QUICK FACTS
Created Jan 0001
Status Verified Sarcastic
Type Existential Dread
Keywords
ireland, great britain, cambro-norman, anglo-norman, peers of ireland, gerald de windsor, castellan, pembroke castle

FitzGerald Dynasty

“Ah, the FitzGeralds. A rather loud and persistent stain on the tapestry of history, wouldn't you say? They’ve certainly left their mark, much like a poorly...”

Contents
  • 1. Overview
  • 2. Etymology
  • 3. Cultural Impact

Ah, the FitzGeralds. A rather loud and persistent stain on the tapestry of history, wouldn’t you say? They’ve certainly left their mark, much like a poorly placed ink blot on a meticulously drafted map. If you’re determined to wade through their lineage, try not to get too bogged down in the details. Most of it’s just a rather elaborate way of saying “we were here, and we were in charge.”

FitzGerald

The FitzGerald dynasty, a name that echoes with the clash of swords and the rustle of silks, is a lineage steeped in the annals of Ireland and Great Britain . Originally of Cambro-Norman and Anglo-Norman stock, they carved out a significant presence, becoming peers of Ireland and, by their own account, “more Irish than the Irish themselves .” A rather amusing contradiction, if you ask me. They were, and in some branches still are, quite the landowners, a testament to their rather tenacious grip on power. Their ascent was fueled by the ambitions of the sons and grandsons of Gerald de Windsor , a man who, by all accounts, knew how to make an entrance. Gerald, also known as Gerald FitzWalter, held the rather imposing title of Castellan of Pembroke Castle in Wales, a position that no doubt sharpened his appetite for more. He is the progenitor of the FitzMaurice and FitzGerald families, a lineage traced through the Anglo-Norman prefix “fitz,” meaning “son of.” His father, Walter FitzOther , was no less significant, serving as the first Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle for none other than William the Conqueror . Walter wasn’t merely a figurehead; he commanded 38 manors in England, marking the FitzGeralds as one of those crucial “service families” upon whom the king’s stability depended. Some members of this sprawling clan even earned themselves rather dramatic monikers: the Black Knights , the Green Knights , and the White Knights . One can almost hear the dramatic pronouncements and the clang of armour.

The primary divisions within this grand family tree are:

  • The FitzMaurices and FitzGeralds of Kildare: These are the ones who eventually became Earls of Kildare in 1316, later advancing to Marquesses of Kildare and, by 1766, Dukes of Leinster , holding the esteemed position of Premier Peers of Ireland. The current head of this particular branch is Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke of Leinster . A rather long reign, wouldn’t you agree?
  • The FitzMaurices and FitzGeralds of Desmond: This branch, too, amassed considerable influence, holding the titles of Barons Desmond and subsequently Earls of Desmond . Their story is, shall we say, more dramatic, often involving rebellions and unfortunate forfeitures.

Overview

Imagine Ireland in 1450. The landscape is dotted with the earldoms of Kildare and Desmond, both firmly in the grasp of the Geraldines. The ancestor of this Irish FitzGerald line was a Marcher Lord named Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan . He was the son of Gerald de Windsor and Princess Nest ferch Rhys , a woman of considerable lineage from the Welsh royal House of Dinefwr . Maurice himself married into power, taking as his wife a daughter of the formidable Norman magnate Arnulf de Montgomery . The Montgomeries were no minor players; they commanded 150 manors and 30 castles, making them a force to be reckoned with across England and Normandy , and were, conveniently, related to William the Conqueror. Adding another layer of complexity, Maurice’s wife’s maternal grandfather was none other than the High King of Ireland, Muirchertach Ua Briain . This intricate web of connections undoubtedly played a role in Maurice’s significant involvement in the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1169.

The FitzGeralds also claim a distant kinship with the Tudors , tracing their lineage back to the same Welsh royal line as Princess Nest’s father, Rhys ap Tewdwr , the King of Deheubarth. So, you see, they are, in a manner of speaking, cousins to the Tudors, or Tewdwrs as they were known in Welsh, all thanks to Princess Nest and her influential family.

