Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare facts for kids
Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare (born 1525 – died 16 November 1585), was an important Irish nobleman. People also called him the "Wizard Earl" because of his interest in magic and science. He was the son of Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare and his second wife, Elizabeth Grey, Countess of Kildare.
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Life Story of the Wizard Earl
When Gerald was just twelve years old, his family faced a very difficult time. His older half-brother, Silken Thomas, and five of his uncles were executed in 1537. This meant young Gerald became the main male heir to the Kildare family.
He spent the next few years hiding in Ireland. His aunt, Lady Eleanor McCarthy, helped protect him. Some powerful Irish families, like the O'Neills and O'Donnells, tried to help Gerald get his family's lands back. This group was called the Geraldine League, but their efforts did not succeed.
Gerald had to leave Ireland to stay safe from King Henry VIII. He was protected by the kings of France and the Holy Roman Empire. He studied at a monastery in Belgium and later lived with a powerful church leader, Cardinal Ercole Gonzaga, in Italy. Living in Italy during the Renaissance meant he learned to speak Italian and experienced a rich court culture. After that, he studied in Rome with his relative, Cardinal Reginald Pole.
During his time away from Ireland, Gerald even fought alongside knights against the Turks in faraway places like Tripoli.
When King Henry VIII died in 1547, Gerald returned to England. The new king, Edward VI, gave back his family's lands. Later, during the reign of Queen Mary I, Gerald helped put down a rebellion. Because of his loyalty, he was officially given back his titles as Earl of Kildare and Baron of Offaly. He then returned to Ireland.
Why Gerald was Called the Wizard Earl
Lord Kildare was very interested in alchemy, which was an early form of chemistry. People living near his home, Kilkea Castle, thought he had magical powers because of this interest. That's how he got his famous nickname, "the Wizard Earl."
He was a very smart and educated man, influenced by the exciting ideas of the Renaissance. However, he wasn't as skilled in politics as his grandfather, the 8th Earl of Kildare. Gerald was also a Roman Catholic, which made things harder for him in England during the time of Queen Elizabeth I, who was Protestant.
Gerald was often accused of being disloyal and was even held in Dublin Castle and the Tower of London. But Queen Elizabeth I liked him personally, and she twice cleared him of the charges. Even though he was technically free in his later years, he wasn't allowed to leave London much. He died in London on 16 November 1585.
A legend says that his ghost rides a white horse with silver shoes back to Kilkea Castle every seven years.
Family Life
While in England, Gerald met Mabel Browne. They married on 28 May 1554.
Children of Gerald and Mabel
Gerald and Mabel had several children:
- Lady Elizabeth FitzGerald (died 1617), who married Donnchadh MacConchobhair O'Brien, the 4th Earl of Thomond.
- Lord Gerald FitzGerald, Lord Offaly (1559–1580). He married Catherine Knollys, whose grandmother was Mary Boleyn. They had a daughter named Lettice Digby, 1st Baroness Offaly, who married Sir Robert Digby. Their family line includes the famous 19th-century adventurer Jane Digby.
- Lord Henry Na Tuagh FitzGerald (1562–1597), who became the 12th Earl of Kildare. He married Lady Frances Howard.
- Lord William FitzGerald, 13th Earl of Kildare (died 1599), who became the 13th Earl of Kildare. He never married.
- Lady Mary FitzGerald (died 1610), who married Christopher Nugent, 6th Baron Delvin.
- Lady Mabel FitzGerald (born 1564 – died 1587), who married Dudley Bagenal.
Mabel died in 1610.
In Books and Stories
Gerald FitzGerald appears in a book called The Irish Princess by Karen Harper. This book tells a fictional story about Gerald's sister, Elizabeth FitzGerald.
