Duke of Leinster
This article needs additional citations for verification. (August 2023) |
Dukedom of Leinster | |
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heirs male of the body lawfully begotten | |
Subsidiary titles | Marquess of Kildare Earl of Kildare Earl of Offaly Viscount Leinster Baron of Offaly Baron Offaly Baron Kildare |
Former seat(s) | Maynooth Castle Kilkea Castle Leinster House Carton House |
Duke of Leinster (/ˈlɪnstər/;[2][3] Irish: Diúc Laighean[4]) is a title in the Peerage of Ireland and the premier dukedom in that peerage. The subsidiary titles of the Duke of Leinster are: Marquess of Kildare (1761), Earl of Kildare (1316), Earl of Offaly (1761), Viscount Leinster, of Taplow in the County of Buckingham (1747), Baron of Offaly (c. 1193), Baron Offaly (1620) and Baron Kildare, of Kildare in the County of Kildare (1870). The viscounty of Leinster is in the Peerage of Great Britain, the barony of Kildare in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, and all other titles in the Peerage of Ireland. The courtesy title of the eldest son and heir of the Duke of Leinster is Marquess of Kildare. The Duke of Leinster is the head of the House of Kildare.
The family seat of the current Duke of Leinster is now Oakley Park, near
Earls of Kildare from 1316
This branch of the
Dukes of Leinster from 1766
The family was originally based in Maynooth Castle in Maynooth in County Kildare. In later centuries the family owned estates in Waterford with their country residence being a Georgian house called Carton House which had replaced the castle in County Kildare. In Dublin, the Earl built a large townhouse residence on the southside of Dublin called Kildare House. When the Earl was awarded a dukedom and became Duke of Leinster, the house was renamed Leinster House. One of its occupants was Lord Edward FitzGerald, who became an icon for Irish nationalism through his involvement with the Irish Rebellion of 1798, which ultimately cost him his life.[citation needed]
Leinster House was sold by the Leinsters in 1815. After nearly a century as the headquarters of the
The Dukes of Leinster had by the early 20th century lost all their property and wealth. Their Carton House seat was sold (though one of Ireland's most historic buildings with perfectly preserved 18th century grounds, it was controversially turned into a hotel and golf course in the late 1990s by the current owner in an act condemned by environmentalists[citation needed]), as later on was their other residence in Waterford. The family now live in a smaller property in Ramsden, Oxfordshire.
Title dispute
A controversial claim by claimants who say they are descended from the 5th Duke, which is reported to have been largely debunked by Michael Estorick in 1981, was made in 2006 and subsequently failed.[6]
In 2005, a claim was filed with the
In February 2006,
In 2010, however, DNA evidence was presented that indicates that Paul FitzGerald is related to the wife of the 5th Duke, the former Lady Hermione Duncombe.[11] As reported in The Scotsman,
With the help of Dunfermline-based genealogist Lloyd Pitcairn, Mrs FitzGerald Caudill [Paul FitzGerald's aunt] traced Maud Crawford, the grand-daughter of Lady Hermione's younger sister Urica Duncombe.
The results of the tests found that it was "41 times more probable" that Ms Crawford and Paul FitzGerald were extremely closely related than were from different families. The proof that Paul FitzGerald is related to the titled family is the first DNA evidence ever produced in the case, and it strongly supports Mrs Fitz-Gerald Caudhill's long-held claim suggesting that her mysterious father was the son of Lady Hermione, the wife of the fifth Duke of Leinster.[11]
Theresa Pamella Caudill died on July 25, 2015.[7]
It had also previously been alleged that Edward FitzGerald, who succeeded as 7th Duke, was the biological son of the 11th Earl of Wemyss (1857–1937).[12][verification needed] Were this to be established, then neither the present Duke nor any other descendant of his grandfather, the 7th Duke, would be a legitimate heir of the 1st Duke of Leinster.[original research?][citation needed]
Earls of Kildare (1316)
- Other titles: Baron of Offaly (c. 1193)
- John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare (1250–1316), already 4th Baron of Offaly, was rewarded for serving Edward I of England in Scotland
- Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Kildare (died 1328), younger (only surviving) son of the 1st Earl
- John FitzGerald (1314–1323), eldest son of the 2nd Earl, died in childhood
- Richard FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Kildare (1317–1329), second son of the 2nd Earl, died unmarried
- Maurice FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Kildare (1318–1390), third and youngest son of the 2nd Earl
- Gerald FitzGerald, 5th Earl of Kildare (died 1432), a son of the 4th Earl
- The 5th Earl had at least one son Thomas, who predeceased him
- John FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Kildare (de jure; d.c.1434), a younger son of the 4th Earl; he was forced to dispute his right to the title with a son-in-law of the 5th Earl
- Thomas FitzGerald, 7th Earl of Kildare (died 1478), son of the 6th Earl
- Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare (c. 1456–1513), eldest son of the 7th Earl (Gearóid Mór FitzGerald)
