John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare
Encyclopedia
John FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare (died September 10, 1316) was a Peer in the Peerage of Ireland
.
The eldest son of Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1271) and Rohesia de St. Michael, he is noticed in 1291 in serious dispute with William Vescy, Lord of Kildare
, Lord Justice of Ireland, about whom there were many complaints of oppression and neglect of the country's defences. As champion of the complainants John Fitzgerald, by then 4th Lord of Offaly (having succeeded to the title in 1286, upon the death of his uncle Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly
), their paths crossed and instead of addressing the issues Vescy charged Fitzgerald with minor charges of slander and libel. Fitzgerald appealed to King Edward II
, who, to examine and judge the matter impartially, summoned them both to London to hear the cases, where it appears FitzGerald had the advantage, challenging the Lord Justice to clear his name by combat, which was accepted. However, Vescy fled to France, whereupon the King pronounced Lord Offaly innocent, and settled upon him Vescy's lordships and manor
s of Kildare
, Rathangan
, &c., which were forfeited to the Crown. His Lordship returned home to great jubilation.
In 1296 and 1299 he was summoned to fight for the Crown in the Scottish campaigns of Edward II. With John Wogan, Lord Justice, and others he went a third time to war in Scotland
in 1301-2.
In 1307, with his son-in-law Sir Edmund Butler, he dispersed rebels in Offaly who had razed the castle of Geashill
and burnt the town of Leix. In 1312 he was sent as General at the head of an army into Munster
to suppress armed Irish rebels. On May 25, 1315, Edward Bruce
, brother to King Robert the Bruce of Scotland, entered the north of Ireland with 6000 men, was crowned King of Ireland
at Dundalk
, and wasted the country. Lord Offaly, among others, commenced vigorous sporadic warfare to resist Bruce, leaving "great slaughter" of Scots and the Irish irregulars in his service. Edward Bruce was eventually defeated and killed in the battle of Dundalk.
As a reward for his services King Edward II
created Fitzgerald Earl of Kildare by Letters Patent
dated May 14, 1316, the year in which he founded the friary at Adare
, county Limerick
.
However he died that same year, on Sunday September 10, 1316, at Laraghbrine, and was interred in the Franciscan
Friary of Kildare
.
He had married Blanche de La Roche, daughter of John de La Roche, Lord Fermoy and Maud de Waleys, by whom he had two sons and two daughters:
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,...
.
The eldest son of Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1271) and Rohesia de St. Michael, he is noticed in 1291 in serious dispute with William Vescy, Lord of Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
, Lord Justice of Ireland, about whom there were many complaints of oppression and neglect of the country's defences. As champion of the complainants John Fitzgerald, by then 4th Lord of Offaly (having succeeded to the title in 1286, upon the death of his uncle Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly
Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly
Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly was a Norman-Irish peer, soldier, and Justiciar of Ireland from 1272 to 1273.-Career:...
), their paths crossed and instead of addressing the issues Vescy charged Fitzgerald with minor charges of slander and libel. Fitzgerald appealed to King 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...
, who, to examine and judge the matter impartially, summoned them both to London to hear the cases, where it appears FitzGerald had the advantage, challenging the Lord Justice to clear his name by combat, which was accepted. However, Vescy fled to France, whereupon the King pronounced Lord Offaly innocent, and settled upon him Vescy's lordships and manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
s of Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
, Rathangan
Rathangan
Rathangan may refer to:*Rathangan, County Kildare*Rathangan, County Wexford...
, &c., which were forfeited to the Crown. His Lordship returned home to great jubilation.
In 1296 and 1299 he was summoned to fight for the Crown in the Scottish campaigns of Edward II. With John Wogan, Lord Justice, and others he went a third time to war in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
in 1301-2.
In 1307, with his son-in-law Sir Edmund Butler, he dispersed rebels in Offaly who had razed the castle of 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...
and burnt the town of Leix. In 1312 he was sent as General at the head of an army into 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 suppress armed Irish rebels. On May 25, 1315, Edward Bruce
Edward Bruce
Edward the Bruce , sometimes modernised Edward of Bruce, was a younger brother of King Robert I of Scotland, who supported his brother in the struggle for the crown of Scotland, then pursued his own claim in Ireland. He was proclaimed High King of Ireland, but was eventually defeated and killed in...
, brother to King Robert the Bruce of Scotland, entered the north of Ireland with 6000 men, was crowned King of Ireland
King of Ireland
A monarchical polity has existed in Ireland during three periods of its history, finally ending in 1801. The designation King of Ireland and Queen of Ireland was used during these periods...
at Dundalk
Dundalk
Dundalk is the county town of County Louth in Ireland. It is situated where the Castletown River flows into Dundalk Bay. The town is close to the border with Northern Ireland and equi-distant from Dublin and Belfast. The town's name, which was historically written as Dundalgan, has associations...
, and wasted the country. Lord Offaly, among others, commenced vigorous sporadic warfare to resist Bruce, leaving "great slaughter" of Scots and the Irish irregulars in his service. Edward Bruce was eventually defeated and killed in the battle of Dundalk.
As a reward for his services King 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...
created Fitzgerald Earl of Kildare 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 May 14, 1316, the year in which he founded the friary at Adare
Adare
-General information:Adare's origin is as a settlement by a crossing point on the river Maigue. It is situated 16 km from Limerick City. Renowned as one of Ireland's prettiest villages, Adare is designated as a Heritage Town by the Irish government...
, county Limerick
County Limerick
It is thought that humans had established themselves in the Lough Gur area of the county as early as 3000 BC, while megalithic remains found at Duntryleague date back further to 3500 BC...
.
However he died that same year, on Sunday September 10, 1316, at Laraghbrine, and was interred in the Franciscan
Franciscan
Most Franciscans are members of Roman Catholic religious orders founded by Saint Francis of Assisi. Besides Roman Catholic communities, there are also Old Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran, ecumenical and Non-denominational Franciscan communities....
Friary of Kildare
Kildare
-External links:*******...
.
He had married Blanche de La Roche, daughter of John de La Roche, Lord Fermoy and Maud de Waleys, by whom he had two sons and two daughters:
- Gerald (d.1303)
- Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of KildareThomas FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of KildareThomas FitzJohn FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Kildare, Lord Offaly was a noble in the Peerage of Ireland and Lord Justice of Ireland....
, his successor. - Joan FitzGeraldJoan FitzGeraldJoan FitzGerald, Countess of Carrick was an Irish noblewoman, and the wife of Edmund Butler, Earl of Carrick, Justiciar of Ireland . She was the mother of James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormond.- Family :...
, married in 1302 to Edmund Butler, Earl of CarrickEdmund Butler, Earl of CarrickEdmund Butler, Earl of Carrick and 6th Chief Butler of Ireland was a noble in the Peerage of Ireland. He was the second son of Theobald Butler, 4th Chief Butler of Ireland.-Career:...
. - Elizabeth FitzGeraldElizabeth FitzgeraldElizabeth Fitzgerald may refer to:* Elizabeth Clinton, Countess of Lincoln*Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kildare*Duffy Ayers...
, married to Nicholas Netterville, ancestor of Viscount Netterville.