Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Piers Butler
Earl of Ormond
Tenure	1515–1539
Predecessor	Thomas, 7th Earl of Ormond
Successor	James, 9th Earl of Ormond
Born	1467
Died	26 August 1539
Noble family	Butler
Spouse(s)	Margaret FitzGerald
Issue Detail	James, Richard, & others. Edmund (illegitimate)
Father	Sir James Butler
Mother	Sabh Kavanaugh

Piers Butler, 8th Earl of Ormond, 1st Earl of Ossory (around 1467–1539) was an important Irish noble. He was also known as Red Piers (in Irish, Piers Ruadh). Piers belonged to the Polestown branch of the Butler family in Ireland.

When the 7th Earl of Ormond, Thomas Butler, passed away without a direct male heir, Piers became the next Earl. This was because he was the closest male relative in the family line. However, in 1528, he lost this important title to Thomas Boleyn. Thomas Boleyn was the father of Anne Boleyn, who later became a queen. Piers got his title back in 1538 after Thomas Boleyn died.

Early Life and Family

Piers Butler was born around 1467. He was the third son of James Butler and Sabh Kavanagh. His father, Sir James Butler, was a powerful figure. He served as the Lord Deputy of Ireland, which was like being the King's main representative.

Piers's mother, Sabh Kavanagh, was a princess from Leinster. Her father, Donal Reagh Kavanagh, was known as the King of Leinster. Piers's family, the Butlers of Polestown, were a branch of the larger Butler dynasty. This branch began with Sir Richard Butler of Polestown, who was the second son of James Butler, the 3rd Earl of Ormond.

Marriage and Children

In 1485, Piers Butler married Lady Margaret FitzGerald. Her father was Gerald FitzGerald, the 8th Earl of Kildare. This marriage was arranged for political reasons. It was meant to help heal disagreements between the two powerful families.

Early in their marriage, Piers and Margaret faced financial difficulties. This was partly due to James Dubh Butler, a nephew of the 7th Earl. James Dubh managed the Ormond lands while the 7th Earl lived in England. Piers Butler had a conflict with James Dubh Butler. This conflict led to James Dubh's death in 1497. Piers was later pardoned for this event in 1498.

Piers and Margaret had three sons and six daughters:

• Sons:
  • James (1496–1546), also known as "the Lame." He became the 9th Earl after his father. James married Lady Joan FitzGerald.
  • Richard (1500–1571). He became the 1st Viscount Mountgarret. Richard married his cousin, Eleanor Butler.
  • Thomas. He was killed by Dermoid Mac Shane. Thomas had one daughter, Margaret. Margaret married Rory O'Moore and later Sir Maurice Fitzgerald.

• Daughters:
  • Margaret. She married Thomas, the second son of the Earl of Desmond. Later, she married Barnaby Fitzpatrick, 1st Baron Upper Ossory.
  • Catherine (1506–1553). She first married Richard Power, 1st Baron Power, of Curraghmore. Later, she married James FitzGerald, 13th Earl of Desmond.
  • Joan (born 1528). She married James Butler, the 10th Baron Dunboyne.
  • Ellice (1481–1530). She first married MacMorrish. In 1503, she married Gerald Fitzgerald, 3rd Lord Decies.
  • Eleanor. She married Thomas Butler, 1st Baron Cahir.
  • Helen (1523–1597), also called Ellen. She married Donough_O'Brien,_2nd_Earl_of_Thomond, who was the son of Conor O'Brien, Prince of Thomond.

Piers also had an illegitimate son, Edmund Butler. Edmund became the Archbishop of Cashel.

Becoming Earl of Ormond

For a long time, the Earls of Ormond lived in England, not Ireland. Because of this, Piers's father, Sir James Butler, tried to claim the Ormond lands and titles. This created a problem for who would inherit the title when the 7th Earl died without a male heir.

In 1489, King Henry VII made Piers the High Sheriff of County Kilkenny. Piers was knighted (given the title "Sir") before 1497. In 1498, he took control of Kilkenny Castle. He and his wife, Margaret, likely improved the castle's living areas. He also received a pardon for past actions in Ireland. In 1505, he became the Seneschal of Tipperary.

When Thomas Butler, 7th Earl of Ormonde died in 1515, Piers Butler officially became the 8th Earl of Ormond. In 1522, the King appointed him as the Chief Governor of Ireland, known as the Lord Deputy. He held this important role until 1524, when he became the Lord Treasurer.

Losing and Regaining the Title

One person who also had a claim to the Ormond inheritance was Thomas Boleyn. His mother, Margaret Butler, was the second daughter of the 7th Earl. Thomas Boleyn's daughter, Anne, was becoming very important at the court of King Henry VIII of England.

King Henry VIII wanted the titles of Ormond and Wiltshire for Thomas Boleyn. So, in 1528, the King convinced Piers Butler and others with claims to give up their rights to the Ormond title. With help from the King's advisor, Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, Piers was given a new title instead: Earl of Ossory.

However, on February 22, 1538, the earldom of Ormond was given back to Piers Butler.

Later Life and Death

Piers Butler passed away on August 26, 1539. He was buried in St Canice's Cathedral in Kilkenny.

See also

• Butler dynasty
• Ashfield Gales