- Gerald FitzGerald, 9th Earl of Kildare (1487–1534), eldest son of the 8th Earl (Gearóid Óg Fitzgerald)
- Thomas FitzGerald, 10th Earl of Kildare (died 1537), "Silken Thomas", eldest son of the 9th Earl, led an insurrection in Ireland and his honours were forfeit, and he died unmarried
- Other titles (11th–13th Earls): Earl of Kildare and Baron of Offaly (1554)
- Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare (1525–1585), second son of the 9th Earl, was given a new creation in 1554 then restored to his brother's honours in 1569
- Gerald (Garrett) FitzGerald, Lord Offaly (1559–1580), eldest son of the 11th Earl, predeceased his father without male issue
- Henry FitzGerald, 12th Earl of Kildare (1562–1597), second son of the 11th Earl, died without male issue
- William FitzGerald, 13th Earl of Kildare (died 1599), third and youngest son of the 11th Earl, died unmarried
- Gerald FitzGerald, 14th Earl of Kildare (died 1612), elder son of Edward, himself third and youngest son of the 9th Earl
- Gerald FitzGerald, 15th Earl of Kildare (1611–1620), only son of the 14th Earl, died in childhood
- George FitzGerald, 16th Earl of Kildare (1612–1660), also 2nd Baron Offaly from 1658, a son of Thomas, himself younger brother of the 14th Earl, and the 1st Baroness Offaly
- Wentworth FitzGerald, 17th Earl of Kildare (1634–1664), elder son of the 16th Earl
- John FitzGerald, 18th Earl of Kildare (1661–1707), only son of the 17th Earl, died without surviving issue
- Henry FitzGerald, Lord Offaly (1683–1684), only son of the 18th Earl, died in infancy
- Robert FitzGerald, 19th Earl of Kildare (1675–1744), only son of Robert, himself younger son of the 16th Earl
- Other titles (20th Earl): Viscount Leinster, of Taplow in the County of Buckingham (GB 1747)
- James FitzGerald, 20th Earl of Kildare (1722–1773) was created Marquess of Kildare in 1761
Marquesses of Kildare (1761)
- Other titles: Earl of Kildare (1316), Earl of Offaly (1761), Viscount Leinster, of Taplow in the County of Buckingham (GB 1747) and Baron of Offaly (c. 1193)
- James FitzGerald, 1st Marquess of Kildare (1722–1773) was created Duke of Leinster in 1766
- George FitzGerald, Earl of Offaly (1748–1765), eldest son of the 1st Marquess
Dukes of Leinster, second creation (1766)
Genealogy of Dukes of Leinster from 1766 : Premier Duke, Marquess, and Earl of Ireland[13] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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The Most Noble Maurice (FitzGerald), 6th Duke of Leinster. (1887–1922). |
- Other titles: Marquesse of Kildare (1761), Earl of Kildare (1316), Earl of Offaly (1761), Viscount Leinster, of Taplow in the County of Buckingham (GB 1747), Baron Offaly (1620) and Baron of Offaly (c. 1193)
- James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster (1722–1773), elder son of the 19th Earl
- William Robert FitzGerald, 2nd Duke of Leinster (1749–1804), second son of the 1st Duke
- George FitzGerald, Marquess of Kildare (1783–1784), eldest son of the 2nd Duke, died in infancy
- Augustus Frederick FitzGerald, 3rd Duke of Leinster (1791–1874), second son of the 2nd Duke
- Other titles (4th Duke onwards): Baron Kildare, of Kildare in the County of Kildare (UK 1870)
- Charles William FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster (1819–1887), eldest son of the 3rd Duke
- Gerald FitzGerald, 5th Duke of Leinster (1851–1893), eldest son of the 4th Duke
- Maurice FitzGerald, 6th Duke of Leinster (1887–1922), eldest son of the 5th Duke, died unmarried
- Edward FitzGerald, 7th Duke of Leinster (1892–1976), third and youngest son of the 5th Duke
- Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Duke of Leinster (1914–2004), only legitimate son of the 7th Duke
- Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke of Leinster (born 1948), elder son of the 8th Duke
Present duke
Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke and Marquess of Leinster, 29th Earl of Kildare (born 7 April 1948), styled Earl of Offaly before 1976 and Marquess of Kildare between 1976 and 2004, is a landscape designer.[14][15]
The elder son of the 8th Duke and his second wife, Anne, daughter of Philip Smith, he was educated at Millfield.[14] He succeeded to his father's peerages on his death in 2004.[16]
On 19 February 1972, as Earl of Offaly, he married Fiona Mary Francesca Hollick. They had three children:[14]
- Thomas FitzGerald, Earl of Offaly (1974–1997); killed in a motor accident.[17]
- Lady Francesca Emily Purcell FitzGerald-Hobbs (born 1976)[14]
- Lady Pollyanna Louisa Clementine FitzGerald (born 1982)[14]
As the Duke's only son died childless in 1997, his brother, Lord John FitzGerald (1952–2015), became heir presumptive to the peerages; educated at Millfield and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he served as a captain in the 5th Royal Inniskilling Dragoon Guards and was later a horse trainer.[18] He died in 2015.[19] Lord John FitzGerald had two children:
- Hermione FitzGerald (born 1985)
- Edward FitzGerald (born 1988), heir presumptive to the dukedom and other peerages[20]
Line of succession
Line of succession
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Family tree
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Coat of arms
The coat of arms of the Dukes of Leinster derives from the legend that
- Escutcheon: Argent a saltire gules.