Even the poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey , a cousin of Anne Boleyn , penned verses about Countess Elizabeth FitzGerald, Countess of Lincoln (1527–89), referring to her as “Fair Geraldine.” This allusion pointed to her family’s Italian roots, specifically the Gherardinis of Florence. The FitzGerald dynasty’s impact on Irish history is undeniable. Consider Gearóid Mór, 8th Earl of Kildare and his son Gearóid Óg, 9th Earl of Kildare . They served as Lord Deputy of Ireland during the late 15th and early 16th centuries, respectively. Both had the good sense to marry cousins of Henry Tudor , the formidable first monarch of the House of Tudor .

During the turbulent Italian War of 1521–1526 , James FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Desmond found himself entangled in conspiracies with the Venetians and King Francis I of France , of Château de Chambord fame, all against the might of the Habsburgs , Tudors , and Medicis . Post-war, he once again found himself on the opposing side of England, aligning himself with Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor during the War of the League of Cognac . Another rather spirited rebel was Commander James FitzMaurice FitzGerald , who spearheaded the Desmond Rebellions against the Tudors. He even attempted to broker a deal with Catherine de’ Medici , with the rather ambitious goal of placing her son, Henry III of France , on the Irish throne. Then there was Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond , who led the Second Desmond Rebellion , backed by the King of Spain, Philip II of Spain , and Pope Gregory XIII , aiming to install Duke [Giacomo Boncompagni](Giacomo Boncompagni) as the new ruler.

The rebellion of Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare (died 1537), infamously known as “Silken Thomas,” was another dramatic chapter. He led an unsuccessful uprising in Ireland, while Lord Edward FitzGerald (1763–1798), the fifth son of the first Duke of Leinster, emerged as a key figure in the 1798 Irish Rebellion against King George III of the [House of Hanover](/House_of_ Hanover). Silken Thomas’s half-brother, the 11th Earl , also known as the “Wizard Earl,” sought refuge in Italy. He joined the Geraldine League and found a place in the household of the Duke of Mantua, of the Gonzaga family , eventually becoming Master of Horse to Cosimo I de’ Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany .

A prime example of the FitzGerald dynasty becoming “more Irish than the Irish themselves ” is Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond (1335–1398). He was known in Irish Gaelic as Gearóid Iarla, meaning Earl Gerald. Despite being appointed Lord Chief Justice of Ireland in 1367, Gerald was also a poet, penning verses in the Irish language , most notably the poem Mairg adeir olc ris na mnáibh (“Woe to Those who Speak Ill of Womankind”). While fluent in Norman French, Gerald was instrumental in fostering the use of the Irish language among the FitzMaurice and FitzGerald families of Desmond.

Modern Times

Lansdowne House , a grand estate in London that once belonged to the Marquess of Lansdowne, later became the residence of William Waldorf Astor and Hannah de Rothschild of Mentmore Towers . It was within these walls that the draft of the Treaty of Paris , which granted independence to the United States, was conceived. Many members of the Fitzmaurice family also achieved prominence over the centuries. William Petty Fitzmaurice, 1st Marquess of Lansdowne served as Prime Minister of Britain, negotiating peace with America at the end of the American War of Independence with none other than Benjamin Franklin . His descendant, Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne , held the positions of Viceroy of Canada and India. His familial connections extended to Emperor Napoleon III , as he was a half-nephew, and he was also a step-grandson of Queen Hortense Bonaparte , and a great-grandson of the influential Talleyrand . This brought the family into the orbit of the Houses of Beauharnais , Talleyrand , and Bonaparte . The aforementioned Treaty of Paris (1783) was, in fact, drafted at Lansdowne House . Henry himself was a member of the prestigious Brooks’s Club , mingling with figures like the 8th Duke of Devonshire of Chatsworth House , Prime Minister Lord Rosebery of Mentmore Towers , and Baron Lionel de Rothschild , grandson of Mayer Amschel Rothschild , the patriarch of the House of Rothschild .

