Knight of Glin
Encyclopedia
The Knight of Glin, also called the Black Knight, was a hereditary
title
in the Fitzgeralds of Limerick
, Ireland
since the early 14th century. The family was a branch of the FitzGerald dynasty or Geraldines, related to the Earls of Desmond (extinct), who were granted extensive lands in County Limerick by the Duke of Normandy by way of conquest. The title was named after the village of Glin
, near the Knight's lands. The Knight of Glin was properly addressed as "Knight" (not, as one might expect, "Sir xxxx FitzGerald").
Like the Knights of Kerry, the Knights of Glin descended from one of the younger or illegitimate sons of John FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond
. The last knight, Desmond FitzGerald, died on September 14, 2011.
, a companion-in-arms of Strongbow
, the Norman conqueror of Ireland. Maurice was the son of Gerald de Windsor
and his wife the Welsh
Princess Nesta.
The family name "Fitzgerald" comes from the (Norman) French "Fils du Gerald", i.e. "Son of Gerald". It is often rendered FitzGerald.
According to one legend, in the early 17th century under Elizabeth I
, England
set about enforcing loyalty in the western parts of Ireland
. When one of her ships came up to the Knight of Glin's castle on the Shannon Estuary
, a fierce battle ensued. The ship's captain managed to capture one of the Knight's sons and sent the Knight a message that he should surrender or else the son would be put in one of the ship's cannons and fired against the castle wall. He replied that as he was virile and his wife was strong, it would be easy to produce another son.
The "Old Castle" of Glin, the scene of the above battle, is a ruin. The tower still stands with a historic plaque in place. After the destruction of the old castle, the Knights built the "New Castle", a beautiful Georgian
mansion, on the banks of the Shannon Estuary
about a mile west of the old site. The last Knight lived there until his death (as well as in Dublin and London
).
The 17th Knight, Gerald FitzGerald, was a Member for Limerick County
in the Irish Patriot Parliament
of 1689, called by James II
during the Williamite war.
Under the Penal Laws
of the 18th century, the Knights converted to the Church of Ireland
to preserve their property. The surrounding villagers remained Roman Catholic
s, a division indicated today by the two churches in the village of Glin.
Following the war of independence and during the ensuing Civil War, in the early 1920s, Irish Republican Army
(IRA) soldiers, from nearby North Kerry came to the Knight to tell him that no one whose title to land came from the English Crown could keep their land. The Knight immediately produced a document in Latin
, supposedly from the Duke of Normandy
, indicating that his title did not originate from the English Crown at all. The baffled IRA men left the Knight with his properties, which he holds to this day. Another version of the incident relates how the then Knight, who was an invalid and used a wheelchair, refused to leave the mansion when ordered to do so, as the IRA intended to set it alight. He insisted on staying, they left, and the mansion still stands.
The 29th and last Knight was Desmond FitzGerald
, son of Desmond Wyndham Otho FitzGerald
, 28th Knight of Glin. He had a MFA degree from Harvard University
. He was married, firstly in 1966, to Louise Vava Henriette Lucie Le Bailly de La Falaise
, the daughter of Count Alain de la Falaise and his wife, the former Maxime Birley. By his second and present wife, the former Olda Ann Willes, whom he married in 1970, he had three daughters: Catherine (previously married to Edward Lambton, 7th Earl of Durham, remarried in 2010 to Dominic West
), Nesta and Honor. He represented the art auctioneers Christies in Ireland and was elected president of the Irish Georgian Society
. Since he had no male heir, the title Knight of Glin became extinct.
Inheritance
Inheritance is the practice of passing on property, titles, debts, rights and obligations upon the death of an individual. It has long played an important role in human societies...
title
Title
A title is a prefix or suffix added to someone's name to signify either veneration, an official position or a professional or academic qualification. In some languages, titles may even be inserted between a first and last name...
in the Fitzgeralds of 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...
, 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...
since the early 14th century. The family was a branch of the FitzGerald dynasty or Geraldines, related to the Earls of Desmond (extinct), who were granted extensive lands in County Limerick by the Duke of Normandy by way of conquest. The title was named after the village of Glin
Glin, County Limerick
Glin is a village in the northwest of County Limerick, Ireland. It is on the south shore of the River Shannon's estuary, on the N69 road between Foynes and Tarbert. The population of the village in 2006 was 566.- History :...
