James FitzGerald, 13th Earl of Desmond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James fitz John FitzGerald
Earl of Desmond
Tenure	1540–1558
Predecessor	James, de jure 12th Earl
Successor	Gerald, 14th Earl
Died	14 October 1558 Askeaton
Buried	Askeaton Friary
Spouse(s)	1. Joan Roche 2. Móre O'Carroll 3. Catherine Butler 4. Evelyn MacCarthy Mor
Issue Detail	Thomas, Gerald & others
Father	John fitz Thomas FitzGerald
Mother	Móre O'Brien

James fitz John FitzGerald, 13th Earl of Desmond (died 1558) was an important leader in Ireland during the 1500s. He was known for his smart ways of dealing with people and avoiding big fights. He ruled as the Earl of Desmond for 22 years. For the first four years, he was the de facto (meaning "in practice") earl. This was before the official earl, James, called Court Page, passed away. James fitz John became the official Earl after that. He was even made the Lord Treasurer of Ireland in 1547, which was a very important job.

Early Life and Family Background

James was born around the year 1500. He was the second son of John fitz Thomas FitzGerald and his wife, More O'Brien. His father's family, the FitzGeralds of Desmond, were a powerful noble family in Ireland. They were part of the "Old English" Geraldines, who were descendants of Normans who came to Ireland long ago.

James's mother, More O'Brien, came from a native Irish family. Her father was Donogh O'Brien, a lord from County Limerick. This mix of Old English and native Irish heritage was common among powerful families in Ireland at the time.

How James Became Earl

In 1534, James's grandfather died. This led to a disagreement over who should be the next Earl of Desmond. James's father claimed the title. He argued that the official heir, James fitz Maurice FitzGerald (also known as "Court Page"), was not the rightful heir. This was because Court Page's parents were cousins, which was sometimes seen as a problem for royal claims back then.

Because of this, James's father was known as the de facto (in practice) 12th Earl. James fitz John was his father's chosen heir.

Ruling as Earl

When his father died in 1536, James FitzGerald took over the title and lands of Desmond. However, his claim was still challenged. James fitz Maurice FitzGerald, the "Court Page," was considered the de jure (by right) earl. He was living in London at the time. Also, another powerful leader, James Butler, 9th Earl of Ormond, claimed some of the Desmond lands.

To make his position stronger, James FitzGerald sought help from other Irish leaders. The English government in Ireland, which had just put down a big rebellion, decided to act. In 1536, the Lord Deputy of Ireland, Lord Leonard Grey, marched against James. Grey took control of Lough Gur Castle, which James left without a fight.

Ireland, showing the Earldom of Desmond in the southwest

James offered to give his two sons as hostages and let Lord Grey decide who should be the Earl. He was worried about the old rivalry between his family and the Butlers. Lord Grey actually supported James's claim. He told the English government that James was a good leader.

In 1538, another important official, Anthony St Leger, was told to treat James kindly. James was invited to Dublin to discuss his claims. He was careful, but he did send his eldest son as a hostage. The negotiations continued for a while.

Some people in the government, especially those who didn't like Lord Grey, tried to cause trouble for James. They claimed he was planning a rebellion with other Irish leaders to bring back a young member of the Kildare family, who was a rival to the King.

The End of Court Page's Claim

In 1540, Court Page came to Ireland. He settled in an area that had been taken from Desmond. On March 19, 1540, Court Page was killed by James's brother, Maurice fitz John FitzGerald. After this happened, James FitzGerald was welcomed in the town of Youghal. He then took control of the castles in County Cork that the King's army had previously captured.

The English council told King Henry VIII of England about Court Page's death. They said James FitzGerald immediately went to Youghal and was well-received.

When St Leger became the new Deputy, James again offered to submit to the King. He met St Leger and agreed to reject the Pope's authority, which was a big deal at the time. St Leger was very impressed with James. He wrote to King Henry that James was "a very wise and discreet gentleman." St Leger even gave James new clothes, which James wore proudly. Because of St Leger's friendly approach, many people in the region of Munster became loyal to the King.

In 1541, James was put in charge of carrying out new rules for Ireland in Munster. He also attended a parliament meeting in Dublin, showing he accepted the King's authority. In 1542, he visited England and was welcomed by King Henry. The King officially recognized his title as Earl. Henry wrote that James had shown himself to be "a man of great honour, truth, and good service." James continued to live up to this good opinion.

Later, King Edward VI of England, Henry's son, made James the Lord Treasurer of Ireland in 1547. This was a very important financial role. James continued to serve the Crown well, even when he was briefly accused of treason and arrested. He was soon released and kept his important job by Queen Mary.

Family Life

James FitzGerald was married four times.

First Marriage

His first marriage was to Joan Roche. She was his grandniece. This marriage was later cancelled. Their son, Thomas Ruadh FitzGerald, was not allowed to inherit the earldom. However, Thomas's grandson, James (Séamus) Fitzgerald, later tried to claim the title and led a rebellion.

Second Marriage and Children

His second marriage was to More O'Carroll. They had three sons and five daughters.

• Gerald (born around 1533) became the 14th Earl after his father.
• John (died 1581) was killed during a later rebellion.
• Maurice died before his father and had no children.

Their daughters were:

• Honora
• Margaret
• Eleanor (Ellis)
• Joan
• Ellis

More died in 1548.

Later Marriages

James's third wife was Catherine Butler. She died in 1553. His fourth and last wife was Evelyn MacCarthy Mor. They had a son, Sir James-Sussex FitzGerald, and a daughter, Elinor.

Death

In the summer of 1558, James FitzGerald became ill. He died at Askeaton on October 14, 1558. He was buried in the nearby Franciscan Friary. Years later, writers described his death as a sad loss for his country. They said that during his time, people felt so safe that they didn't even need to watch their cattle or lock their doors across a wide area of Ireland.