James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond -1558

James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond was born to John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien.

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

In or before 1522 Richard Power 1st Baron Power [aged 26] and [his future wife] Catherine Butler [aged 15] were married. She the daughter of Piers "Red" Butler 8th Earl Ormonde 1st Earl Ossory [aged 54] and Margaret Fitzgerald Countess Ormonde and Ossory. They were second cousin once removed.

Before 1531 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and Joan Roche were married. The date speculative. He the son of John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien. They were great uncle and niece.

Before 1532 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and Joan Roche marriage annulled. The date speculative. as is the reason; probably consangunity given that she was his great niece. In addition to repusiating his wife he also bastardised their son Thomas Ruadh FitzGerald of Conna whose grandson would claim the Earldom.

In or before 1532 [his son] Thomas Ruadh FitzGerald of Conna was born to James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and [his former wife] Joan Roche. Coefficient of inbreeding 6.36%.

In or before 1533 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and More O'Carroll were married. He the son of John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien.

Around 1533 [his son] Gerald Fitzgerald 14th Earl Desmond was born to James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and [his wife] More O'Carroll. He married (1) 1551 his second cousin Joan Fitzgerald Countess Ormonde and Ossory, daughter of James Fitzgerald 10th Earl Desmond (2) after 2nd January 1565 Eleanor Butler, daughter of Thomas Butler 1st Baron Dunboyne, and had issue.

In 1534 [his uncle] Thomas Fitzgerald 11th Earl Desmond [aged 80] died. His brother [his father] John succeeded 12th Earl Desmond.

Before December 1536 [his father] John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and [his mother] Móre O'Brien were married. He the son of [his grandfather] Thomas Fitzgerald 7th Earl Desmond and [his grandmother] Ellice Barry Countess Desmond.

In December 1536 [his father] John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond died. His son James succeeded 13th Earl Desmond.

In 1547 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond was appointed Lord High Treasurer of Ireland.

In 1548 [his wife] More O'Carroll died.

In or after 1548 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and Catherine Butler [aged 42] were married. She the daughter of Piers "Red" Butler 8th Earl Ormonde 1st Earl Ossory and Margaret Fitzgerald Countess Ormonde and Ossory. He the son of John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien. They were half fourth cousin once removed.

In 1551 Gerald Fitzgerald 14th Earl Desmond [aged 18] and Joan Fitzgerald Countess Ormonde and Ossory [aged 42] were married. No issue. A political marriage; the age difference being twenty-four years. She was the eldest daughter of James Fitzgerald 10th Earl Desmond. The marriage brought a temporary truce to the Desmond and Ormonde factions. The difference in their ages was 24 years; she, unusually, being older than him. She the daughter of James Fitzgerald 10th Earl Desmond. He the son of James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and More O'Carroll. They were second cousins.

In or before 1553 [his son-in-law] John Power 3rd Baron Power [aged 23] and Eleanor Fitzgerald were married. She the daughter of James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and More O'Carroll. They were half third cousins.

On 17th March 1553 [his wife] Catherine Butler [aged 47] died.

After 17th March 1553 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and Evelyn MacCarthy Mor were married. He the son of John Fitzgerald 12th Earl Desmond and Móre O'Brien.

On 14th October 1558 James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond died. His son Gerald [aged 25] succeeded 14th Earl Desmond.

[his daughter] Honora Fitzgerald was born to James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and More O'Carroll. She married Donald McCarthy 1st Earl of Clancare.

Chronicle of Edward Hall [1496-1548]. In this yere James erle of Desmond came to the kyng and was honourably entertained and wel rewarded. And in September the great Onele [Conn O'Neill 1st Earl Tyrone] came to the kyng to Grenewyche, where he and a capitaine of the North partes of Irelande called Magannysse and the Byshop of Cloar, made their submission in writing, confessyng their offences, and promisyng to serve the kyng and his Jheires truely: whiche submission by the kyng consydered, he upon the first daie of October created at Grenewyche the saied sir Eustace Onele called greate Onele (because he was the chiefe of his linage called Onele) Erle of Tereowen, commonly called Tyron and gave hym a great chayne, and made Magannysse and his cosyn knightes and gave them both chaynes, and he gave to the lord Mathias sonne to the erle, the Barony of Duncan.

[his daughter] Eleanor Fitzgerald was born to James Fitzgerald 13th Earl Desmond and More O'Carroll. She married in or before 1553 her half third cousin John Power 3rd Baron Power, son of Richard Power 1st Baron Power and Catherine Butler, and had issue.