Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly
Encyclopedia
Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly (1194 – 20 May 1257) 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
. He was succeeded as Lord of Offaly by his son, Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly
.
in 1194, the son of Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of Offaly
and Eve de Bermingham (died between June 1223/December 1226). He succeeded to the title of Lord of Offaly on 15 January 1204, and was invested as a knight in July 1217, at the age of 23. Maurice was summoned to London to accompany King Henry III of England
to Poitou
and Gascony
in October 1229. He was appointed Justiciar of Ireland in September 1232 and held the post until 1245. His reputation was marred by rumours that he had contrived the death of Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
in 1234. FitzGerald met Marshal at the Battle of the Curragh
on 1 April, where Marshal was wounded and died shortly after. It was rumoured that Marshal had been betrayed. In February 1235, the King criticised him for his proceedings in office, and described him as "little pleasant, nay, beyond measure harsh in executing the King's mandates". The same year, he took part in the subjugation of Connacht
. In the years 1241 and 1242, and later in 1246, 1247, and 1248 he mustered armies against the Irish. In the Annals of the Four Masters
, 1247, it was recorded that Melaghlin O' Donnell, the Lord of Tyrconnell was slain by Maurice FitzGerald.
In 1245, Maurice was dismissed from his post as Justiciar as a result of tardiness in sending the King assistance in the latter's military campaigns in Wales
. His successor was John FitzGeoffrey
. That same year he laid the foundations for Sligo Castle. In 1250, he held both the office of Member of the Council of Ireland, and Commissioner of the Treasury. He also founded the Franciscan
Friary
at Youghal and the Dominican
Friary at Sligo
; hence his nickname of an Brathair, which is Irish for The Friar. He was at the English royal court in January 1252, and received an urgent summons from King Henry in January 1254.
, north of what is now County Sligo. The two men fought each other in single combat and both were gravely wounded. Maurice died of his injuries at Youghal Monastery
, wearing the habit of the Franciscans, on 20 May 1257, aged 63 years. In the Annals of the Four Masters, 1257 his death is described thus: "Maurice FitzGerald for some time Lord Justice of Ireland and the destroyer of the Irish, died." (In Irish this reads as: "Muiris macGerailt lustis Ereann re h-edh diosccaoilteach Gaoidheal d'écc".)
He was succeeded as Lord of Offaly by his son, Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly
, rather than the rightful successor, his grandson, Maurice, son of his eldest son, Gerald.
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...
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
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
. He was succeeded as Lord of Offaly by his son, 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:...
.
Career
He was born in IrelandIreland
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...
in 1194, the son of Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of Offaly
Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of Offaly
Gerald FitzMaurice, jure uxoris 1st Lord of Offaly was a Cambro-Norman nobleman who settled in Ireland, with his father, Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan, founding the notable FitzGerald dynasty who were to play important roles in Irish history...
and Eve de Bermingham (died between June 1223/December 1226). He succeeded to the title of Lord of Offaly on 15 January 1204, and was invested as a knight in July 1217, at the age of 23. Maurice was summoned to London to accompany King Henry III of England
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
to Poitou
Poitou
Poitou was a province of west-central France whose capital city was Poitiers.The region of Poitou was called Thifalia in the sixth century....
and Gascony
Gascony
Gascony is an area of southwest France that was part of the "Province of Guyenne and Gascony" prior to the French Revolution. The region is vaguely defined and the distinction between Guyenne and Gascony is unclear; sometimes they are considered to overlap, and sometimes Gascony is considered a...
in October 1229. He was appointed Justiciar of Ireland in September 1232 and held the post until 1245. His reputation was marred by rumours that he had contrived the death of Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke
Richard Marshal, 3rd Earl of Pembroke was the brother of William Marshal, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, whom he succeeded to the Earldom of Pembroke and Lord Marshal of England upon his brother's death on 6 April 1231....
in 1234. FitzGerald met Marshal at the Battle of the Curragh
Battle of the Curragh
The Battle of the Curragh was a battle fought on 1 April 1234 on the Curragh plain in County Kildare, Ireland. The adversaries were men loyal to King Henry III of England on one side, and on the other side Richard Marshal, Earl of Pembroke and Lord of Leinster who lost the battle and later died...
on 1 April, where Marshal was wounded and died shortly after. It was rumoured that Marshal had been betrayed. In February 1235, the King criticised him for his proceedings in office, and described him as "little pleasant, nay, beyond measure harsh in executing the King's mandates". The same year, he took part in the subjugation 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...
