Juliana FitzGerald
Encyclopedia
Juliana FitzGerald, Lady of Thomond (c. 1263 – 24 September 1300) was a Norman-Irish
noblewoman, the daughter of Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly
, and the wife of Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond
, a powerful Anglo-Norman
baron in Ireland, who was a younger brother of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford. Juliana was married three times; Thomas being her first. She is sometimes referred to as Juliane FitzMaurice.
. She had a sister Amabel who married but was childless. Her first cousin was John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare
. Her paternal grandparents were Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly
and Juliana, and her maternal grandparents were Sir Gerald de Prendergast of Beauvoir and the unnamed daughter of Richard Mor de Burgh
, Lord of Connacht
and Egidia de Lacy
. Juliana's maternal ancestors included Brian Boru
, Dermot McMurrough, and Maud de Braose
.
Juliana's mother Maud died on an unknown date. Her father married secondly in 1273, Emmeline Longespee, but fathered no children by her. It had been previously believed that Emmeline was Juliana's mother, but many genealogists, including Douglas Richardson, have since established that the mother of Juliana and her sister Amabel was Maud de Prendergast. And since Emmeline's heiress was Maud La Zouche, wife of Robert de Holland, 1st Baron Holand, and the granddaughter of her elder sister, Ela Longespee
, this is further proof that she died childless. The Complete Peerage also confirms this.
. Thomas was a friend of King Edward I of England
, with whom he went on a Crusade. He held many important posts including the Office of Governor of Colchester Castle
(1266), Governor of the City of London (1273). He was also the commander of the English forces in Munster
, Ireland
, and on 26 January 1276, he was granted the lordship of Thomond
. He was born in 1245, which made him about eighteen years older than Juliana.
Juliana and her husband Thomas resided at Bunratty Castle
, which Thomas constructed in stone replacing the earlier wooden structure. Together Thomas and Juliana had four children:
Life at Bunratty Castle was marked by unrest and strife as civil war was waged between rival factions of the powerful O'Brien
clan. In 1277, Juliana's husband had his former ally Brian Ruad, the deposed King of Thomond, hanged for treason
at Bunratty.
Thomas was killed in battle on 29 August 1287, leaving Juliana a widow at the age of twenty-four with four small children; the youngest, Margaret was not quite five months old. On an unknown date she married her second husband, Nicholas Avenel. He presumably died before 11 December 1291/16 February 1292, as this is when she married her third husband, Adam de Cretynges.
, Edward IV
, Richard III
, Mary, Queen of Scots, Anne Boleyn
, Mary Boleyn
, and Diana, Princess of Wales
. The current British Royal Family
directly descend from her, as do most of the other European royal families.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
noblewoman, the daughter of 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:...
, and the wife of Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond
Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond
Thomas de Clare, Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal was a Hiberno-Norman peer and soldier. He was the second son of Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester and his wife Maud de Lacy...
, a powerful Anglo-Norman
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
baron in Ireland, who was a younger brother of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford. Juliana was married three times; Thomas being her first. She is sometimes referred to as Juliane FitzMaurice.
Early life and family
Juliana FitzGerald was born around 1263 in Dublin, Ireland, the eldest daughter of Maurice FitzMaurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly, Justiciar of Ireland and his first wife, Maud de PrendergastMaud de Prendergast
Maud de Prendergast, Lady of Offaly , was a Norman-Irish noblewoman, the first wife of Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly, Justiciar of Ireland, and the mother of his two daughters, Juliana FitzGerald and Amabel. Maud was a descendant of Strongbow, the Irish kings of Leinster and Thomond, and...
. She had a sister Amabel who married but was childless. Her first cousin was 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...
. Her paternal grandparents were Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly
Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly
Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly was a Norman-Irish peer, soldier, and Justiciar of Ireland from 1232 to 1245. He mustered many armies against the Irish, and due to his harsh methods as Justiciar, he received criticism from King Henry III of England...
and Juliana, and her maternal grandparents were Sir Gerald de Prendergast of Beauvoir and the unnamed daughter of Richard Mor de Burgh
Richard Mor de Burgh
Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Lord of Connaught , Justiciar of Ireland.-Background:De Burgh was the eldest son of William de Burgh and a daughter of Domnall Mór Ua Briain, King of Thomond. His principal estate was in the barony of Loughrea where he built a castle in 1236 and a town was founded. He also...