- Crest: A statant proper environed about the middle with a plain collar and chained or.
- Supporters: Two monkeys, environed and chained as in the crest.
- Motto: Crom a boo (Now it would be spelt "Crom Abu"). In English, "Up Croom", or "Croom to victory."
See also
- Irish nobility
- Baron Offaly
- Baron Lecale
- Baron Rayleigh
- Baron de Ros
- Earl of Desmond
References
- ^ Collins, Arthur (1 January 1779). "The peerage of England. 3 vols. [in 4. Sig. N6,7 of vol. 1, 3B1 of vol. 2, and 2F5,6 of vol. 3 are cancels. Sig. K5 of vol. 3 has been cancelled and replaced by a bifolium]" – via Google Books.
- ISBN 9781848874855– via Google Books.
- ^ Maynooth, Archaeology in (13 December 2011). "Maynooth Castle The History Part 3". Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ Oireachtais, Tithe an. "Teach Laighean, Tithe an Oireachtais". Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
- ^ US challenge to Duke title fails: An American builder's attempt to take an aristocratic title off an Oxfordshire man has failed, Oxford Mail, 19th April 2007, The Page Turner
- ^ Peterkin, Tom. Battle over Irish dukedom settled[dead link], Daily Telegraph, 21 April 2007. Accessed 12 June 2008.
- ^ a b "Theresa Caudill". Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ a b Craig, Olga. "DNA tests and a mystery package in the £1m battle just for a duke's title". Archived from the original on 10 October 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
- ^ Tom Peterkin, Ireland Correspondent, Catherine Elsworth in Los Angeles, “A Californian claimant, an 'escape' from the trenches and the fight for a dukedom”, The Daily Telegraph, 27 February 2006 (subscription required) Archived 3 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ American loses battle over Leinster dukedom claim Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine - website IrishAbroad
- ^ a b “DNA test the latest twist in aristocratic tale of a cowboy, a gambler and a web of deceit”, The Scotsman, 4 November 2010. (Retrieved 6 June 2021.) Archived June 6, 2021, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Angela Lambert, Unquiet Souls (Harper & Row, 1984), p. 64
- ISBN 0-906223-34-2.
- ^ a b c d e Burke's Peerage, volume 2 (2003), p. 2297
- ^ A Californian claimant, an 'escape' from the trenches and the fight for a dukedom, The Daily Telegraph, accessed 6 August 2014
- ^ "The Duke of Leinster". The Telegraph. 7 December 2004. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
- ^ "Thomas Earl of Offaly killed in car accident". The Irish Times. 20 May 1997.
- ^ Lanwades Stud - Newmarket - Information, archived 22 February 2012
- ^ "FITZGERALD - Deaths Announcements - Telegraph Announcements". Announcements.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
- ISBN 9781870520249
- ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1.
- ^ "burkes-peerage.net - burkes-peerage Resources and Information". Archived from the original on 14 March 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2007.
- ^ Complete Peerage. (1890) Vol III. (D-F) p358 "Fitz-Gerald of Offaly".
Further reading
- Estorick, Michael (1981). Heirs & Graces: the Claim to the Dukedom of Leinster. Weidenfeld & Nicolson.
- Fitzgerald, Alan John (2004). Barons, Rebels & Romantics: the Fitzgeralds' First Thousand Years. 1stBooks Library.
- Dooley, Terence A.M. (2014). The decline and fall of the dukes of Leinster, 1872-1948 : love, war, debt and madness. Dublin: OCLC 872987047.
- Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London, UK: Dean & Son. p. 553.