Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly
Encyclopedia
Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly (1238 – before 10 November 1286) was a Norman-Irish
peer, soldier, and Justiciar of Ireland from 1272 to 1273.
, Ireland, one of the sons of Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly
and Juliana, whose surname is unknown. He had three brothers, Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1243), Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1271), David FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died without issue). Maurice was known by the nickname of Maurice Mael (in English bald). He succeeded as 3rd Lord of Offaly on 20 May 1257, upon the death of his father at Youghal Monastery
, bypassing the rightful heir to the barony, his nephew Maurice (died 1268), son of his elder brother, Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald who had died in 1243.
In May 1262, he was among the chief magnates in Ireland summoned to inform King Henry III of England
and his son Prince Edward
about conditions in the country. He was summoned again in June 1265. Maurice was appointed Justiciar of Ireland on 23 June 1272 following the accidental death of his predecessor, James de Audley on 11 June of that year; his father had served in the same capacity from 1232 to 1245. Maurice himself held the post until September 1273, when he was succeeded by Sir Geoffrey de Geneville, Seigneur de Vaucouleurs.
He held four knight's fees in both Lea and Geashill
from Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Wigmore who had inherited them from his wife, Maud de Braose
.
In 1276, he led a force of men from Connacht
against the Irish clans of County Wicklow
. Maurice's contingent joined the main army of Normans jointly commanded by his son-in-law, Thomas de Clare, Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal
who had been made Lord of Thomond earlier that same year, and Sir Geoffrey de Geneville
, Maurice's successor as Justiciar of Ireland. The Normans under Lords Thomond and Justiciar de Geneville attacked the Irish at Glenmalure
, but were defeated and suffered heavy losses.
, a daughter of Sir Gerald de Prendergast of Beauvoir and an unnamed daughter of Richard Mor de Burgh
. Together he and Maud had two daughters:
Maurice was Maud's third husband. She died on an unknown date. In 1273, Maurice married his second wife, Emmeline Longespee (1252–1291), daughter of Stephen Longespee and Emmeline de Ridelsford. His marriage to Emmeline was childless, and the latter's property was inherited by Maud La Zouche, Baroness Holland, who was the granddaughter of Emmeline's elder sister, Ela Longespee
.
Maurice died sometime before 10 November 1286 at Ross
, County Wexford
. As he did not have any sons, he was succeeded by his nephew John FitzGerald
, who would be created 1st Earl of Kildare on 14 May 1316. John was the son of his brother Thomas by Rohesia de St. Michael.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
peer, soldier, and Justiciar of Ireland from 1272 to 1273.
Career
He was born in 1238 in WexfordWexford
Wexford is the county town of County Wexford, Ireland. It is situated near the southeastern corner of Ireland, close to Rosslare Europort. The town is connected to Dublin via the M11/N11 National Primary Route, and the national rail network...
, Ireland, one of the sons of Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly
Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly
Maurice 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...
and Juliana, whose surname is unknown. He had three brothers, Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1243), Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1271), David FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died without issue). Maurice was known by the nickname of Maurice Mael (in English bald). He succeeded as 3rd Lord of Offaly on 20 May 1257, upon the death of his father at Youghal Monastery
South Abbey, Youghal
South Abbey, Youghal was a 13th century Franciscan Friary that was situated south of Youghal, County Cork, Ireland- History :The Franciscan Friary of South Abbey, Youghal was founded in 1224 by Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly, and he was buried there in 1257...
, bypassing the rightful heir to the barony, his nephew Maurice (died 1268), son of his elder brother, Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald who had died in 1243.
In May 1262, he was among the chief magnates in Ireland summoned to inform King Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
and his son Prince Edward
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
about conditions in the country. He was summoned again in June 1265. Maurice was appointed Justiciar of Ireland on 23 June 1272 following the accidental death of his predecessor, James de Audley on 11 June of that year; his father had served in the same capacity from 1232 to 1245. Maurice himself held the post until September 1273, when he was succeeded by Sir Geoffrey de Geneville, Seigneur de Vaucouleurs.
He held four knight's fees in both Lea and Geashill
Geashill
Geashill is a village in County Offaly, Ireland. It is situated between the towns of Tullamore and Portarlington on the R420 regional road. Geashill has a Church of Ireland church, a shop, a petrol station, post office, primary school, a Gaelic Athletic Association and two pubs, .-History:The...
from Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Wigmore who had inherited them from his wife, Maud de Braose
Maud de Braose, Baroness Wigmore
Maud de Braose, Baroness Wigmore was a noble heiress, and one of the most important, being a member of the powerful de Braose family which held many lordships and domains in the Welsh Marches...
