James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond

James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond (d. 1462),^[2][3] called 'the Usurper', was the youngest son of Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond, and Lady Eleanor, daughter of James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond.

Norman Ireland, showing the Earldom of Desmond in the southwest

Life

The younger brother of John FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Desmond, James was uncle to the 4th Earl's only son Thomas FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Desmond, whom he was able to deprive of his earldom and dispossess in 1418 for marrying far below his station. The marriage between a man of Norman ancestry and a woman of Gaelic blood was in violation of the Statutes of Kilkenny. James FitzGerald took a leading role in forcing his nephew into exile in France where he died at Rouen two years later.

Although not acknowledged until 1422, he was in 1420 made Seneschal of Imokilly, Inchiquin, and the town of Youghal, by James Butler, 4th Earl of Ormond. In 1423 he was made Constable of Limerick for life. In 1445 he was excused attendance at Parliament.

Along with his son-in-law Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare, James was a prominent Irish supporter of the House of York.

He was also godfather to George Plantagenet, 1st Duke of Clarence.

Dying in 1462 or 1463, Desmond was buried in Youghal.

Marriage and issue

James married Mary, daughter of William de Burgh, and they had issue two sons:

1. Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Desmond
2. Sir Gerald Mor FitzGerald, ancestor of the FitzGerald Lords of Decies of County Waterford

and two daughters:

1. Honor, married Thomas FitzPatrick, Lord of Kerry
2. Joan, married Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare

Ancestry

Notes

References