Gerald Fitz WALTER Thomas Fitz MAURICE Alice Nesta Mini tree diagram

Maurice Fitz GERALD

- 1177

Life History

1177

Died

Other facts

 

Married Alice

 

Buried in Wrexford, The Abbey of Grey Friars

 

Birth of son Thomas Fitz MAURICE

Notes

  • The names of Maurice Fitz Gerald is indelibly and prominetlyassociated with the Norman conquest of Ireland and he was thepatriarch of the Irish Geraldines and the ancestor of the Dukes ofLeinster, Earls of Kildate and other noble families, representingItelands most prominent nobility.  In 1168, Dermot MacMurrough, Kingof Leinster, having been driven from his territory by RoderickO'Conner, sough aid from the English, and suceeded in enlisting in hiscause Richard de Clare, the second Earl of Pembroke, also called"Richard Strongbow".  Dermont, having concluded his arrangements withRichard, started on his return to Ireland; it being understood thatthe latter was to follow as soon as he could collect his forces.Having reached St. Davids, Wales, on his return journey, Dermot waskindly received by David Fitz Gerald, the Bishop, and at the prelate'ssuggestion, his brother Maurice Fitz Gerald and his half brotherRobert Fitz Stephen, engaged to assist the Irish King with theirforces; and, in May 1169, Maurice and Robert embarked with a smallbody of soldiers in two ships.  They first captured Wrexford, withwhich lordship Maurice was invested, and then they marched forward andtook Dublin.     Strongbow did not land in Ireland and join Mauriceand Robert until August 1170, thus it will be noted, that to MauriceFitz Gerald and his half brother Robert Fitz Stephen, belongs thehonor of leading the first of these Norman expeditions to Ireland,more than a year in advance of Richard de Clare.     In 1171 Mauriceand Strongbow, with a force of only 600 men, were beleaguered inDublin by 33,000 Irish under Roderick the Irish King, who was alsoassisted by a blockading fleet of 30 Manx vessels.     In thisdesparate emergency, through Maurice's earnest advice and inspiritingexhortations, the garrison resolved to sally forth and attack theenemy. The bold exploit was crowned with success; the Irish werecompletely defeated, and Roderick made his escape with difficulty.Maurice Fitz Gerald married Alice, daughter of Arnulf de Montgomery,who was son of Roger de Montgomery, the greatest of the Norman lordsand the foremost among the Norman leaders, next to William theConqueror himself.     Maurice died in 1177 at Wrexford and was buriedin the Abbey of Grey Friars, outside the walls of the town.     By hiswife Alice he left five sons among whom were:  William Fitz Maurice,Baron of Naas; Gerald Fitz Maurice, Baron of Offaly; Thomas FitzMaurice, ancestor of the Earls of Desmond and Decies.

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