Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare
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Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare (1525–1585), also known as the "Wizard Earl
" (a sobriquet also given to Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland
), was an Irish peer.
FitzGerald became the sole male representative of the Kildare Geraldines when only twelve years of age, after his half brother Silken Thomas—the tenth earl— together with 5 of his uncles were executed at Tyburn
in 1537. Thereafter he was on the run in Ireland and ended up in Donegal
under the guardianship of his aunt, Lady Eleanor McCarthy, the wife of the O Domhnaill chief
. Around his claims to the Earldom of Kildare formed the short-lived Geraldine League, a federation including the O'Neills, the O'Donnells, the O'Briens of Thomond, and other powerful Irish clans, related to the Geraldines by marriage. The League came to nothing after the principal members were badly defeated in Monaghan
following a raid into The Pale
in August 1539.
FitzGerald escaped Ireland with a few loyal servants and was protected from Henry VIII and his agents by King Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. He was educated at a monastery in Liège
, and spent time with the Bishop of Verona, the Cardinal of Mantua and the Duke of Mantua. From his time at the Duke's court, Kildare was fluent in Italian and experienced in the court culture of Renaissance Italy. He then moved on to Rome, to his kinsman Cardinal Reginald Pole. He spent three years studying there under his guidance.; He fought with the Knights of Rhodes against the Turks and during these years in exile he travelled as far as Tripoli
in Libya
, then held by the Knights of St. John
. He returned to Kildare
following the death of Henry VIII
and was received at court. There his lands were returned to him by Edward VI
. Also, at court he met Mabel Browne
, daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, Master of the Horse
. They were wed on 28 May 1554 in the Chapel Royal. During the reign of Henry VIII's daughter Mary I
in 1554 FitzGerald helped suppress the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt the younger
. He was created Earl of Kildare and Baron of Offaly. He returned to Ireland soon after receiving his titles.
His interest in alchemy
caused much interest among those living around his Kilkea Castle
, and he was said to possess magic powers. This interest earned him the nickname "the Wizard Earl".
The Earl died in 1585, and according to legend his ghost returns to the castle every seventh year, mounted on a silver-shod white charger.
Earl
An earl is a member of the nobility. The title is Anglo-Saxon, akin to the Scandinavian form jarl, and meant "chieftain", particularly a chieftain set to rule a territory in a king's stead. In Scandinavia, it became obsolete in the Middle Ages and was replaced with duke...
" (a sobriquet also given to Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland
Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland KG was an English aristocrat. He was a grandee and one of the wealthiest peers of the court of Elizabeth I. Under James I, Henry was a long-term prisoner in the Tower of London. He is known for the circles he moved in as well as for his own achievements...
), was an Irish peer.
FitzGerald became the sole male representative of the Kildare Geraldines when only twelve years of age, after his half brother Silken Thomas—the tenth earl— together with 5 of his uncles were executed at Tyburn
Tyburn
Tyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
in 1537. Thereafter he was on the run in Ireland and ended up in Donegal
County Donegal
County Donegal is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Donegal. Donegal County Council is the local authority for the county...
under the guardianship of his aunt, Lady Eleanor McCarthy, the wife of the O Domhnaill chief
Manus O'Donnell
Manus Ó Domhnaill, anglicized Manus O'Donnell , was an Irish clan leader, son of Hugh Dubh O'Donnell. He was an important member of the O'Donnell dynasty based in County Donegal.-Early life:...
. Around his claims to the Earldom of Kildare formed the short-lived Geraldine League, a federation including the O'Neills, the O'Donnells, the O'Briens of Thomond, and other powerful Irish clans, related to the Geraldines by marriage. The League came to nothing after the principal members were badly defeated in Monaghan
County Monaghan
County Monaghan is a county in Ireland. It is part of the Border Region and is also located in the province of Ulster. It is named after the town of Monaghan. Monaghan County Council is the local authority for the county...
following a raid into The Pale
The Pale
The Pale or the English Pale , was the part of Ireland that was directly under the control of the English government in the late Middle Ages. It had reduced by the late 15th century to an area along the east coast stretching from Dalkey, south of Dublin, to the garrison town of Dundalk...
in August 1539.
FitzGerald escaped Ireland with a few loyal servants and was protected from Henry VIII and his agents by King Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. He was educated at a monastery in Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
, and spent time with the Bishop of Verona, the Cardinal of Mantua and the Duke of Mantua. From his time at the Duke's court, Kildare was fluent in Italian and experienced in the court culture of Renaissance Italy. He then moved on to Rome, to his kinsman Cardinal Reginald Pole. He spent three years studying there under his guidance.; He fought with the Knights of Rhodes against the Turks and during these years in exile he travelled as far as Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, then held by the Knights of St. John
Knights Hospitaller
The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta , also known as the Sovereign Military Order of Malta , Order of Malta or Knights of Malta, is a Roman Catholic lay religious order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. It is the world's...
. He returned to Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
following the death of Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
and was received at court. There his lands were returned to him by Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
. Also, at court he met Mabel Browne
Mabel Browne
Mabel Browne, Countess of Kildare was the wife of Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare, Baron of Offaly . She was born into the English Roman Catholic Browne family whose members held prominent positions at the courts of the Tudorsovereigns for three generations...
, daughter of Sir Anthony Browne, Master of the Horse
Master of the Horse
The Master of the Horse was a position of varying importance in several European nations.-Magister Equitum :...
. They were wed on 28 May 1554 in the Chapel Royal. During the reign of Henry VIII's daughter Mary I
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
in 1554 FitzGerald helped suppress the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt the younger
Thomas Wyatt the younger
Sir Thomas Wyatt the younger was a rebel leader during the reign of Queen Mary I of England; his rising is traditionally called "Wyatt's rebellion".-Birth and career:...
. He was created Earl of Kildare and Baron of Offaly. He returned to Ireland soon after receiving his titles.
His interest in alchemy
Alchemy
Alchemy is an influential philosophical tradition whose early practitioners’ claims to profound powers were known from antiquity. The defining objectives of alchemy are varied; these include the creation of the fabled philosopher's stone possessing powers including the capability of turning base...
caused much interest among those living around his Kilkea Castle
Kilkea Castle
Kilkea Castle is located just northwest of Castledermot, County Kildare, Ireland near the village of Kilkea on the R418 regional road from Athy to Tullow. It was a medieval stronghold of the Fitzgeralds, earls of Kildare.- History of the Castle :...
, and he was said to possess magic powers. This interest earned him the nickname "the Wizard Earl".
The Earl died in 1585, and according to legend his ghost returns to the castle every seventh year, mounted on a silver-shod white charger.