Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare
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Gerald Mór FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare, KG
(died c. 3 September 1513), known variously as "Garret the Great" (Gearóid Mór) or "The Great Earl" (An Iarla Mór), was Ireland
's premier peer
. He served as Lord Deputy of Ireland
from 1477 to 1494, and from 1496 onwards.
, Gearoid Mór FitzGerald) was appointed Lord Deputy
in 1477, but was replaced by Lord Grey on the supposition that an Englishman could do the job better. The lords of the Pale
set up a breakaway parliament in protest, and Edward IV was forced to re-install FitzGerald. He inherited the title of Earl of Kildare in 1478.
FitzGerald managed to keep his position after the York dynasty in England
was toppled and Henry VII
becoming king, but Fitzgerald blatantly disobeyed King Henry on several occasions; he supported the pretender
to the throne of England
and the Lordship of Ireland
, Lambert Simnel
. However, Henry needed Fitzgerald to rule in Ireland, and at the same time could not control him.
He presided over a period of near independence from English rule between 1477 and 1494. This independence ended when his enemies in Ireland seized power and had him sent to London as a traitor. He suffered a double blow: he was imprisoned in the Tower of London
, and his wife died soon after. He was tried in 1496, and used the trial to convince Henry VII that the ruling factions in Ireland were "false knaves". Henry immediately appointed him as Lord Deputy of Ireland
, saying "All Ireland cannot govern this Earl; then let this Earl govern all Ireland." Gearóid returned to Ireland in triumph.
He ruled with an iron fist. He suppressed a rebellion in the city of Cork
in 1500 by hanging the city's mayor. He raised up an army against rebels in Connacht
in 1504, defeating them at the Battle of Knockdoe
. In 1512, after entering O'Neill of Clandeboye
's territory, capturing him and then taking the castle of Belfast
, FitzGerald then for reasons now unknown proceeded through to utterly ravage the Bissett family
's lordship of the coastal Glens of Antrim
.
A year later, on an expedition against the O'Carrolls, he was mortally wounded while watering his horse in Kilkea
. He was conveyed back to Kildare, where he died on or around 3 September 1513.
and Jane FitzGerald, the daughter of James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond
, 'the Usurper'. The Cambro-Norman FitzGerald dynasty had risen to become the premier Old English
peers in Ireland. They were descended from Gerald de Windsor
and the Welsh Princess Nest ferch Rhys, the daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr
, Prince of Deheubarth.
Gearoid Mór FitzGerald married Alison FitzEustace, daughter of Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester
, with whom he had five children:
He later married Elizabeth St. John of County Kildare
and had a further five children:
, says that Gearóid was skilled in the black arts
, and could shapeshift. However, he would never let his wife see him take on other forms, much to her chagrin. After much pleading, he yielded to her, and turned himself into a goldfinch
before her very eyes. A sparrowhawk flew into the room, seized the "goldfinch", and he was never seen again.
According to legend, the Great Earl and his soldiers now slumber in a cavern beneath the Curragh of Kildare, ready to awaken to defend Ireland in her hour of need. The Earl rises once every seven years on May Day
, and rides around the Curragh on his steed. When his horse's shoes are worn down to the thickness of a cat's ear, he will lead his army against the English, drive them out, and reign as king of Ireland for forty years.
Order of the Garter
The Most Noble Order of the Garter, founded in 1348, is the highest order of chivalry, or knighthood, existing in England. The order is dedicated to the image and arms of St...
(died c. 3 September 1513), known variously as "Garret the Great" (Gearóid Mór) or "The Great Earl" (An Iarla Mór), was 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...
's premier peer
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,...
. He served as Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
from 1477 to 1494, and from 1496 onwards.
Politics
Gerald FitzGerald (or, in IrishIrish language
Irish , also known as Irish Gaelic, is a Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family, originating in Ireland and historically spoken by the Irish people. Irish is now spoken as a first language by a minority of Irish people, as well as being a second language of a larger proportion of...
, Gearoid Mór FitzGerald) was appointed Lord Deputy
Lord Lieutenant of Ireland
The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland was the British King's representative and head of the Irish executive during the Lordship of Ireland , the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
in 1477, but was replaced by Lord Grey on the supposition that an Englishman could do the job better. The lords of 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...
set up a breakaway parliament in protest, and Edward IV was forced to re-install FitzGerald. He inherited the title of Earl of Kildare in 1478.
