John Wogan (Justiciar of Ireland)
Encyclopedia
Sir John Wogan or John de Wogan, styled lord of Picton (d.1321) was a Cambro-Norman
judge who served as Justiciar of Ireland from 1295 to 1313.
There are several dubious theories about Wogan's ancestry, and uncertainty exists about his wives, sons, and other relations. He came from Picton
in Pembrokeshire
and was a vassal
of William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke
. He came to have lands in Pembrokeshire
, Somerset
, Dorset
, Devon
, Wiltshire
, and Oxfordshire
. He may have represented de Valence at an Irish court case in 1275, and in 1280 he was steward of Wexford
, Valence's Irish liberty
. He was an eyre
in England in 1281–4, and returned to Ireland in 1285. In 1290 he was a referee with Hugh Cressingham in a dispute between queen Eleanor
and de Valence and his wife.
In December 1295 he took office as justiciar, and organised a two-year truce between the feuding Burkes and Geraldines. In 1296 he organised a force with Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster
, Theobald Butler
, and John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare
to assist Edward I in his war against the Scots
; the king entertained them at Roxburgh Castle
in May. After his return to Ireland, Wogan "kept everything so quiet that we hear of no trouble in a great while". The Parliament of Ireland
he summoned in 1297 was for long compared to the English "Model Parliament
" of 1295, though historical opinion now places less importance on it.
In February 1308, under orders from the new king Edward II, Wogan suppressed the Knights Templar
in Ireland. In June 1308 Wogan's forces were defeated by the O'Tooles
and O'Byrnes
, who were harrying The Pale
from the Wicklow Mountains
. From September 1308 to May 1309 Piers Gaveston was in Ireland as "king's lieutenant", a new position outranking the justiciar, and he had more success against the Irish. Wogan left Ireland in August 1312 although remaining nominally justiciar till April 1313.
Either the same John Wogan or his son of the same name returned to Ireland in 1316 as advisor to Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, who countered Edward Bruce
's invasion of Ireland. Wogan died in 1321 and was buried in St. David's Cathedral, initially in a chapel he had endowed, later in Edward Vaughan
's chapel.
Cambro-Norman
Cambro-Norman is a term used for Norman knights who settled in southern Wales after the Norman conquest of England in 1066. Some historians suggest that the term is to be preferred to Anglo-Norman for the Normans who invaded Ireland after 1170 — many of whom originated in Wales. However, the term...
judge who served as Justiciar of Ireland from 1295 to 1313.
There are several dubious theories about Wogan's ancestry, and uncertainty exists about his wives, sons, and other relations. He came from Picton
Picton Castle
Picton Castle is a medieval castle near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire, Wales. Originally built at the end of the 13th century by Sir John Wogan and is still inhabited by his descendants, the Philipps family ....
in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
and was a vassal
Vassal
A vassal or feudatory is a person who has entered into a mutual obligation to a lord or monarch in the context of the feudal system in medieval Europe. The obligations often included military support and mutual protection, in exchange for certain privileges, usually including the grant of land held...
of William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke
William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke
William de Valence, 1st Earl of Wexford and 1st Earl of Pembroke , born Guillaume de Lusignan or de Valence, was a French nobleman and Knight, who became important in English politics due to his relationship to Henry III...
. He came to have lands in Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire
Pembrokeshire is a county in the south west of Wales. It borders Carmarthenshire to the east and Ceredigion to the north east. The county town is Haverfordwest where Pembrokeshire County Council is headquartered....
, Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, Devon
Devon
Devon is a large county in southwestern England. The county is sometimes referred to as Devonshire, although the term is rarely used inside the county itself as the county has never been officially "shired", it often indicates a traditional or historical context.The county shares borders with...
, Wiltshire
Wiltshire
Wiltshire is a ceremonial county in South West England. It is landlocked and borders the counties of Dorset, Somerset, Hampshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire. It contains the unitary authority of Swindon and covers...
, and Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. He may have represented de Valence at an Irish court case in 1275, and in 1280 he was steward of 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...
, Valence's Irish liberty
County palatine
A county palatine or palatinate is an area ruled by an hereditary nobleman possessing special authority and autonomy from the rest of a kingdom or empire. The name derives from the Latin adjective palatinus, "relating to the palace", from the noun palatium, "palace"...
