James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James Butler
Earl of Ormond
Tenure	1539–1546
Predecessor	Piers, 8th Earl of Ormond
Successor	Thomas, 10th Earl of Ormond
Born	c. 1496
Died	28 October 1546
Spouse(s)	Joan FitzGerald
Issue Detail	Thomas, Edmund, John, Walter, James, & others
Father	Piers Butler
Mother	Margaret FitzGerald

James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond and 2nd Earl of Ossory (born around 1496 – died 1546) was an important Irish nobleman. He was also known as "the Lame" (Bacach in Irish) because of an injury he got in battle. In 1541, he was officially confirmed as the Earl of Ormond, which ended a long disagreement over this title. Sadly, he died from poison in London.

James Butler's Early Life

James Butler was born in Ireland around the year 1496. He was the oldest son of Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond and his wife, Margaret FitzGerald.

His father's family, the Butlers, were a powerful family in Ireland. They were known as "Old English" because their ancestors came from England with King Henry II of England in 1177. They had been important figures in Ireland for centuries.

James's mother, Margaret, came from another strong family called the Geraldines. Her father was Gearóid Mór FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare. James's parents got married in 1485. He had eight brothers and sisters.

Becoming "the Lame"

When James was a young man, he went with King Henry VIII of England to France. In 1513, he was hurt in his leg during a battle at Thérouanne. This injury led to his nickname, "the Lame" or "Bocach."

In 1515, the 7th Earl of Ormond passed away. James's father, Piers, was next in line to become the Earl. Around 1520, James joined the household of Cardinal Wolsey, a very powerful advisor to King Henry VIII. Wolsey thought James was a very smart and sensible young man.

A Royal Marriage Idea

In 1522, King Henry VIII suggested that James marry his cousin, Anne Boleyn. Anne was a great-granddaughter of an earlier Earl of Ormond. The king hoped this marriage would help settle a disagreement over the Ormond title. This argument was between James's father and Anne's father, Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire.

Cardinal Wolsey also supported the idea of this marriage. However, for reasons we don't fully know, the marriage never happened. Later, in 1528, King Henry VIII made James's father give up the Earldom of Ormond. The king then gave this title to Thomas Boleyn.

James Butler's Family

In 1530, James Butler married Joan Fitzgerald. Joan was the daughter of James FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Desmond, another very important landholder in Ireland.

James and Joan had seven sons together:

• Thomas Butler, 10th Earl of Ormond (1531–1614), who became the 10th Earl of Ormond after his father. He was known as "Black Tom."
• Edmund (1534–1602), who lived at Cloughgrenan. He had three sons.
• John (before 1546 – 1570), who lived at Kilcash. He had a son named Walter.
• Walter (died 1560), who lived at Nodstown.
• James, who lived at Duiske.
• Edward of Ballinahinch.
• Piers of Grantstown.

James Butler's Career and Influence

James Butler's mother was a Butler, which meant he had a claim to the Ormond family's lands and titles. Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, whose mother was also a Butler, was another claimant. Thomas Boleyn's daughter, Anne, was becoming very important at the court of King Henry VIII.

Because the king wanted the titles of Ormond and Wiltshire for Thomas Boleyn, he convinced James's father to give up his claims in 1528. Instead, James's father was given the title of Earl of Ossory.

Becoming Earl of Ormond

In 1535, James Butler was given the title of Viscount Thurles. Then, in 1537, Thomas Boleyn, the Earl of Ormond, died without any sons. This meant the Ormond title was available again. So, on February 22, 1538, the King gave the Earldom of Ormond back to James's father.

James's father passed away on August 26, 1539. James then became the 9th Earl of Ormond. This was officially confirmed by a special law in 1541. This meant he was now the rightful Earl of Ormond, with all the power and respect that came with the original title.

Conflicts and Royal Service

In the early 1540s, Lord Ormond, as James was now known, worked hard to bring his family, the Butlers, back to their powerful position. This caused some problems with the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Sir Anthony St Leger. A Lord Deputy was like the king's main representative in Ireland. St Leger and Ormond often disagreed.

In 1544, St Leger gave Ormond command of the Irish soldiers during a war between England and Scotland. While this seemed like an honor, some of Ormond's friends believed St Leger was trying to put Ormond in danger. Ormond himself asked for an investigation into claims that St Leger had even planned to murder him. The king's special council looked into it but decided in favor of St Leger. They ordered both men to work together peacefully in the future.

The Mystery of James Butler's Death

On October 17, 1546, James Butler was in London with many people from his household. They were invited to a dinner at Ely Palace. During this dinner, James, his steward (a person who manages his household), and 16 other people from his group were poisoned.

James died eleven days later, on October 28, 1546. He left his wife, Joan, a widow in her thirties.

It's quite surprising that no proper investigation was done into his death, especially since he was such an important person. Who was behind the poisoning remains a mystery to this day. The host of the dinner, John Dudley, 1st Duke of Northumberland, was a powerful man, but he didn't seem to have a reason to harm Ormond. However, some historians wonder if Sir Anthony St Leger, Ormond's rival, might have been involved, as Ormond's death was very convenient for him.

Important Roles James Butler Held

James Butler held several important positions during his life:

• Esquire of the Body to King Henry VIII, (1527) - This meant he was a personal attendant to the King.
• Lord High Treasurer of Ireland, (1532–1546) - He was in charge of the King's money in Ireland.
• Privy Counsellor of Ireland, (1535) - He was a trusted advisor to the King on Irish matters.
• Admiral of Ireland, (1535–1539) - He was in charge of the navy in Ireland.
• Constable of Kilkea Castle, (1537) - He was in charge of this castle.
• Constable of Carlow Castle, (1537) - He was in charge of this castle.
• General in the Irish Forces, (1545) - He was a high-ranking military leader.

See also

• Hore Abbey
• Kells Priory - This place came under the Earl's control in 1540 after the Dissolution of the monasteries, when many religious buildings were closed down.

Images for kids

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  Portrait study of James Butler by Hans Holbein the Younger, around 1533.