, near the Knight's lands. The Knight of Glin was properly addressed as "Knight" (not, as one might expect, "Sir xxxx FitzGerald").
Like the Knights of Kerry, the Knights of Glin descended from one of the younger or illegitimate sons of John FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond
John FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond
John FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond was the grandson of Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan. He was the founder of the Desmond line of the FitzGerald dynasty and ancestor of the powerful Earls of Desmond , as well as other dynasties, including the modern Knights of Kerry and Knights...
. The last knight, Desmond FitzGerald, died on September 14, 2011.
History
The Desmond family were descended from Maurice FitzGeraldMaurice Fitzgerald
Maurice Fitzgerald may refer to:*Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan was a major figure in the Norman conquest of Ireland...
, a companion-in-arms of Strongbow
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke
Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke , Lord of Leinster, Justiciar of Ireland . Like his father, he was also commonly known as Strongbow...
, the Norman conqueror of Ireland. Maurice was the son of 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 his wife the Welsh
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
Princess Nesta.
The family name "Fitzgerald" comes from the (Norman) French "Fils du Gerald", i.e. "Son of Gerald". It is often rendered FitzGerald.
According to one legend, in the early 17th century under Elizabeth I
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
, 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...
set about enforcing loyalty in the western parts of 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...
. When one of her ships came up to the Knight of Glin's castle on the Shannon Estuary
Shannon Estuary
The Shannon Estuary is a large estuary where the River Shannon flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary has Limerick at its head and its seaward limits are marked by Loop Head to the north and Kerry Head to the south...
, a fierce battle ensued. The ship's captain managed to capture one of the Knight's sons and sent the Knight a message that he should surrender or else the son would be put in one of the ship's cannons and fired against the castle wall. He replied that as he was virile and his wife was strong, it would be easy to produce another son.
The "Old Castle" of Glin, the scene of the above battle, is a ruin. The tower still stands with a historic plaque in place. After the destruction of the old castle, the Knights built the "New Castle", a beautiful Georgian
Georgian era
The Georgian era is a period of British history which takes its name from, and is normally defined as spanning the reigns of, the first four Hanoverian kings of Great Britain : George I, George II, George III and George IV...
mansion, on the banks of the Shannon Estuary
Shannon Estuary
The Shannon Estuary is a large estuary where the River Shannon flows into the Atlantic Ocean. The estuary has Limerick at its head and its seaward limits are marked by Loop Head to the north and Kerry Head to the south...
about a mile west of the old site. The last Knight lived there until his death (as well as in Dublin and London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
).
The 17th Knight, Gerald FitzGerald, was a Member for Limerick County
Limerick County (Parliament of Ireland constituency)
Limerick County was a constituency represented in the Irish House of Commons until 1800.-1692–1801:...
in the Irish Patriot Parliament
Patriot Parliament
The Patriot Parliament is the name given to the session of the Irish Parliament called by King James II of Ireland during the War of the Two Kings in 1689. The parliament met in one session, from 7 May 1689 to 20 July 1689, and was the only session of the Irish Parliament under King James II.The...
of 1689, called by James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
during the Williamite war.
Under the Penal Laws
Penal Laws (Ireland)
The term Penal Laws in Ireland were a series of laws imposed under English and later British rule that sought to discriminate against Roman Catholics and Protestant dissenters in favour of members of the established Church of Ireland....
of the 18th century, the Knights converted to the Church of Ireland
Church of Ireland
The Church of Ireland is an autonomous province of the Anglican Communion. The church operates in all parts of Ireland and is the second largest religious body on the island after the Roman Catholic Church...
to preserve their property. The surrounding villagers remained Roman Catholic
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
s, a division indicated today by the two churches in the village of Glin.
Following the war of independence and during the ensuing Civil War, in the early 1920s, Irish Republican Army
Irish Republican Army
The Irish Republican Army was an Irish republican revolutionary military organisation. It was descended from the Irish Volunteers, an organisation established on 25 November 1913 that staged the Easter Rising in April 1916...