. He was an eyre
Eyre (legal term)
An Eyre or Iter was the name of a circuit traveled by an itinerant justice in medieval England, or the circuit court he presided over , or the right of the king to visit and inspect the holdings of any vassal...
in England in 1281–4, and returned to Ireland in 1285. In 1290 he was a referee with Hugh Cressingham in a dispute between queen Eleanor
Eleanor of Castile
Eleanor of Castile was the first queen consort of Edward I of England. She was also Countess of Ponthieu in her own right from 1279 until her death in 1290, succeeding her mother and ruling together with her husband.-Birth:...
and de Valence and his wife.
In December 1295 he took office as justiciar, and organised a two-year truce between the feuding Burkes and Geraldines. In 1296 he organised a force with Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster
Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster
Richard Óg de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and 3rd Baron of Connaught , called The Red Earl, was one of the most powerful Irish nobles of the late 13th and early 14th centuries.-Early life:...
, Theobald Butler
Butler dynasty
Butler dynasty refers to the several branches of the Butler family that has its origins in the Cambro-Norman family that participated in the Norman invasion of Ireland in the 12th century. Variant spellings include le Boteler and le Botiller. The surname has its origins in the hereditary office of...
, and John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare
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...
to assist Edward I in his war against the Scots
First War of Scottish Independence
The First War of Scottish Independence lasted from the invasion by England in 1296 until the de jure restoration of Scottish independence with the Treaty of Edinburgh-Northampton in 1328...
; the king entertained them at Roxburgh Castle
Roxburgh Castle
Roxburgh Castle was a castle sited near Kelso, in the Borders region of Scotland, in the former Roxburghshire.-History:The castle was founded by King David I. In 1174 it was surrendered to England after the capture of William I at Alnwick, and was often in English hands thereafter. The Scots made...
in May. After his return to Ireland, Wogan "kept everything so quiet that we hear of no trouble in a great while". The Parliament of Ireland
Parliament of Ireland
The Parliament of Ireland was a legislature that existed in Dublin from 1297 until 1800. In its early mediaeval period during the Lordship of Ireland it consisted of either two or three chambers: the House of Commons, elected by a very restricted suffrage, the House of Lords in which the lords...
he summoned in 1297 was for long compared to the English "Model Parliament
Model Parliament
The Model Parliament is the term, attributed to Frederic William Maitland, used for the 1295 Parliament of England of King Edward I. This assembly included members of the clergy and the aristocracy, as well as representatives from the various counties and boroughs. Each county returned two knights,...
" of 1295, though historical opinion now places less importance on it.
In February 1308, under orders from the new king Edward II, Wogan suppressed the Knights Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
in Ireland. In June 1308 Wogan's forces were defeated by the O'Tooles
O'Toole (family)
The O'Tooles of Leinster, one of the leading families of that province, are descended from Tuathal mac Augaire, King of Leinster , who belonged to the Uí Dúnlainge dynasty...
and O'Byrnes
O'Byrne family
The O'Byrne family is an Irish clann that descend from Bran mac Máelmórda, King of Leinster, of the Uí Faelain of the Uí Dúnlainge. During the Norman invasion of Ireland they lost their ancestral lands around Kildare and settled in south Wicklow in the late 12th century.The seat of the junior sept...
, who were harrying 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...
from the Wicklow Mountains
Wicklow Mountains
The Wicklow Mountains form the largest continuous upland area in Ireland. They occupy the whole centre of County Wicklow and stretch outside its borders into Counties Carlow, Wexford and Dublin. Where the mountains extend into County Dublin, they are known locally as the Dublin Mountains...
. From September 1308 to May 1309 Piers Gaveston was in Ireland as "king's lieutenant", a new position outranking the justiciar, and he had more success against the Irish. Wogan left Ireland in August 1312 although remaining nominally justiciar till April 1313.
Either the same John Wogan or his son of the same name returned to Ireland in 1316 as advisor to Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, who countered 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...
's invasion of Ireland. Wogan died in 1321 and was buried in St. David's Cathedral, initially in a chapel he had endowed, later in Edward Vaughan
Edward Vaughan (bishop)
Edward Vaughan was a Welsh bishop of St David's, remembered for construction work in his diocese.-Life:He is assumed of Welsh origin, according to some a native of South Wales. He was born about the middle of the fifteenth century, and was educated at Cambridge, where he graduated LL.D. On 21...
's chapel.