Biography of Maurice Fitzgerald 9th Earl Desmond -1520

Paternal Family Tree: Fitzgerald

Maurice Fitzgerald 9th was born to [his father] Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond and [his mother] Ellice Barry Countess Desmond.

On 22nd August 1455 [his father] Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond and [his mother] Ellice Barry Countess Desmond (age 35) were married. She by marriage Countess Desmond. He the son of [his grandfather] James Fitzgerald 6th Earl Desmond.

In 1462 [his father] Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond succeeded 7th Earl Desmond.

In 1463 [his father] Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland.

In 1468 [his father] Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond and Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl of Kildare (age 47) attended Parliament in Drogheda [Map] to answer charges of treason. Both were found guilty and attain. Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond sought sanctuary in Drogheda Priory [Map] where he was captured by John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester (age 40). On 14th February 1468 Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond was summarily beheaded. He was buried initially in St Peter's Church Drogheda [Map] then Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin [Map]. Some accounts claim John "Butcher of England" Tiptoft 1st Earl of Worcester also murdered two of his young sons. Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl of Kildare escaped and was subsequently pardoned and attainder reversed when King Edward IV found Ireland was ungovernable without him. In 1470 Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl of Kildare was appointed Lord Deputy of Ireland under George York 1st Duke of Clarence (age 18) which position he held until the Duke's death in 1478.

In 1468 Maurice Fitzgibbon 6th White Knight (age 38) and [his mother] Ellice Barry Countess Desmond (age 48) were married.

In 1468 [his brother] James Fitzgerald 8th Earl Desmond (age 9) succeeded 8th Earl Desmond.

After 1470 [his mother] Ellice Barry Countess Desmond (deceased) died.

All About History Books

William of Worcester's Chronicle of England

William of Worcester, born around 1415, and died around 1482 was secretary to John Fastolf, the renowned soldier of the Hundred Years War, during which time he collected documents, letters, and wrote a record of events. Following their return to England in 1440 William was witness to major events. Twice in his chronicle he uses the first person: 1. when writing about the murder of Thomas, 7th Baron Scales, in 1460, he writes '… and I saw him lying naked in the cemetery near the porch of the church of St. Mary Overie in Southwark …' and 2. describing King Edward IV's entry into London in 1461 he writes '… proclaimed that all the people themselves were to recognize and acknowledge Edward as king. I was present and heard this, and immediately went down with them into the city'. William’s Chronicle is rich in detail. It is the source of much information about the Wars of the Roses, including the term 'Diabolical Marriage' to describe the marriage of Queen Elizabeth Woodville’s brother John’s marriage to Katherine, Dowager Duchess of Norfolk, he aged twenty, she sixty-five or more, and the story about a paper crown being placed in mockery on the severed head of Richard, 3rd Duke of York.

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On 7th December 1487 [his brother] James Fitzgerald 8th Earl Desmond (age 28) was murdered by John Murtagh at the instigation of his brother [his brother] John at Rathkeale, County Limerick. His brother Maurice succeeded 9th Earl Desmond.

Annals of Ireland. 1488. John Mantach, the principal agent in the death of the [his brother] earl of Desmond, was put to death by Maurice, the son¹ of the earl, and Maurice, the son of the earl, was nominated earl.

Note 1. A mistake for brother.

Around 1495 [his son] James Fitzgerald 10th Earl Desmond was born to Maurice Fitzgerald 9th and [his future wife] Ellen Roche Countess Desmond (age 29). Coefficient of inbreeding 6.25%.

In or before 1498 Maurice Fitzgerald 9th and Ellen Roche Countess Desmond (age 32) were married. He the son of Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond and Ellice Barry Countess Desmond. They were great uncle and niece. He a great x 5 grandson of King Edward I of England.

Around 1498 [his son] Thomas Fitzgerald was born to Maurice Fitzgerald 9th and [his wife] Ellen Roche Countess Desmond (age 32). Coefficient of inbreeding 6.25%.

In 1520 Maurice Fitzgerald 9th died. His son James (age 25) succeeded 10th Earl Desmond.

Around 1535 [his former wife] Ellen Roche Countess Desmond (age 69) died.

Annals of Ireland. The earl of Desmond ([his brother] James Fitzgerald), was treacherously killed by his own people at Rath Gaola (Rathkeale, county of Limerick), at the instigation of his brother [his brother] John; but John and all the murderers were expelled by Maurice¹, the son of the earl.

Note 1. A mistake for brother.

[his daughter] Ellis Fitzgerald was born to Maurice Fitzgerald 9th and Ellen Roche Countess Desmond. Coefficient of inbreeding 6.25%.

[his daughter] Joan Fitzgerald was born to Maurice Fitzgerald 9th and Ellen Roche Countess Desmond. Coefficient of inbreeding 6.25%.