The current seat of the Irish Parliament, Dáil Éireann , is located in Leinster House . This magnificent building was originally constructed between 1745 and 1748 by James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster to serve as his ducal palace. It’s quite remarkable that the White House in the United States, the official residence of the U.S. President , was designed with Leinster House as its inspiration. The architect, the Irishman James Hoban , oversaw its construction for George Washington , who was also instrumental in the supervision of the U.S. Capitol ’s construction under the guidance of Thomas Jefferson . The Dukes of Leinster were connected to numerous royal houses, including those of Bourbon , Medici , and Habsburg . The first Duke married the great-granddaughter of King Charles II of the Royal House of Stuart . Charles’s mother, Queen Henrietta Maria de Bourbon , was the aunt of Louis XIV of Versailles fame, while his grandmother and great-grandmother were Queens Marie de’ Medici and Joanna of Habsburg , respectively. The current Duke, Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke of Leinster , also holds the titles of 9th Marquess of Kildare , 28th Earl of Kildare , 9th Earl of Offaly , 9th Viscount Leinster of Taplow, 14th Baron Offaly , and 6th Baron Kildare . A rather extensive collection of titles, indeed.

Cambro-Norman Origins

The name FitzGerald itself is a patronymic of Norman origin, with “fitz” signifying “son.” Thus, “Fitz Gerald” translates to “son of Gerald” in Old Norman and Old French . The name “Gerald” is a Germanic compound of ger, meaning “spear,” and waltan, meaning “rule.” Variations include Fitz-Gerald and the modern Fitzgerald, and sometimes it appears as two separate words, Fitz Gerald.

The earliest recorded instance of the patronymic FitzGerald is associated with Raoul fitz Gerald le Chambellan, a member of the Tancarville family . Raoul was a Norman baron, Chamberlain of Normandy, and the tutor of the young William , who would later become the Conqueror of England. His son, William de Tancarville , became Earl of Tankerville and served as chief chamberlain of Normandy and England following the Norman conquest . The progenitor of the various FitzGerald branches, as well as the de Barry and FitzMaurice families, was Gerald FitzWalter of Windsor . Gerald was a Norman adventurer who participated in the 1093 invasion of South Wales, following the death in battle of Rhys ap Tewdwr , the last king of South Wales. Citation needed is certainly appropriate here.

Gerald was the youngest son of another Norman adventurer, Walter fitz Otho . Walter held the crucial position of William the Conqueror ’s Constable for the strategically vital fortress of Windsor Castle and also served as the King’s Keeper of the Forests of Berkshire. The Domesday Book lists Walter fitz Otho as a tenant-in-chief of lands previously held by conquered Englishmen in Berkshire , Buckinghamshire, Hampshire , and Middlesex . Walter’s significant positions and a substantial portion of his lands were inherited by Gerald’s older brothers, Robert and Maurice. His eldest brother, William, became the ancestor of the earls of Plymouth . Gerald, meanwhile, inherited the estate of Moulsford , now in Oxfordshire , a location near Wallingford, Oxfordshire , where his father possessed a fortified residence adjacent to those of other influential Norman authorities.

Nest ferch Rhys , daughter of King Rhys ap Tewdwr of South Wales, was married to Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn of Powys . Their grandchildren, Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan , Raymond le Gros , and Philip de Barry , all played pivotal roles in the Norman invasion of Ireland . Nest’s son from her second marriage, Robert FitzStephen , was another key participant, as was William de Hay, the husband of one of Gerald and Nest’s granddaughters. Furthermore, Nest’s grandson through her son with Henry I of England – who was himself the son of William the Conqueror – was named Meiler FitzHenry . Meiler was appointed Lord Justice of Ireland by his cousin, King Henry II of England , a prominent member of the House of Plantagenet .

Perhaps the most celebrated among Gerald and Nest’s grandchildren was Gerald of Wales . He provided a detailed account of the Norman invasion and offered vivid and invaluable descriptions of Ireland and Wales in the late 12th century. He eventually became Archdeacon of Brecon , serving Archbishop Baldwin of Forde . Baldwin had previously tutored the nephew of Pope Eugene III , and together they worked to recruit participants for the Third Crusade led by Richard the Lionheart against Saladin . Despite numerous attempts, Gerald failed to secure the position of Bishop of St. Davids , even after meeting Pope Innocent III in Rome, who would later witness the Sack of Constantinople . Gerald of Wales authored more than twenty works, and his statue can be found today in City Hall, Cardiff , in Wales.

