FITZGERALD, MAURICE (died 1176), one of the conquerors of Ireland

Son of Gerald de Windsor, chief follower of Arnulf Montgomery and castellan of Pembroke Castle (1093- post 1116), by his wife Nest, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr. Maurice and WILLIAM, two of the sons of Gerald and Nest, and lords respectively of Llanstephan and Emlyn, came into prominence as leaders of the Anglo-Norman settlers in West Wales against the great revolt of the native princes in 1136. In 1146 they were at the head of the unsuccessful attempt to recover Llanstephan Castle from the Welsh. Later in his career Maurice Fitzgerald took part, with his half-brother Robert Fitzstephen, in the conquest of Ireland. In 1169 he landed in Wexford with his followers and led the English contingent against Dublin. He finally settled in the cantref of Kildare which earl Richard granted to him for his services. It is said that his wife (living in 1171) was Alice, granddaughter of Roger de Montgomery. Maurice, who was a brave and modest man of few words, died at Wexford c. 1 September 1176. William died 1174.

Author

• Dr Bertie George Charles, (1908 - 2000)

Sources

• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
• J. E. Lloyd, A History of Wales from the Earliest Times to the Edwardian Conquest (London 1911), 423, 473, 502
• A History of Carmarthenshire, i (ed. J. E. Lloyd), 142

Further Reading

• Wikipedia Article: Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Llanstephan

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q4302750

Published date: 1959

Article Copyright: http://rightsstatements.org/page/InC/1.0/