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The FitzGerald dynasty is a Hiberno-Norman noble and aristocratic dynasty, originally of Cambro-Norman and Anglo-Norman origin. They have been peers of Ireland since at least the 13th century, and are described in the Annals of the Four Masters as having become "more Irish than the Irish themselves" or Gaels, due to assimilation with the native Gaelic aristocratic and popular culture. The dynasty has also been referred to as the Geraldines and Ireland's largest landowners.[9] They achieved power through colonisation and the conquest of large swathes of Irish territory by the sons and grandsons of Gerald de Windsor (c. 1075 – 1135). Gerald de Windsor (Gerald FitzWalter) was the first Castellan of Pembroke Castle in Wales, and became the male progenitor of the FitzMaurice and FitzGerald Dynasty ("fitz", from the Anglo-Norman fils indicating "sons of" Gerald). His father, Baron Walter FitzOther, was the first Constable and Governor of Windsor Castle for William the Conqueror, and was the Lord of 38 manors in England, making the FitzGeralds one of the "service families" on whom the King relied for his survival.[10] Some of its members became the Black Knights, Green Knights and White Knights.[11]
The main branches of the family are:
- The FitzMaurices and FitzGeralds of Kildare (Earls of Kildare from 1316, later Marquesses of Kildare and from 1766 Dukes of Leinster and Premier Peers of Ireland). The current head is Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke of Leinster.
- The Fitzmaurices and FitzGeralds of Desmond (Barons Desmond, later Earls of Desmond).
- ^ "Milo Fitzgerald, Baron of Enisnag".
- ^ a b "The Journal of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland, Volume 22 De Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland". 1892.
- ^ John O'Hart (1892). "irish Pedigrees; or the Origin and Stem of the Irish Nation, volume 1, 5th edition". Library Ireland.
- ^ Dr Bertie George Charles, (1908–2000). "FITZGERALD, MAURICE (died 1176), one of the conquerors of Ireland". Dictionary of Welsh Biography.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ A Hand-book of Mottoes Borne by the Nobility, Gentry, Cities, Public Companies, &c. Bell and Daldy. 1860. p. 35. Retrieved 15 November 2017.
- ^ Fitzgerald, Walter 'The history of Morett Castle and the Fitzgeralds', Journal of the Kildare Archaeological Society IV 1903-5 285-96 National Library of Ireland
- ^ a b McCarthy, John K. "Castles in Space: An Exploration of the Space in and Around the Tower Houses of South-East Kilkenny by John K McCarthy".
- ^ "Ireland's Own – E-zine issue 5799, Galway through the ages".
- ^ Pakenham, Thomas (24 September 2015). The Year Of Liberty: The Great Irish Rebellion of 1789 by Thomas Pakenham. Little, Brown Book. ISBN 9780349141954.
- ^ Maund, Keri (2007). Princess Nest of Wales. Stroud, GL5 2QG: Tempus Publishing Ltd. ISBN 9780752437712.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link) - ^ Graves, James, and Samuel Heyman, editors. "Unpublished Geraldine Documents, The Whyte Knight." The Journal of the Royal Historical and Archaeological Association of Ireland, vol. IV, pg 37. Dublin University Press, Ireland. 1885, p. 3-27-37