FitzGerald managed to keep his position after the York dynasty in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
was toppled and Henry VII
Henry VII of England
Henry VII was King of England and Lord of Ireland from his seizing the crown on 22 August 1485 until his death on 21 April 1509, as the first monarch of the House of Tudor....
becoming king, but Fitzgerald blatantly disobeyed King Henry on several occasions; he supported the pretender
Pretender
A pretender is one who claims entitlement to an unavailable position of honour or rank. Most often it refers to a former monarch, or descendant thereof, whose throne is occupied or claimed by a rival, or has been abolished....
to the throne of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and the Lordship of Ireland
Lordship of Ireland
The Lordship of Ireland refers to that part of Ireland that was under the rule of the king of England, styled Lord of Ireland, between 1177 and 1541. It was created in the wake of the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169–71 and was succeeded by the Kingdom of Ireland...
, Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel
Lambert Simnel was a pretender to the throne of England. His claim to be the Earl of Warwick in 1487 threatened the newly established reign of King Henry VII .-Early life:...
. However, Henry needed Fitzgerald to rule in Ireland, and at the same time could not control him.
He presided over a period of near independence from English rule between 1477 and 1494. This independence ended when his enemies in Ireland seized power and had him sent to London as a traitor. He suffered a double blow: he was imprisoned in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, and his wife died soon after. He was tried in 1496, and used the trial to convince Henry VII that the ruling factions in Ireland were "false knaves". Henry immediately appointed him as Lord Deputy of Ireland
Lord Deputy of Ireland
The Lord Deputy was the King's representative and head of the Irish executive under English rule, during the Lordship of Ireland and later the Kingdom of Ireland...
, saying "All Ireland cannot govern this Earl; then let this Earl govern all Ireland." Gearóid returned to Ireland in triumph.
He ruled with an iron fist. He suppressed a rebellion in the city of Cork
Cork (city)
Cork is the second largest city in the Republic of Ireland and the island of Ireland's third most populous city. It is the principal city and administrative centre of County Cork and the largest city in the province of Munster. Cork has a population of 119,418, while the addition of the suburban...
in 1500 by hanging the city's mayor. He raised up an army against rebels in 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...
in 1504, defeating them at the Battle of Knockdoe
Battle of Knockdoe
The Battle of Knockdoe was a conflict between the Hiberno-Norman de Burghs and Anglo-Norman Fitzgeralds, along with their respective Irish allies. On the 19th of August 1504, the Parish of Lackagh was the site of what appears to have been an unusually bloody conflict, arising from a dispute...
. In 1512, after entering O'Neill of Clandeboye
Clandeboye
Clandeboye is in modern times an area of Bangor, County Down, Northern Ireland. It is named after the Clandeboye family, a branch of the O'Neill dynasty. They settled in the 1330s after the death of the Earl of Ulster in what is now south Antrim and north Down, giving their name to the territory...
's territory, capturing him and then taking the castle of Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, FitzGerald then for reasons now unknown proceeded through to utterly ravage the Bissett family
Bissett family (Ireland)
The history of the Bissett family in Ireland can be studied independently from that of the originally identical family in Scotland, because of their unique experience following their arrival in Ulster in the early or mid-13th century...
's lordship of the coastal Glens of Antrim
Glens of Antrim
The Glens of Antrim , known locally as simply The Glens, is a region of County Antrim, Northern Ireland. It comprises nine glens , that radiate from the Antrim Plateau to the coast. The Glens are an area of outstanding natural beauty and are a major tourist attraction in north Antrim...
.
A year later, on an expedition against the O'Carrolls, he was mortally wounded while watering his horse in Kilkea
Kilkea
Kilkea , is a village in the south-east of Ireland in County Kildare, about from Dublin, and from the town of Carlow. The R418 regional road from Athy to Tullow passes through the village.-See also:* Kilkea Castle* List of towns and villages in Ireland...
. He was conveyed back to Kildare, where he died on or around 3 September 1513.
Family
Gearoid Mór was the son of Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of KildareThomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare
Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare , was an Irish peer and Lord Chancellor of Ireland.-Background:Kildare was the son of John FitzGerald, de jure 6th Earl of Kildare, and Rose Basset.-Career:...
and Jane FitzGerald, the daughter of James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond
James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond
James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond , called 'the Usurper', was the youngest son of Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond, and Lady Eleanor, daughter of James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond...
