Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Desmond

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Maurice FitzGerald
Died 1520
Resting place Tralee
Title Earl of Desmond
Tenure 1487–1520
Other names Vehiculus, Bellicosus
Nationality Hiberno-Norman
Predecessor Thomas FitzJames FitzGerald
Successor James FitzMaurice FitzGerald
Spouse(s) Ellen Roche
Honora Fitzgibbon
Issue Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald
James FitzMaurice FitzGerald
Joan FitzGerald
Ellis FitzGerald
Parents Thomas FitzJames FitzGerald
Ellice de Barry

Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Desmond (died 1520) was the brother of James FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Desmond.[1]

Life

Ireland in 1450, showing the Earldom of Desmond, the Pale, and the territories of MacCarthy Mor

Upon the murder of James FitzThomas FitzGerald, the 8th Earl of Desmond, in 1487, his brother Maurice became the 9th Earl of Desmond. According to Alfred Webb: "Being lame, and usually carried in a horse-litter, he was styled 'Vehiculus,' and by some, on account of his bravery, 'Bellicosus.'[2]

Maurice FitzThomas FitzGerald sided with the pretender, Perkin Warbeck, in the siege of Waterford and other expeditions. Nevertheless, making humble submission, King Henry VII not only forgave, but took him into favour, 26 August 1497, and granted him all the 'customs, pockets, poundage, and prize-wines of Limerick, Cork, Kingsale, Baltimore, and Youghall, with other privileges and advantages.' About the year 1500, Maurice FitzGerald rebuilt Desmond Castle, a three story tower house in the town of Kinsale, to serve as the Customs House.

Desmond Castle, Kinsale

"The condition of the inhabitants within the Pale at this period is thus described by a contemporary writer: 'What with the extortion of coyne and lyverye dayly, and wyth the wrongful exaction of osteing money, and of carryage and cartage dayly, and what with the Kinge's great subsydye yerely, and with the said trybute, and blak-rent to the Kinge's Iryshe enymyes, and other infynyt extortions, and dayly exactions, all the Englyshe folke of the countys of Dublyn, Kyldare, Meathe, and Uryell ben more oppressyd with than any other folke of this land, Englyshe or Iryshe, and of worsse condition be they athysside than in the marcheis.' O'Daly thus writes of Earl Maurice: 'This man was subsequently far famed for his martial exploits. He augmented his power and possessions — for all his sympathies were English — and a furious scourge was he to the Irish, who never ceased to rebel against the crown of England. The bitterest enemy of the Geraldines he made his prisoner, to wit, MacCarthy Mor, Lord of Muskerry; and now having passed thirty years opulent, powerful, and dreaded, he died [1520] to the sorrow of his friends and the exultation of his enemies.' He was buried at Tralee. His first wife was daughter of Lord Fermoy; his second, daughter of the White Knight."[3]

Marriage and issue

The cannons of Reginald's Tower helped repel the forces of Perkin Warbeck and Maurice FitzGerald from Waterford in 1495.[4]

Maurice first married Ellen,[5] daughter of Maurice Roche, Baron Fermoy and had issue:

  1. Thomas FitzMaurice, who predeceased his father, leaving behind one daughter[5]
  2. James FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Desmond[5]
  3. Joan, who married Cormac Óg MacCarthy[5]
  4. Ellis, who married Connor O'Brien, King of Thomond[5]

Maurice's second wife was Honora, daughter of the White Knight.[5]

Family of Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Desmond
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maurice FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Aveline fitz Nicholas
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Eleanor Butler
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Elizabeth Darcy
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Desmond
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Mary de Burgh
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Desmond
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
William Barry, 8th Baron Barry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ellice de Barry
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ellen de la Roche
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

References

Peerage of Ireland
Preceded by Earl of Desmond
1467–1487
Succeeded by
James FitzMaurice FitzGerald