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FITZ GERALD Maurice
Birth:          1238 Wexford, Ireland
Death:          BEF 10 Nov 1286 Ross, Ireland

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice_FitzGerald,_3rd_Lord_of_Offaly
Maurice fitz Maurice FitzGerald (1238 – before 10 November 1286)[1] was an Irish 
magnate born in Ireland; a soldier, and Justiciar of Ireland from 1272 to 1273. His 
family would come to epitomize the ideal of cultural synthesis in Ireland, becoming 
More Irish than the Irish themselves, fusing Gaelic & Norman customs in Irish identity.
Career[edit]

He was born in 1238 in Wexford, Ireland, one of the sons of Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd 
Lord of Offaly and Juliana, whose surname is unknown. He had three brothers, Gerald 
fitz Maurice II (died 1243), Thomas fitz Maurice (died 1271), David fitz Maurice (died 
without issue). Maurice was known by the nickname of Maurice Mael (an old word 
meaning "devotee" in Irish). He was granted his father's lands in Connacht in 
exchange for quitclaiming the barony of Offaly before 20 May 1257,[2] when his father 
Maurice fitz Gerald II died at Youghal Monastery. Before his father died, Maurice was 
custos of Offaly, but after Maurice fitz Gerald II died, the countess of Lincoln, 
Margaret de Quincy, sued him for custody of Offaly.[3] The next lord of Offaly was 
Maurice's nephew Maurice fitz Gerald III, son of his elder brother, Gerald fitz Maurice 
II who had died in 1243. Maurice fitz Gerald III must have been born within nine 
months of his father's death.[4] Once his nephew was 'full-age', Maurice fitz Maurice 
and Maurice fitz Gerald III captured the justiciar, Richard de la Rochelle, Theobald 
Butler IV, and John de Cogan I (whose son was married to Maurice fitz Gerald III's 
sister, Juliana). The capture of the three magnates led to a private war in Ireland, with 
the Geraldines on one side and Walter de Burgh and Geoffrey de Geneville on the 
other. However, the Second Barons' War in England forced them to come to a 
temporary peace while they battled Montfortians in the English Midlands in 1266.[5] 
Maurice III, drowned in the Irish Channel in July 1268, was the 3rd Lord of Offaly, and 
was succeeded by his own son, Gerald fitz Maurice III (born in 1263). Gerald's 
marriage was sold to Geoffrey de Geneville, who matched Gerald with his own 
daughter, Joan, but he died childless on 29 August 1287.

In May 1265, Maurice fitz Maurice was among the chief magnates in Ireland 
summoned to inform King Henry III of England and his son Prince Edward about 
conditions in the country, and again in June 1265. These were the result of the 
private war between the Geraldines (Maurice and his nephew, Maurice fitz Gerald III) 
and Walter de Burgh, lord of Connacht (who was later made the 1st earl of Ulster). 
Maurice was appointed Justiciar of Ireland on 23 June 1272 following the accidental 
death of his predecessor, James de Audley on 11 June of that year; his father had 
served in the same capacity from 1232 to 1245. Maurice himself held the post until 
September 1273, when he was succeeded by Sir Geoffrey de Geneville, Seigneur de 
Vaucouleurs.

He held four knight's fees in both Lea and Geashill from Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron 
Mortimer who had inherited them from his wife, Maud de Braose.[6]

In 1276, he led a force of men from Connacht against the Irish of County Wicklow. 
Maurice's contingent joined the main army of English settlers jointly commanded by his 
son-in-law, Thomas de Clare, Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal who had been made Lord 
of Thomond earlier that same year, and Sir Geoffrey de Geneville, Maurice's successor 
as Justiciar of Ireland. The English under Thomas de Clare and Geoffrey de Geneville 
attacked the Irish at Glenmalure, but were defeated and suffered heavy losses.[7]

Marriages and issue[edit]

Sometime between May 1258 and 28 October 1259, he married his first wife, Maud de 
Prendergast, daughter of Sir Gerald de Prendergast of Beauvoir and an unnamed 
daughter of Richard Mor de Burgh. Together he and Maud had one daughters:[8]
Amabel FitzGerald, married but died childless.

Maurice was Maud's third husband. She died on an unknown date. In 1273, Maurice 
married his second wife, Emmeline Longespee (1252–1291), daughter of Stephen 
Longespee and Emmeline de Ridelsford. He and Emeline had one daughter.[9]
Juliana FitzGerald (d. 24 September 1300), married firstly, Thomas de Clare, Lord of 
Thomond, by whom she had four children; she married secondly Nicholas Avenel, and 
thirdly, Adam de Cretynges.

Maurice died sometime before 10 November 1286 at Ross, County Wexford. Emmeline 
Longespee then fought until her death to claim her dower against her daughter, 
Juliana, her step-daughter, Amabilia, and John FitzGerald, who would be created 1st 
Earl of Kildare on 14 May 1316. John was the son of his brother Thomas by Rohesia 
de St. Michael. John sued or physically took lands from the bailiffs of Emmeline, 
Juliana, and Amabilia.[10]

Parents
FITZ GERALD Maurice (1194 - 20 May 1257)
DE COGAN Johanna or Juliana (1190 - )

Siblings
FITZ GERALD Maurice (1238 - BEF 10 Nov 1286)

Marriage To DE PRENDERGAST Maud (17 Mar 1242 - BEF 1273) m. Notes Parents DE PRENDERGAST Gerald () DE BURGH ----- () Children by DE PRENDERGAST Maud 17 Mar 1242 - BEF 1273
FITZ GERALD Juliana (12 Apr 1266 - 29 Sep 1300)
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