. In the years 1241 and 1242, and later in 1246, 1247, and 1248 he mustered armies against the Irish. In the Annals of the Four Masters
Annals of the Four Masters
The Annals of the Kingdom of Ireland or the Annals of the Four Masters are a chronicle of medieval Irish history...
, 1247, it was recorded that Melaghlin O' Donnell, the Lord of Tyrconnell was slain by Maurice FitzGerald.
In 1245, Maurice was dismissed from his post as Justiciar as a result of tardiness in sending the King assistance in the latter's military campaigns in Wales
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...
. His successor was John FitzGeoffrey
John FitzGeoffrey
John FitzGeoffrey, Lord of Shere and Justiciar of Ireland was an English nobleman.John FitzGeoffrey was the son of Geoffrey Fitz Peter, 1st Earl of Essex and Aveline de Clare, daughter of Roger de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford and his wife Maud de Saint-Hilaire. He was Justiciar of Ireland...
. That same year he laid the foundations for Sligo Castle. In 1250, he held both the office of Member of the Council of Ireland, and Commissioner of the Treasury. He also founded 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
South Abbey, Youghal
South Abbey, Youghal was a 13th century Franciscan Friary that was situated south of Youghal, County Cork, Ireland- History :The Franciscan Friary of South Abbey, Youghal was founded in 1224 by Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly, and he was buried there in 1257...
at Youghal and the Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
Friary at Sligo
Sligo
Sligo is the county town of County Sligo in Ireland. The town is a borough and has a charter and a town mayor. It is sometimes referred to as a city, and sometimes as a town, and is the second largest urban area in Connacht...
; hence his nickname of an Brathair, which is Irish for The Friar. He was at the English royal court in January 1252, and received an urgent summons from King Henry in January 1254.
Marriage and issue
He married on an unknown date, Joanna de Geneville. Genealogists had previously named her as Juliana de Cogan, but this was an error since this was the name of his granddaughter through his oldest son Gerald. By Joanna, Maurice had four sons:- Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1243), married a woman whose name is not recorded by whom he had a son, Maurice (died July 1268), and a daughter, Juliana (died after 1309), wife of Sir John de Cogan, by whom she had issue.
- Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of OffalyMaurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of OffalyMaurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly was a Norman-Irish peer, soldier, and Justiciar of Ireland from 1272 to 1273.-Career:...
(1238- before 10 November 1286), married firstly, Maud de PrendergastMaud de PrendergastMaud 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...
, by whom he had two daughters; he married secondly, Emmeline Longespee. - David FitzMaurice FitzGerald, died childless
- Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1271 Lough Mask), married Rohesia de St. Michael, by whom he had issue including John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of KildareJohn FitzGerald, 1st Earl of KildareJohn 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...
, 4th Lord of Offaly
Death
In 1257, Maurice and his Norman army engaged the forces led by Godfrey O'Donnell, King of Tyrconnell at the Battle of CredanLetterkenny
Letterkenny , with a population of 17,568, is the largest town in County Donegal, part of the Province of Ulster in Ireland. The town is located on the River Swilly...
, north of what is now County Sligo. The two men fought each other in single combat and both were gravely wounded. Maurice died of his injuries at Youghal Monastery
South Abbey, Youghal
South Abbey, Youghal was a 13th century Franciscan Friary that was situated south of Youghal, County Cork, Ireland- History :The Franciscan Friary of South Abbey, Youghal was founded in 1224 by Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly, and he was buried there in 1257...
, wearing the habit of the Franciscans, on 20 May 1257, aged 63 years. In the Annals of the Four Masters, 1257 his death is described thus: "Maurice FitzGerald for some time Lord Justice of Ireland and the destroyer of the Irish, died." (In Irish this reads as: "Muiris macGerailt lustis Ereann re h-edh diosccaoilteach Gaoidheal d'écc".)
He was succeeded as Lord of Offaly by his son, 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:...
, rather than the rightful successor, his grandson, Maurice, son of his eldest son, Gerald.