, Lord of 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...
and Egidia de Lacy
Egidia de Lacy
Egidia de Lacy, Lady of Connacht , was a Hiberno-Norman noblewoman, the wife of Richard Mór de Burgh, 1st Baron of Connaught and Strathearn , and the mother of his seven children, including Walter de Burgh, 1st Earl of Ulster. She was also known as Gille de Lacy...
. Juliana's maternal ancestors included Brian Boru
Brian Boru
Brian Bóruma mac Cennétig, , , was an Irish king who ended the domination of the High Kingship of Ireland by the Uí Néill. Building on the achievements of his father, Cennétig mac Lorcain, and especially his elder brother, Mathgamain, Brian first made himself King of Munster, then subjugated...
, Dermot McMurrough, and Maud de Braose
Maud de Braose
Maud de Braose, Lady of Bramber was the wife of William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber, a powerful Marcher baron and court favourite of King John of England...
.
Juliana's mother Maud died on an unknown date. Her father married secondly in 1273, Emmeline Longespee, but fathered no children by her. It had been previously believed that Emmeline was Juliana's mother, but many genealogists, including Douglas Richardson, have since established that the mother of Juliana and her sister Amabel was Maud de Prendergast. And since Emmeline's heiress was Maud La Zouche, wife of Robert de Holland, 1st Baron Holand, and the granddaughter of her elder sister, Ela Longespee
Ela Longespee
Ela Longespee, Lady of Ashby was a wealthy heiress and daughter of Stephen Longespee, Justiciar of Ireland. She was the wife of Sir Roger La Zouche, Lord of Ashby.- Family :...
, this is further proof that she died childless. The Complete Peerage also confirms this.
Marriages and issue
In February 1275, at the age of about twelve years, Juliana married her first husband, Thomas de Clare, Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal. He was the second eldest son of Richard de Clare, 5th Earl of Hertford, 2nd Earl of Gloucester and Maud de LacyMaud de Lacy
Maud de Lacy, , was an English noblewoman, being the eldest child of John de Lacy, 2nd Earl of Lincoln, and the wife of Richard de Clare, 5th Earl of Hertford, 6th Earl of Gloucester....
. Thomas was a friend of King Edward I of England
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
, with whom he went on a Crusade. He held many important posts including the Office of Governor of Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle
Colchester Castle in Colchester, Essex is an example of a largely complete Norman castle. It is a Grade I listed building.-Construction:At one and a half times the size of the Tower of London's White Tower, Colchester's keep is the largest ever built in Britain and the largest surviving example in...
(1266), Governor of the City of London (1273). He was also the commander of the English forces in 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...
, 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...
, and on 26 January 1276, he was granted the lordship of Thomond
Thomond
Thomond The region of Ireland associated with the name Thomond is County Clare, County Limerick and north County Tipperary; effectively most of north Munster. The name is used by a variety of establishments and organisations located in , or associated with the region...
. He was born in 1245, which made him about eighteen years older than Juliana.
Juliana and her husband Thomas resided at Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle
Bunratty Castle is a large tower house in County Clare, Ireland. It lies in the centre of Bunratty village , by the N18 road between Limerick and Ennis, near Shannon Town and its airport. The name Bunratty, Bun Raite in Irish, means the 'bottom' or end of the 'Ratty' river. This river, alongside...
, which Thomas constructed in stone replacing the earlier wooden structure. Together Thomas and Juliana had four children:
- Maud de Clare (c. 1276–1326/27), married firstly on 3 November 1295 Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de CliffordRobert de Clifford, 1st Baron de CliffordRobert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford, also 1st Lord of Skipton , was an English soldier who became first Lord Warden of the Marches, defending the English border with Scotland. He was born in Clifford Castle, Herefordshire, and was married there in 1295 to Maud de Clare, eldest daughter of...