, 'the Usurper'. The Cambro-Norman FitzGerald dynasty had risen to become the premier Old English
Old English (Ireland)
The Old English were the descendants of the settlers who came to Ireland from Wales, Normandy, and England after the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169–71. Many of the Old English became assimilated into Irish society over the centuries...
peers in Ireland. They were descended from 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...
and the Welsh Princess Nest ferch Rhys, the daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr
Rhys ap Tewdwr
Rhys ap Tewdwr was a Prince of Deheubarth in south-west Wales and member of the Dinefwr dynasty, a branch descended from Rhodri the Great...
, Prince of Deheubarth.
Gearoid Mór FitzGerald married Alison FitzEustace, daughter of Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester
Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester
Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester was an Irish peer and judge.FitzEustace was the son of Sir Edward FitzEustace of Castlemartin, Lord Deputy of Ireland. He was appointed Lord Chancellor of Ireland and Lord Treasurer of Ireland by Henry VI of England in 1474 and was elevated to the Irish...
, with whom he had five children:
- Gearoid Óg FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare
- Lady Eleanor FitzGerald - married Donal MacCarthy Reagh, 9th Prince of CarberyDonal MacCarthy Reagh, 9th Prince of CarberyDonal MacCarthy Reagh was the 9th Prince of Carbery from 1505 to his death in 1531. He belonged to the MacCarthy Reagh dynasty, and was the son of Finghin MacCarthy Reagh, 8th Prince of Carbery, and Lady Catherine FitzGerald, daughter Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Desmond.In some sources and...
- Lady Alice FitzGerald - married Conn O'Neill, Prince of Ulster
- Margaret FitzGeraldMargaret Fitzgerald, Countess of OrmondMargaret FitzGerald, Countess of Ormond, Countess of Ossory was an Irish noblewoman and a member of the powerful and celebrated FitzGerald dynasty also known as "The Geraldines"...
- married Piers Butler, later the 8th Earl of Ormond. - Lady Elllis FitzGerald, who married Christopher Fleming, 8th Baron SlaneChristopher Fleming, 8th Baron SlaneChristopher Fleming was an Irish nobleman, who was Lord High Treasurer of Ireland from 1514 until his death. He succeeded as 8th Baron in 1492.- Family :...
.
He later married Elizabeth St. John of County Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
and had a further five children:
- Sir James FitzGerald of Leixlip
- Isabel FitzGerald - married Richard de Barry of Rathbarry
- James de Barry, 4th Viscount Buttevant
- Isabel FitzGerald - married Richard de Barry of Rathbarry
- Oliver FitzGerald
- Richard FitzGerald of Fassaroe
- Sir John FitzGerald
- Walter FitzGerald
The Legend of the Great Earl's Ghost
A legend, re-told by Nuala O'FaoláinNuala O'Faolain
Nuala O'Faolain was an Irish journalist, TV producer, book reviewer, teacher and author. She became internationally well-known for her two volumes of memoir, Are You Somebody? and Almost There; a novel, My Dream of You; and a history with commentary, The Story of Chicago May...
, says that Gearóid was skilled in the black arts
Magic (paranormal)
Magic is the claimed art of manipulating aspects of reality either by supernatural means or through knowledge of occult laws unknown to science. It is in contrast to science, in that science does not accept anything not subject to either direct or indirect observation, and subject to logical...
, and could shapeshift. However, he would never let his wife see him take on other forms, much to her chagrin. After much pleading, he yielded to her, and turned himself into a goldfinch
Goldfinch
Goldfinch may refer to any of the following species of bird from the genus Carduelis:* American Goldfinch, Carduelis tristis* European Goldfinch, Carduelis carduelis* Lawrence's Goldfinch, Carduelis lawrencei...
before her very eyes. A sparrowhawk flew into the room, seized the "goldfinch", and he was never seen again.
According to legend, the Great Earl and his soldiers now slumber in a cavern beneath the Curragh of Kildare, ready to awaken to defend Ireland in her hour of need. The Earl rises once every seven years on May Day
May Day
May Day on May 1 is an ancient northern hemisphere spring festival and usually a public holiday; it is also a traditional spring holiday in many cultures....
, and rides around the Curragh on his steed. When his horse's shoes are worn down to the thickness of a cat's ear, he will lead his army against the English, drive them out, and reign as king of Ireland for forty years.