Gherardini of Ireland

The earliest documented connection of the House of Gherardini with Ireland, specifically through the FitzGeralds, dates back to 1413. Records from that year mention Lord Antonio d’Ottaviano di Rossellino Gherardini. A priest named Maurice Fitzgerald happened to be in Florence at the time, accompanied by a Bishop from the Order of Saint Augustine . This encounter led to contact with a kinsman, who subsequently introduced Maurice to other members of the Gherardini family. As part of the Gherardini family residing on the island of Ireland, further exchanges were arranged for the families to reconnect. A letter penned in 1440 by Leonardo Bruni , the Chancellor of Florence and an associate of Cosimo de’ Medici , stipulated that Giovanni Betti di Gherardini, a representative of the family, was dispatched to Ireland to familiarize himself with his Geraldine kinsmen in Ireland, specifically the Earls of Kildare .

This connection was further confirmed in 1507 by the Viceroy of Ireland , Gerald Fitzgerald, 8th Earl of Kildare , in a correspondence with Giovanni Manni, a Florentine merchant visiting Ireland. Gerald Fitzgerald’s letters were signed as “Gerald, Chief in Ireland of the family of the Gherardini.” His son, the 9th Earl of Kildare , was also known as Lord Garrett, which translates to Signore Gherardini in Italian. He married Elizabeth Grey , a member of the Royal House of Grey and a granddaughter of Queen Elizabeth Woodville . A letter written in 1566 by Girolamo Fortini, who was married to a daughter of Antonio Gherardini from Florence, to his brother in London, also affirmed that the Earl of Kildare belonged to the same family.

Cristoforo Landino , the tutor of Lorenzo de’ Medici , stated in his preface to the Comedia of the renowned poet Dante Alighieri that the descendants of Tommaso, Gherardo, and Maurizio Gherardini were the ancestors of the Earls of Kildare and Earls of Desmond . He further noted their conquest of Ireland alongside King Henry II of England . The Divine Comedy was first presented at the Palazzo Vecchio in Florence. The English poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey , who later adopted the sonnet form popularized by William Shakespeare , also alluded to the ancestral seat of the Geraldines in Florence in his poem “Description and praise of his love.”

Since the 15th century, the FitzGeralds and the Gherardinis have maintained contact and acknowledged their kinship. A 2014 cover story in “Sette,” the Italian weekly magazine of Corriere della Sera , featured an article dedicated to the Gherardini family of Montagliari and their connection to the FitzGerald and Kennedy families . According to the magazine, these three families have maintained relationships with each other, both in recent times and in the past, citing the example of American President John Fitzgerald Kennedy . The link with the Kennedy family originates from the Earl of Desmond branch and is notably visible on the coat of arms granted to John FitzGerald Kennedy by the Chief Herald of Ireland .

Major Houses

The FitzGerald dynasty, a sprawling entity, can be broadly categorized into several significant houses, each with its own history of power, ambition, and, at times, downfall.

House of Kildare
  • For a more in-depth exploration of the Kildare Geraldines, consult the entry for Duke of Leinster .

Lords of Offaly

Earls of Kildare

A 16th-century woodcut depicts an attack on Dublin Castle by “Silken Thomas”, 10th Earl of Kildare .

Marquesses of Kildare (1761)

Dukes of Leinster, second Creation (1766)

Leinster House , once the ducal residence in Dublin of the Duke of Leinster .

House of Desmond
  • For more on the Desmond Geraldines, consult the entry for Earl of Desmond .

Lismore Castle , which remained in the possession of the Earls of Desmond until the downfall of Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Desmond .

The line of the Earls of Desmond became extinct in the 17th century. Their branch of the dynasty persists only through their distant collateral kinsmen, Ireland’s hereditary knights, as detailed below.

Barons Desmond (1259)

Earls of Desmond, First Creation (1329)

Carrigafoyle Castle , a stronghold of the Desmond Geraldines during the Second Desmond Rebellion , was captured by the English in 1580.

The 16th Earl of Desmond, appointed by Hugh O’Neill (1598–1601).

