Maurice FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond
| Maurice FitzGerald | |
|---|---|
| Died | 25 January 1356 Dublin Castle |
| Title | Earl of Desmond |
| Tenure | 1329-1356 |
| Nationality | Hiberno-Norman |
| Predecessor | New creation |
| Successor | Maurice FitzMaurice FitzGerald |
| Spouse(s) | Margaret de Burgh Margaret O'Brien Aveline (or Eleanor) |
| Issue |
Maurice FitzMaurice FitzGerald Nicholas FitzMaurice FitzGerald Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald |
| Parents |
Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald Margaret Barry or Margaret de Burgh |
Maurice FitzThomas FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Desmond (died 25 January 1356 in Dublin Castle, Dublin, Ireland) was an Irish nobleman in the Peerage of Ireland, Captain of Desmond Castle in Kinsale, so-called ruler of Munster, and for a short time Lord Justice of Ireland. He led a rebellion against the Crown, and was suspected of aiming to make himself King of Ireland, but he was ultimately restored to favour.
He was the second son of Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald, 2nd Baron Desmond by his wife Margaret, whose family background is still in dispute (she belonged either to the family of Barry or de Burgh). His father died in 1296 when he was still a child.The Earl succeeded his elder brother Thomas FitzGerald, 3rd Baron Desmond as 4th Baron Desmond in 1307, and also inherited great wealth and large estates.
By 1326 his influence was such that there were rumours of a conspiracy to make him King of Ireland; modern historians tend to dismiss the story, on the ground that the alleged conspirators were other magnates who were more interested in increasing their own power than aggrandising Desmond.
Maurice was created Earl of Desmond by Letters Patent dated at Gloucester, England, 27 August 1329, by which patent also the county palatine of Kerry was confirmed to him and his heirs male, to hold of the Crown by the service of one knight's fee. This was part of a Crown policy of attempting to win the support of the magnates by conferring earldoms on them.
In January 1330 he was summoned by Sir John Darcy, Lord Justice of Ireland, to fight armed Irish rebels, with a promise of the King's pay. It was Desmond who introduced the practice of Coigne and Livery, the quartering of troops on the inhabitants of the district they were sent to protect.
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