.
In 1276, he led a force of men from Connacht
Connacht
Connacht , formerly anglicised as Connaught, is one of the Provinces of Ireland situated in the west 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...
against the Irish clans of 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...
. Maurice's contingent joined the main army of Normans jointly commanded by his son-in-law, Thomas de Clare, Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal
Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond
Thomas de Clare, Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal was a Hiberno-Norman peer and soldier. He was the second son of Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester and his wife Maud de Lacy...
who had been made Lord of Thomond earlier that same year, and Sir Geoffrey de Geneville
Maud de Lacy, Baroness Geneville
Maud de Lacy, Baroness Geneville was a Norman-Irish noblewoman and wealthy heiress who upon the death of her grandfather, Walter de Lacy, Lord of Trim and Ludlow inherited half his estates...
, Maurice's successor as Justiciar of Ireland. The Normans under Lords Thomond and Justiciar de Geneville attacked the Irish at Glenmalure
Glenmalure
Glenmalure is a valley in the Wicklow Mountains in eastern Ireland. It is a u-shaped glacial valley, with only one road leading into it, which connects to the 'Military Road' at the mouth of the valley....
, but were defeated and suffered heavy losses.
Marriages and issue
Sometime between May 1258 and 28 October 1259, he married his first wife, Maud de PrendergastMaud de Prendergast
Maud de Prendergast, Lady of Offaly , was a Norman-Irish noblewoman, the first wife of Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly, Justiciar of Ireland, and the mother of his two daughters, Juliana FitzGerald and Amabel. Maud was a descendant of Strongbow, the Irish kings of Leinster and Thomond, and...
, a daughter of Sir Gerald de Prendergast of Beauvoir and an unnamed daughter of Richard Mor de Burgh
Richard Mor de Burgh
Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Lord of Connaught , Justiciar of Ireland.-Background:De Burgh was the eldest son of William de Burgh and a daughter of Domnall Mór Ua Briain, King of Thomond. His principal estate was in the barony of Loughrea where he built a castle in 1236 and a town was founded. He also...
. Together he and Maud had two daughters:
- Juliana FitzGeraldJuliana FitzGeraldJuliana FitzGerald, Lady of Thomond was a Norman-Irish noblewoman, the daughter of Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly, and the wife of Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond, a powerful Anglo-Norman baron in Ireland, who was a younger brother of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford. Juliana was...
(c.1263 Dublin, Ireland- 24 September 1300), married firstly, Thomas de Clare, Lord of ThomondThomas de Clare, Lord of ThomondThomas de Clare, Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal was a Hiberno-Norman peer and soldier. He was the second son of Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester and his wife Maud de Lacy...
, by whom she had four children; she married secondly Nicholas Avenel, and thirdly, Adam de Cretynges. - Amabel FitzGerald, married but died childless.
Maurice was Maud's third husband. She died on an unknown date. In 1273, Maurice married his second wife, Emmeline Longespee (1252–1291), daughter of Stephen Longespee and Emmeline de Ridelsford. His marriage to Emmeline was childless, and the latter's property was inherited by Maud La Zouche, Baroness Holland, who was the granddaughter of Emmeline's elder sister, Ela Longespee
Ela Longespee
Ela Longespee, Lady of Ashby was a wealthy heiress and daughter of Stephen Longespee, Justiciar of Ireland. She was the wife of Sir Roger La Zouche, Lord of Ashby.- Family :...
.
Maurice died sometime before 10 November 1286 at Ross
Ross
Ross is a region of Scotland and a former mormaerdom, earldom, sheriffdom and county. The name Ross allegedly derives from a Gaelic word meaning a headland - perhaps a reference to the Black Isle. The Norse word for Orkney - Hrossay meaning horse island - is another possible origin. The area...
, County Wexford
County Wexford
County Wexford is a county in Ireland. It is part of the South-East Region and is also located in the province of Leinster. It is named after the town of Wexford. In pre-Norman times it was part of the Kingdom of Uí Cheinnselaig, whose capital was at Ferns. Wexford County Council is the local...
. As he did not have any sons, he was succeeded by his nephew John FitzGerald
John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare
John FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare was a Peer in the Peerage of Ireland.The eldest son of Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald and Rohesia de St...
, who would be created 1st Earl of Kildare on 14 May 1316. John was the son of his brother Thomas by Rohesia de St. Michael.