(IRA) soldiers, from nearby North Kerry came to the Knight to tell him that no one whose title to land came from the English Crown could keep their land. The Knight immediately produced a document in Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
, supposedly from the Duke of Normandy
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
, indicating that his title did not originate from the English Crown at all. The baffled IRA men left the Knight with his properties, which he holds to this day. Another version of the incident relates how the then Knight, who was an invalid and used a wheelchair, refused to leave the mansion when ordered to do so, as the IRA intended to set it alight. He insisted on staying, they left, and the mansion still stands.
The 29th and last Knight was Desmond FitzGerald
Desmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin
Desmond John Villiers FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin , was an Irish hereditary knight and president of the Irish Georgian Society.-Career:...
, son of Desmond Wyndham Otho FitzGerald
Desmond Wyndham Otho FitzGerald
Desmond Wyndham Otho FitzGerald, 28th Knight of Glin was an Irish nobleman and socialite....
, 28th Knight of Glin. He had a MFA degree from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
. He was married, firstly in 1966, to Louise Vava Henriette Lucie Le Bailly de La Falaise
Loulou de la Falaise
Loulou de La Falaise was a fashion muse and designer of fashion, accessories, and jewelry associated with Yves Saint-Laurent. Author Judith Thurman, writing in The New Yorker magazine, called La Falaise "the quintessential Rive Gauche haute bohémienne"....
, the daughter of Count Alain de la Falaise and his wife, the former Maxime Birley. By his second and present wife, the former Olda Ann Willes, whom he married in 1970, he had three daughters: Catherine (previously married to Edward Lambton, 7th Earl of Durham, remarried in 2010 to Dominic West
Dominic West
Dominic Gerard Fe West is an English actor best known for his role as Detective Jimmy McNulty in the HBO drama series The Wire.-Film and TV:...
), Nesta and Honor. He represented the art auctioneers Christies in Ireland and was elected president of the Irish Georgian Society
Irish Georgian Society
The Irish Georgian Society aims to encourage an interest in and to promote the conservation of distinguished examples of architecture and the allied arts of all periods in Ireland...
. Since he had no male heir, the title Knight of Glin became extinct.
Knights of Glin
- Sir John Fitz John, 1st Knight of Glin
- Thomas fitz John, 8th Knight of Glin
- Philip fitz Thomas, 9th Knight of Glin
- Thomas fitz Philip, 10th Knight of Glin
- Edmond fitz Thomas, 11th Knight of Glin
- Reverend John fitz Thomas, 12th Knight of Glin
- Thomas fitz John, 13th Knight of Glin
- Edmond fitz Thomas, 14th Knight of Glin
- Thomas FitzGerald, 15th Knight of Glin (d.1659)
- John FitzGerald, 16th Knight of Glin
- Major Gerald Fitzgerald, 17th Knight of Glin (d.1689)
- Thomas Fitzgerald, 18th Knight of Glin (d.1730)
- John Fitzgerald, 19th Knight of Glin (d.1737) "The Dancer"
- Edmond Fitzgerald, 20th Knight of Glin (d.1763)
- Richard Fitzgerald, 21st Knight of Glin (d.1775) "The Duellist"
- Thomas FitzGerald, 22nd Knight of Glin (d.1781)
- Colonel John Bateman FitzGerald, 23rd Knight of Glin (d.1803)
- Lt.-Col. John Fraunceis FitzGerald, 24th Knight of Glin (1791–1854)
- John Fraunceis Eyre FitzGerald, 25th Knight of Glin (1813–1866)
- Desmond John Edmund FitzGerald, 26th Knight of Glin (1840–1895)
- Desmond FitzJohn Lloyd FitzGerald, 27th Knight of Glin (1862–1936)
- Desmond Wyndham Otho FitzGeraldDesmond Wyndham Otho FitzGeraldDesmond Wyndham Otho FitzGerald, 28th Knight of Glin was an Irish nobleman and socialite....
, 28th Knight of Glin (1901–1949) - Desmond John Villiers FitzGerald, 29th Knight of GlinDesmond FitzGerald, 29th Knight of GlinDesmond John Villiers FitzGerald, 29th Knight of Glin , was an Irish hereditary knight and president of the Irish Georgian Society.-Career:...
(1937–2011)