James FitzGerald, de jure 12th Earl of Desmond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids James fitz Maurice FitzGerald
Earl of Desmond
Tenure	1534–1540
Predecessor	Thomas, 11th Earl of Desmond
Successor	James, 13th Earl of Desmond
Other names	Court Page
Died	19 March 1540 Leacan Sgail, County Kerry
Cause of death	murdered
Spouse(s)	Mary MacCarthy
Father	Maurice fitz Thomas FitzGerald
Mother	Joan FitzGibbon

James fitz Maurice FitzGerald (died 1540) was also known as the 12th Earl of Desmond. People called him Court Page because he grew up at the court of Henry VIII, the King of England. He was a hostage there for his grandfather, Thomas FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Desmond, who was known as "the Bald."

James should have become the Earl of Desmond in 1534 after his grandfather died. However, his granduncle, John FitzGerald, de facto 12th Earl of Desmond, took the title instead. When John died in 1536, his son, James fitz John, continued to claim the earldom. In 1539, the King's representative in Ireland, Leonard Grey, took some land from the Desmond family. He gave this land to James FitzGerald, the "Court Page." James came to Ireland to claim his rightful place. Sadly, he was killed in 1540 by his cousin, Maurice fitz John FitzGerald, known as Totane. After James died, James fitz John became the rightful 13th Earl of Desmond.

Early Life and Family

James was the only son of Maurice fitz Thomas FitzGerald and Joan FitzGibbon. His father, Maurice, was the only son of Thomas FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Desmond, "the Bald." However, Maurice died before his own father.

James's family, the FitzGeralds of Desmond, were an important noble family. They were a branch of the "Old English" Geraldines, who were descendants of the Normans who came to Ireland. The FitzGeralds of Kildare were another famous branch of this family.

James's mother, Joan FitzGibbon, was the daughter of John fitz Gerald FitzGibbon, also known as the White Knight. James also had a sister named Ellen. She later married Thomas Butler, 1st Baron Cahir.

Ireland in 1450, showing the Earldom of Desmond

Henry VIII playing his harp beside his jester, Will Somers. James FitzGerald, the "Court Page," grew up as a hostage at Henry's court.

Marriage and Daughter

James FitzGerald married a woman named Mary. She was the oldest daughter of Cormac Laidir Oge MacCarthy, 10th Lord of Muskerry.

James and Mary had one daughter:

• Judith, who died in 1565 and never married.

After James died, his wife Mary married Daniel O'Sullivan Mor.

Claiming the Earldom

When James's grandfather, Thomas FitzGerald, the 11th Earl of Desmond, died in 1534, James should have become the 12th Earl. But James was in London at the time. His granduncle, John FitzGerald, de facto 12th Earl of Desmond, claimed the title instead.

When John died in 1536, his son, James fitz John, continued to claim the earldom. This meant James FitzGerald, the "Court Page," had to fight for his right to the title.

In 1539, James came back to Ireland. The King's representative, Leonard Grey, Lord Deputy of Ireland, had helped take some Desmond lands. These lands were in areas called Imokilly and Kerrycurrihy in southern Cork. These lands were then given to James FitzGerald.

Death

On March 19, 1540, James FitzGerald, the "Court Page," was killed. He was killed by his cousin, Maurice fitz John FitzGerald, who was also known as Totane. Totane was the brother of James FitzGerald, 13th Earl of Desmond, who was claiming the earldom.

James is believed to have died at a place called Leacan Sgail in County Kerry. However, the exact location of Leacan Sgail is not known today. After James died, James fitz John became the rightful 13th Earl of Desmond.