancestor to MacRobert of Bellamullin and, say some, to the McKenzies, Earls of Seaforth in Scotland.
- Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of DesmondGerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of DesmondGerald fitzMaurice FitzGerald, also known by the Irish Gaelic "Gearóid Iarla" , was the 3rd Earl of Desmond, in southwestern Ireland, under the first creation of that title, and a member of the Hiberno-Norman dynasty of the FitzGeralds, or Geraldines...
, 'The Poet'.