Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan

Maurice FitzGerald

A drawing of Maurice FitzGerald from a manuscript of the Expugnatio Hibernica, an account of the 1169 invasion of Ireland written in 1189 by Maurice's nephew, Gerald of Wales.
Born c. 1105
Died 1 September 1176
Title Lord of Maynooth, Naas, and Lanstephan
Nationality Cambro-Norman
Wars and battles Battle of Crug Mawr
Norman invasion of Ireland
Siege of Wexford (1169)
Issue Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald
Alexander FitzMaurice FitzGerald
William FitzMaurice FitzGerald
Maurice FitzMaurice FitzGerald
Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald
Robert FitzMaurice FitzGerald
Nest FitzGerald
Parents Gerald de Windsor
Nest ferch Rhys

Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Maynooth, Naas, and Llanstephan[1] (c. 1105 – September 1176) was a medieval Cambro-Norman baron and a major figure in the Norman invasion of Ireland.[2]

Wars in Wales and Ireland

A Welsh Marcher Lord, Lanstephan fought under Robert FitzMartin at the Battle of Crug Mawr in Wales 1136.

Diarmait Mac Murchada (Dermot MacMurrough), the deposed King of Leinster who had been exiled by the High King of Ireland, sought Cambro-Norman assistance to regain his throne. Lanstephan participated in the resulting 1169 Norman invasion of Ireland. He assisted his younger half-brother Robert Fitz-Stephen in the Siege of Wexford (1169). His nephew Raymond was Strongbow's second-in-command and had the chief share both in the capture of Waterford and in the successful assault on Dublin in 1171. Lanstephan and his son also fought in this battle.[2]

Marriage and issue

FitzGerald is sometimes said to have married Alice, a supposed daughter of Arnulf de Montgomery. There is no evidence that Arnulf left any descendants, however, and the claim that a daughter of his married FitzGerald dates no earlier than the 19th century.[3] FitzGerald's children were:

Through his oldest son, Sir Gerald, FitzGerald was the ancestor of the FitzGerald Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster.

The original Earldom of Desmond in the province of Munster was based on landholdings belonging to the descendants of Maurice's son Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald, Lord of O'Connelloe. Thomas's son John FitzGerald, who was killed in the Battle of Callann, became the first Baron Desmond. Others from this line include the Knights of Glin and Knights of Kerry.

Ancestry

FitzGerald was the second son of Gerald de Windsor, Constable of Pembroke Castle by his wife, Nest ferch Rhys, Princess of Deheubarth and a member of the Welsh royal House of Dinefwr.

References

  1. Fitz Gerald
  2. 1 2 Cokayne 1890
  3. Thompson 2004. See also: Chandler 1989, p. 12 footnote 80. See also: Curtis 1921, pp. 123124, 123 footnote 11. See also: Graves 1869, pp. 460461 pedigree a. See also: Fitzgerald 1858, p. 10. See also: Paul 1906, pp. 421–422.

Citations

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