Earl of Desmond
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The title of Earl of Desmond has been held historically by lords in Ireland, first as a title outside of the peerage system and later as part of the Peerage of Ireland.
The original Earldom of Desmond, based on land holdings in Munster belonged the Anglo-Norman Fitzgerald family, which was founded by Maurice Fitzgerald de Windsor, a key supporter of Strongbow in his invasion of Ireland. The title Earl of Desmond was first claimed by another Maurice Fitzgerald in approximately 1329[1] (http://www.compapp.dcu.ie/~humphrys/FamTree/Fitzgerald/1st.earl.desmond.html). Over time, according to English sources, the Fitzgerald family became highly assimilated to the local Irish culture.
The final Fitzgerald Earl of Desmond was Gerald Fitzgerald, the 15th (or, by some counts, the 16th) Earl. The Fitzgeralds had resisted the Reformation of King Henry VIII and, after a series of rebellions, Gerald Fitzgerald was defeated and killed on November 11, 1583. His title, along with the enormous estates of his family, were forfeit to the English crown. Gerald's nephew, James Fitzgerald attempted to regain control of both during the Nine Years War, but he was captured by the English and executed in 1603.
In 1675, the King of England created a new Earldom of Desmond as part of the Peerage of Ireland. The title was granted to the Earl of Denbigh, whose family continues to jointly hold both titles. The current holder is Alexander Stephen Rudolph Feilding, 12th Earl of Denbigh, 11th Earl of Desmond.
Earls of Desmond, first creation
There are several numbering schemes, depending on whether one includes Nicholas as the 3rd Earl, and how one deals with the dispute over the succession to the 11th Earl.
- Maurice Fitzgerald, 1st Earl of Desmond (died 1356)
- Maurice Fitzgerald, 2nd Earl of Desmond (1336–1358)
- Gerald Fitzgerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond (died 1398)
- John Fitzgerald, 4th Earl of Desmond (died 1399)
- Thomas Fitzgerald, 5th Earl of Desmond (c. 1386–1420)
- James Fitzgerald, 6th Earl of Desmond (died 1463)
- Thomas Fitzgerald, 7th Earl of Desmond (died 1468)
- James Fitzgerald, 8th Earl of Desmond (1459–1487)
- Maurice Fitzgerald, 9th Earl of Desmond (died 1520)
- James Fitzgerald, 10th Earl of Desmond (died 1529)
- Thomas Fitzgerald, 11th Earl of Desmond (1454–1534)
- James Fitzgerald, 12th Earl of Desmond (died 1540)
- John Fitzgerald, 13th Earl of Desmond (died 1536)
- James Fitzgerald, 14th Earl of Desmond (died 1558)
- Gerald Fitzgerald, 15th Earl of Desmond (c. 1533–1583)
External links
- A website (http://www.obrienclan.com/pedigree/territories-7.htm) with more detailed information on the Fitzgerald family history
- Information on the Fitzgerald Earls of Desmond (http://www.compapp.dcu.ie/~humphrys/FamTree/Fitzgerald/1st.earl.desmond.html)