Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Maynooth, Naas, and Llanstephan) (c. 1105 – 1 September 1176) was a major figure in the Norman invasion of Ireland

Norman Invasion of Ireland

The Norman invasion of Ireland was a two-stage process, which began on 1 May 1169 when a force of loosely associated Norman knights landed near Bannow, County Wexford...

.

Maurice was the second son of Gerald de Windsor

Gerald de Windsor

Gerald de Windsor, also known as Gerald FitzWalter, was the nobleman in charge of the Norman forces in Wales in the late 11th century. Notably, he was the progenitor of the FitzGerald and de Barry dynasties of Ireland...

, Constable of Pembroke Castle

Pembroke Castle

Pembroke Castle is a medieval castle in Pembroke, West Wales. Standing beside the River Cleddau, it underwent major restoration work in the early 20th century. The castle was the original seat of the Earldom of Pembroke....

 by his wife, Nest ferch Rhys, a Welsh

Wales

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...

 princess. He fought under Robert FitzMartin at the Battle of Crug Mawr

Battle of Crug Mawr

The Battle of Crug Mawr took place in September or October 1136, as part of a struggle for control of Ceredigion which had been captured by the Normans....

 in 1136. Diarmait Mac Murchada (Dermot MacMurrough), the deposed King of Leinster

Kings of Leinster

The following is a provisional list of the kings of Leinster who ruled the Irish kingdom of Leinster up to 1632 with the death of Domhnall Spainnach MacMurrough-Kavanagh, the last legitimately inaugurated head of the MacMurrough Kavanagh royal line...

, who had been exiled by the High King of Ireland

High King of Ireland

The High Kings of Ireland were sometimes historical and sometimes legendary figures who had, or who are claimed to have had, lordship over the whole of Ireland. Medieval and early modern Irish literature portrays an almost unbroken sequence of High Kings, ruling from Tara over a hierarchy of...

, sought FitzGerald's assistance to regain his throne. He assisted his younger half-brother Robert Fitz-Stephen

Robert Fitz-Stephen

Robert Fitz-Stephen was a 12th century Cambro-Norman soldier, one of the leaders of the Norman invasion of Ireland, for which he was granted extensive lands in Ireland. He was a son of the famous Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, the last king of Deheubarth . His father was Nest's second husband,...

 in the Siege of Wexford (1169)

Siege of Wexford (1169)

The siege of Wexford took place in early May 1169 and was the first major clash of the Norman invasion of Ireland. The town was besieged by a combined force of Normans under Robert Fitz-Stephen and soldiers loyal to Diarmait mac Murchadha...

. His nephew, Raymond FitzGerald

Raymond Fitzgerald

Raymond FitzGerald , nicknamed Le Gros, was a Cambro-Norman commander during the Norman invasion of Ireland....

, was Strongbow's

Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke

Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke , Lord of Leinster, Justiciar of Ireland . Like his father, he was also commonly known as Strongbow...

 second in command and had the chief share both in the capture of Waterford

Waterford

Waterford is a city in the South-East Region of Ireland. It is the oldest city in the country and fifth largest by population. Waterford City Council is the local government authority for the city and its immediate hinterland...

 and in the successful assault on Dublin.

Family

Maurice and his elder brother William FitzGerald of Carew married two sisters. They were the daughters of Arnulf de Montgomery by his wife Lavacroth, the daughter of the Irish king Muircheartach Ua Briain

Muircheartach Ua Briain

Muircheartach Ua Briain , son of Toirdelbach Ua Briain and great-grandson of Brian Bóruma, was King of Munster and later self declared High King of Ireland.-Background:...

. Maurice married Alice de Montgomery, while William married Marie de Montgomery. Maurice's children by his wife were:

• Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of Offaly
  Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of Offaly
  Gerald FitzMaurice, jure uxoris 1st Lord of Offaly 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...
  
   (b. c. 1150, d. before 15 Jan 1204)
• Alexander
• William, Lord of Naas (d. c.1199)
• Maurice, Lord of Kiltrany
• Thomas (d. c.1213)
• Robert
• Nest (m. Hervey de Montmorenci, Constable of England)

Through his oldest son, Sir Gerald, Maurice was the ancestor of the Fitzgerald Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster.

The original Earldom of Desmond

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....

 in the province

Provinces of Ireland

Ireland has historically been divided into four provinces: Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht. The Irish word for this territorial division, cúige, literally meaning "fifth part", indicates that there were once five; the fifth province, Meath, was incorporated into Leinster, with parts going to...

 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...

 was based on land holdings belonging to the descendants of Maurice's son Thomas. Thomas's son John FitzGerald

John FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond

John FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond was the grandson of Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan. He was the founder of the Desmond line of the FitzGerald dynasty and ancestor of the powerful Earls of Desmond , as well as other dynasties, including the modern Knights of Kerry and Knights...

, who was killed in the Battle of Callann

Battle of Callann

The Battle of Callann was fought in 1261 between the Normans, under John FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond, and the Gaelic forces of Fínghin Mac Carthaigh, King of Desmond, ancestor of the MacCarthy Reagh dynasty. MacCarthy was victorious...

, became the first Baron Desmond. Of this line are also the Knights of Kerry.