, by whom she had issue; she married secondly after 1314 Robert de Welle. - Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Thomond (3 February 1281–1308)
- Richard de Clare, Steward of Forest of EssexRichard de Clare, Steward of Forest of EssexRichard de Clare 1st Lord Clare was the son of Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond and Juliana FitzGerald.A descendant of Strongbow, he succeeded his older brother, Gilbert, in 1308 as Lord of Thomond. In 1309, and then again between 1312 and 1316, he was sheriff of Cork...
, 1st Lord Clare, Lord of Thomond (after 1281 – 10 May 1318 at the Battle of Dysert O'DeaBattle of Dysert O'DeaThe Battle of Dysert O'Dea took place on 10 May 1318 at Dysert O'Dea near Corofin, Ireland. It was part of the Bruce campaign in Ireland. The Norman Richard de Clare attacked the Gaelic Irish chieftain Conchobhar Ó Deághaidh, chief of the Cineal Fearmaic and ally of Muirchertach Ó Briain, but he...
), married a woman by the name of Joan by whom he fathered one son, Thomas. - Margaret de Clare (c. 1 April 1287 – 22 October 1333 / 3 January 1334), married firstly in 1303 Gilbert de Umfraville; she married secondly before 30 June 1308 Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron BadlesmereBartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron BadlesmereBartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron Badlesmere , English nobleman, was the son and heir of Gunselm de Badlesmere , and fought in the English army both in France and Scotland during the later years of the reign of Edward I of England.-Life:In 1307 he became governor of Bristol Castle. Edward II...
, by whom she had four daughters and one son.
Life at Bunratty Castle was marked by unrest and strife as civil war was waged between rival factions of the powerful O'Brien
O'Brien
The O'Brien dynasty are a royal and noble house founded in the 10th century by Brian Boru of the Dál gCais or Dalcassians. After becoming King of Munster, through conquest he established himself as High King of Ireland...
clan. In 1277, Juliana's husband had his former ally Brian Ruad, the deposed King of Thomond, hanged for treason
Treason
In law, treason is the crime that covers some of the more extreme acts against one's sovereign or nation. Historically, treason also covered the murder of specific social superiors, such as the murder of a husband by his wife. Treason against the king was known as high treason and treason against a...
at Bunratty.
Thomas was killed in battle on 29 August 1287, leaving Juliana a widow at the age of twenty-four with four small children; the youngest, Margaret was not quite five months old. On an unknown date she married her second husband, Nicholas Avenel. He presumably died before 11 December 1291/16 February 1292, as this is when she married her third husband, Adam de Cretynges.
Death and legacy
Juliana died on 24 September 1300. Her numerous descendants included English kings Henry VHenry V of England
Henry V was King of England from 1413 until his death at the age of 35 in 1422. He was the second monarch belonging to the House of Lancaster....
, Edward IV
Edward IV of England
Edward IV was King of England from 4 March 1461 until 3 October 1470, and again from 11 April 1471 until his death. He was the first Yorkist King of England...
, Richard III
Richard III of England
Richard III was King of England for two years, from 1483 until his death in 1485 during the Battle of Bosworth Field. He was the last king of the House of York and the last of the Plantagenet dynasty...
, Mary, Queen of Scots, Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn
Anne Boleyn ;c.1501/1507 – 19 May 1536) was Queen of England from 1533 to 1536 as the second wife of Henry VIII of England and Marquess of Pembroke in her own right. Henry's marriage to Anne, and her subsequent execution, made her a key figure in the political and religious upheaval that was the...
, Mary Boleyn
Mary Boleyn
Mary Boleyn , was the sister of English queen consort Anne Boleyn and a member of the Boleyn family, which enjoyed considerable influence during the reign of King Henry VIII of England...
, and Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales
Diana, Princess of Wales was the first wife of Charles, Prince of Wales, whom she married on 29 July 1981, and an international charity and fundraising figure, as well as a preeminent celebrity of the late 20th century...
. The current British Royal Family
British Royal Family
The British Royal Family is the group of close relatives of the monarch of the United Kingdom. The term is also commonly applied to the same group of people as the relations of the monarch in her or his role as sovereign of any of the other Commonwealth realms, thus sometimes at variance with...
directly descend from her, as do most of the other European royal families.