James FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Desmond
James FitzGerald entered the world around 1490 in Munster, Ireland. He was the second son of Maurice FitzGerald and Ellen Roche. His father held the title Earl of Desmond and carried nicknames like "the Lame" and "Bellicosus." The family traced their roots to Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Llanstephan. This ancestor arrived in Ireland with Strongbow in 1169. They formed a cadet branch known as the Geraldines or FitzGeralds of Desmond. A senior branch called the FitzGeralds of Kildare existed within the same dynasty. James's mother came from the Roches of Fermoy. Her lineage descended from Adam de Rupe who migrated from Wales with Robert FitzStephen. An elder brother named Thomas died before their father. This death left James as the only surviving male heir.
Amy O'Brien became the wife of James FitzGerald. She was the daughter of Turlough O'Brien, bishop of Killaloe. The bishop died between 1525 and 1526 without maintaining celibacy. Amy's mother belonged to the O'Briens of Ara in County Tipperary. These people were a cadet branch of the kings of Thomond. The couple produced one legitimate child together. Joan born either in 1509 or 1514 later married three times. She wed James Butler first then Francis Bryan and finally Gerald FitzGerald. James also had two illegitimate half-sisters named Honora and Ellice. Honora died in 1577 while Ellice remained unnamed in records. The lack of a son created a dangerous void for succession.
The year 1520 marked the death of Maurice FitzGerald. He lay buried inside the Dominican friary of Tralee. That building stood since 1243 when John fitz Thomas founded it. James took over as Earl of Desmond immediately after. Neighboring lords fought him throughout the 1520s. Cormac Laidir MacCarthy led forces from Muskerry in County Cork. Piers Butler commanded troops for the earls of Ormond in eastern Munster. Thomas the Bald served as an uncle who sided with these enemies. September 1521 brought defeat at the Battle of Mourne Abbey south of Mallow. Allied armies crushed his position during that month. December saw a siege begin at Dungarvan by Muskerry, Thomas the Bald, and Piers Butler. These conflicts defined his early rule over the territory.
King Francis I of France sought allies against England during the Italian War. Desmond conspired with this French monarch in 1522. They recognized Richard de la Pole as king of England instead of Henry VIII. Discussions included plans for a possible French invasion of Ireland. Parliament drafted an attainder against Desmond in 1522 but never passed it. The King sent Gerald FitzGerald to arrest him in 1525. This Gerald held the title of 9th Earl of Kildare and Lord Deputy of Ireland. He arrived with an army to seize James. The Earl evaded capture before any arrest could occur. This evasion allowed him to continue plotting abroad.
Henry VIII ended the war with France through the Treaty of the More in 1525. He reversed alliances again in 1527 via the treaty of Westminster. Now fighting in the War of the League of Cognac he opposed Charles V. Desmond shifted sides to ally himself with Emperor Charles V in 1528 and 1529. The Emperor dispatched chaplain Gonzalo Fernandez to visit Dingle. Fernandez reported that the earl stood between 30 and 40 years old at that time. These diplomatic missions signaled a new direction for Irish resistance. The shift aligned local power struggles with continental European conflicts.
James died unexpectedly on the 18th of June 1529. Reports place his death either at Rathkeale or at Dingle. He received burial alongside his father inside Tralee friary. His sudden end triggered a succession crisis across Munster. Joan remained heir general as his only legitimate daughter. Thomas the Bald succeeded instead as 11th Earl of Desmond. This uncle had previously fought against James during earlier battles. Amy married Edmond Fitzmaurice, 9th Baron of Kerry and Lixnaw after her husband's death. She died in 1537 leaving no further claim to titles. The transfer of power settled into the hands of the elder branch.
Up Next
Continue Browsing
Common questions
When and where did James FitzGerald 10th Earl of Desmond die?
James FitzGerald died unexpectedly on the 18th of June 1529. Reports place his death either at Rathkeale or at Dingle.
Who were the parents of James FitzGerald 10th Earl of Desmond?
James FitzGerald was the second son of Maurice FitzGerald and Ellen Roche. His father held the title Earl of Desmond while his mother came from the Roches of Fermoy.
What happened to James FitzGerald 10th Earl of Desmond in 1522?
King Francis I of France sought allies against England during the Italian War so Desmond conspired with this French monarch in 1522. Parliament drafted an attainder against Desmond that year but never passed it.
How did James FitzGerald 10th Earl of Desmond die and who succeeded him?
James died unexpectedly on the 18th of June 1529 and Thomas the Bald succeeded instead as 11th Earl of Desmond. This uncle had previously fought against James during earlier battles.
When did Maurice FitzGerald die and where is he buried?
The year 1520 marked the death of Maurice FitzGerald. He lay buried inside the Dominican friary of Tralee which stood since 1243 when John fitz Thomas founded it.
All sources
21 references cited across the entry
- 1bookA Short History of IrelandJames Camlin Beckett — Hutchinson & Co. — 1973
- 2webFitzGerald, James fitz MauriceDavid Beresford — October 2009
- 3bookA Genealogical History of the Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages of the British EmpireBernard Burke — Harrison — 1866
- 4bookA Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage and Baronetage, the Privy Council, Knightage and CompanionageBernard Burke et al. — Harrison — 1915
- 5bookThe complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormantGeorge Edward Cokayne — St Catherine Press — 1916
- 6bookThe complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormantGeorge Edward Cokayne — St Catherine Press — 1926
- 7bookThe complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormantGeorge Edward Cokayne — St Catherine Press — 1929
- 8bookThe Ancient Dominican Foundations of Ireland; an Appendix to O'Heyn's "Epilogus Chronologicus"Ambrose Coleman — William Tempest — 1902
- 9bookWomen's Life Writing and Early Modern IrelandUniversity of Nebraska Press — 2019
- 10bookIreland in the Age of the Tudors, 1447–1603Steven G. Ellis — Routledge — 2014
- 11bookThe Earls of Kildare and their Ancestors: from 1057 to 1773Charles William FitzGerald — Hodges Smith & Co. — 1858
- 12bookHandbook of British ChronologyOffices of the Royal Historical Society — 1986
- 13thesisJoan Desmond, Ormond, and Ossory: The world of a countess in sixteenth-century IrelandKaren Ann Holland — Providence College — 1996
- 14bookA Concise History of Ireland from the Earliest Times to 1837Patrick Weston Joyce — M. H. Gill & Son — 1903
- 15bookHenry VIII: Court, church and conflictDavid Michael Loades — National Archives — 2009
- 16webFitzGerald, ThomasAnthony M. McCormack — October 2009
- 17bookA Popular History of Ireland: From the Earliest Period to the Emancipation of the CatholicsThomas d'Arcy McGee — D. & J. Sadlier — 1863
- 18bookA New History of IrelandOxford University Press — 1984
- 19bookHistory of the O'Briens from BoroimheDonough O'Brien — self-published — 1949
- 20encyclopediaFitzGerald, James, 11th Earl of DesmondAlfred Webb — M. H. Gill & Son — 1878
- 21bookThe Beginnings of Modern IrelandPhilip Wilson — Maunsel and Company Ltd. — 1912