Earls of Desmond, Second Creation (1600)

Newnham Paddox House , the seat of the Earls of Desmond and later the Earls of Denbigh since 1433, the title passing through the female line. It was granted to Richard Preston, 1st Earl of Desmond .

Lords of Decies

FitzMaurice of Kerry

Cliveden House , an estate once owned by Countess FitzMaurice , sister-in-law to Prime Minister Lord Shelburne , Marquess of Lansdowne.

The closely related FitzMaurice Barons and later Earls of Kerry continue in the male line with the current Petty-FitzMaurice Marquesses of Lansdowne . However, they descend from Thomas FitzMaurice, 1st Baron of Kerry, who was the nephew of John FitzGerald, 1st Baron Desmond . This makes them, technically, a “sister” branch to the FitzGeralds of Desmond. It also places them slightly closer to the FitzGeralds of Desmond than either are to the Offaly-Kildare-Leinster Geraldines, who are represented by the modern Dukes of Leinster and descend from Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of Offaly , an uncle of the 1st Baron Desmond.

House of Corsygedol

The House of Corsygedol (Vaughans ) is a cadet branch of the Lords of Desmond , and later the Earls of Desmond . It was established by Osborn Wyddel (Fitzgerald-Osbourne), a descendant of Gerald de Windsor . Wyddel arrived in Wales (specifically the Kingdom of Gwynedd ) from Ireland around the 13th century, accompanying Prince Llywelyn the Great . He was granted estates and arms, and married a ward of Llywelyn, who was also an heiress to the Corsygedol and Plas Hen estates in Gwynedd . This branch flourished in North Wales for centuries. By the 18th century, their Corsygedol estates were inherited by the Mostyn baronets family through marriage.

Its cadet branches include the House of Yale (Yale family) of Plas-yn-Yale and the Hughes of Gwerclas of Gwerclas , both native royal families of the Mathrafal dynasty . Their coat of arms is that of Osborn Fitzgerald: ermine on a saltire gules, a crescent or. The crest is a wild boar in a toil.

Hereditary Knights

The Earls of Desmond, acting as Earls Palatine , established three hereditary knighthoods for their kinsmen.

Legacy

The surname Fitzgerald/FitzGerald, according to the 1890 Matheson report, was the 36th most common surname in Ireland.

In the United Kingdom, Fitzgerald/FitzGerald ranks as the 692nd most frequent surname. It appears most commonly in the following ten counties: Greater London (500 occurrences), Greater Manchester (191), West Midlands (176), Lancashire (130), Kent (118), Essex (117), West Yorkshire (113), Merseyside (108), Hampshire (84), and Surrey (76).

In the United States, “Fitzgerald” (including “FitzGerald,” as the survey was not case-sensitive) was the 390th most common surname in the 2000 census. A total of 73,522 individuals bore the name Fitzgerald, representing 27.25 per 100,000 members of the population. Of those surveyed, 88.03% identified as non-Hispanic white, 8.44% as non-Hispanic black, 0.32% as non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander, 1.28% as non-Hispanic Asian, 1.43% as belonging to two or more non-Hispanic races, and 1.43% identified as Hispanic.

The FitzGerald dynasty was the subject of the poem “The Geraldines” by Thomas Osborne Davis , a leading figure and poet of the nationalist Young Ireland movement. The tragic romance between Thomas FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Desmond and Catherine MacCormac inspired the air “Desmond’s Song” by the Irish poet Thomas Moore .

The Saint Patrick’s Saltire , sometimes incorporated into modern Irish flags, may have its origins in the coat of arms of the Geraldines.

The Arleigh Burke-class destroyer USS Fitzgerald in the United States Navy is named in honor of Lieutenant William Charles Fitzgerald , USN. The FitzGerald family coat of arms, a white shield with a red saltire, forms the basis for the coat of arms of the USS Fitzgerald.

A variety of people, places, and businesses bear the FitzGerald or Fitzgerald name. Notably, the FitzGerald crater on the far side of the Moon is named after the physicist George FitzGerald .

The lineage of the FitzGerald dynasty is a complex tapestry:

Ancestors of FitzGerald Dynasty

See Also