Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gearóid Óg, 9th Earl of Kildare
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| The 9th Earl of Kildare | |
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| Reign | 1513–1534 |
| Predecessor | Gerald FitzGerald |
| Successor | Thomas FitzGerald |
| Born | 1487 Maynooth, County Kildare |
| Died | 12 December 1534 (aged 46–47) Tower of London |
| Buried | Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula |
| Noble family | FitzGerald dynasty |
| Spouse | Elizabeth Zouche Elizabeth Grey |
| Issue | Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare Lady Ellis FitzGerald Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare Elizabeth FitzGerald, Countess of Lincoln Edward FitzGerald Anne FitzGerald Margaret FitzGerald Catherine FitzGerald |
| Father | Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare |
| Mother | Alison FitzEustace |
| Occupation | Lord High Treasurer of Ireland (1504–1514) Lord Deputy of Ireland |
Gerard FitzGerald, also known as Gearóid Óg (meaning "Young Gerald" in Irish), was an important person in Irish history during the 1500s. He was born in 1487 and passed away on December 12, 1534. In 1513, he became the Earl of Kildare and took over the role of Lord Deputy of Ireland from his father. This made him a very powerful leader in Ireland.
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Family Life
Gerard FitzGerald was the son of the 8th Earl of Kildare and Alison FitzEustace. Alison was the daughter of the 1st Baron Portlester.
In 1503, Gerard married Elizabeth Zouche at Collyweston. Elizabeth was a cousin of King Henry VII. They had two children:
- Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare
- Lady Alice/Ellis FitzGerald (born around 1508)
Later, he married Lady Elizabeth Grey. She was also a cousin of the King, though a bit more distant. With Elizabeth, he had six more children:
- Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare
- Elizabeth FitzGerald, Countess of Lincoln
- Edward FitzGerald
- Anne FitzGerald
- Margaret FitzGerald
- Catherine FitzGerald
Early Life and Career
Gerard FitzGerald was born in 1487 in Maynooth, County Kildare. People in Ireland called him Gearóit Óge (the Younger Gerald) or Garrett McAlison, named after his mother.
When he was young, King Henry VII kept Gerard at his court in England. This was to make sure Gerard's father stayed loyal to the King. In 1502, at age 15, Gerard played a main part in the funeral of Prince Arthur, King Henry VII's oldest son.
In 1503, he was allowed to return to Ireland with his father. He had just married Elizabeth Zouche, the King's cousin. The next year, he became the Lord Treasurer. This was an important financial role.
Becoming Lord Deputy
In 1504, Gerard commanded a part of the army at the Battle of Knockdoe. When his father died in 1513, Gerard became the new Earl of Kildare. The council in Ireland chose him to be the Lord-Justice. Soon after, King Henry VIII appointed him Lord-Deputy. This meant he was the King's main representative and governor in Ireland.
His brother-in-law, Lord Slane, took over his old role as Lord Treasurer.
Military Actions
In 1513, some Irish chiefs attacked parts of the Pale (the English-controlled area). The Earl quickly defeated O'More and his followers. He then marched north, captured the Castle of Cavan, and defeated O'Reilly. The King was very pleased with his strong actions.
In 1516, the Earl went into Imayle in the Wicklow Mountains. He sent the head of Shane O'Toole to the Lord Mayor of Dublin. He then marched into Ely O'Carroll with the Earl of Ormond. They captured and destroyed the Castle of Lemyvannan. He returned to Dublin with many goods and honors.
In 1517, he held a parliament in Dublin. He then went into Ulster, stormed Dundrum Castle, and took the Castle of Dungannon. This helped bring peace to Ireland for a time.
Challenges and Return to England
In 1518, some people accused him of not governing well. He appointed a temporary leader and sailed to England. He was removed from his position as Lord Deputy. Thomas Howard was appointed in his place.
Gerard FitzGerald joined the King in France in 1520. He was present at "the Field of the Cloth of Gold", a famous meeting between King Henry VIII and the King of France. He showed off his impressive group of followers there. During this time, he met Lady Elizabeth Grey, the King's cousin, and they married a few months later. This marriage helped him gain more influence at court.
Reports came from Ireland that he was secretly trying to cause trouble. However, there was not enough proof against him. So, the King allowed him to return to Ireland in 1523.
Founding a College
Around this time, he founded the College of Maynooth. This college was very successful until it was closed in 1538.
Disputes and Reappointment
When he returned to Ireland, he led an expedition into Leix. He burned several villages. He and his group were caught in an ambush and had to retreat to Dublin.
Gerard FitzGerald and Ormond, who was now Lord Deputy, had many disagreements. They both complained to the King about each other. The King appointed people to settle their arguments. They were told to stop fighting and to keep the peace.
Later, their disagreements started again. The King sent new officials to investigate. Their decision mostly favored Kildare. They agreed to be friends and work together in the future. He also made peace with Sir William Darcy, who had been a strong opponent.
Soon after, Kildare was again appointed Lord-Deputy. He promised the King not to grant pardons without the council's approval. He also agreed to make Irish people in his lands wear English clothes and follow certain rules.
Further Conflicts and Final Summons
In 1525, Kildare and Ormond were fighting again. They argued about money and accused each other of many wrongdoings. Around the same time, Kildare gathered a large army to arrest the Earl of Desmond. However, he secretly told Desmond how to avoid capture. He then went north and brought peace to the O'Neills and O'Donnells.
In 1526, he was ordered to England. He took his married daughter, Alice, Lady Slane, with him. He had to answer charges from Ormond (now Earl of Ossory). Ormond accused him of helping the Desmonds and harming people loyal to Ormond.
When he arrived in London, he was sent to the Tower. He stayed in England for four years. He had a strong argument with Wolsey, a powerful advisor to the King. Kildare was released on bail for a time. But he was sent back to the Tower when it was found he was trying to cause trouble in Ireland. He wanted to make it seem like his return was necessary.
In 1530, he was one of the nobles who signed a letter to the Pope about King Henry VIII's divorce.
That same year, he was allowed to return to Ireland with Skeffington, the new Lord-Deputy. He marched against the O'Tooles to punish them. He then joined the Deputy against the O'Donnells. However, the friendship between Kildare and the Deputy did not last long. They sent letters to the King accusing each other.
Even so, Kildare seemed to clear his name. He was appointed to replace Skeffington as Lord Deputy under the Duke of Richmond. He arrived in Dublin in August 1532 and was welcomed with great excitement. But peace was hard to keep. He insulted Skeffington and was accused of making alliances with Irish chiefs. In 1533, the council told the King that the hatred between Kildare and Ormond was so strong that peace was impossible while either was Lord Deputy.
Death
Around this time, Kildare had trouble moving and speaking. This was because of a gunshot wound he got during an attack on the O'Carrolls at Birr. He was called to court in England again. In February 1534, at a meeting in Drogheda, he gave an emotional speech. He named his son Thomas, Lord Offaly, as the temporary Lord Deputy. Then, he said goodbye to his son and the lords and sailed for England.
When he arrived in London, he faced several accusations. He was sent to the Tower of London. He died there on September 2, 1534, after hearing about his son's rebellion. He was buried in the Chapel Royal of St Peter ad Vincula inside the Tower.
Character
People who knew Lord Kildare described him as "wise, deep, far-reaching and well-spoken." Later historians have said he was very intelligent, learned, and skilled at diplomacy. In his private life, he was a loving husband and father. He was also a generous host, enjoyed art, and loved books.
See also
