William FitzJohn

William Fitzjohn (died 15 September 1326) was a leading prelate in early fourteenth-century

Early career

He is variously said to have been born in England or in

In 1317 the Archbishopric of Cashel became vacant, causing a fierce contest between three rival candidates. Pope John XXII refused to appoint any of them and chose Fitzjohn instead. King Edward II, though he originally had a candidate of his own, appears to have supported the choice of Fitzjohn, whom he knew and respected, and even to have lobbied for him in the final stages of the contest.^[1] The King had already nominated FitzJohn as one of three bishops asked to draw up a plan for the reorganisation of the episcopal structure of the Church in Ireland. The Archbishop served as Lord Chancellor of Ireland between 1318 and 1320, and briefly as Lord Deputy of Ireland in 1318.^[2]

Later life

As Archbishop he is mainly remembered today for overseeing the building of the walls of

Fitzjohn died on 15 September 1326, still under sentence of excommunication. O'Flanagan[1] describes him as a man of great influence and power who was revered by the clergy and laity of his diocese. However, he can hardly have been universally beloved, judging by the number of complaints made over the years about his greed, corruption and immoral living; and his quarrels with the Papacy and the King (previously a staunch friend of his) show the less agreeable side of his character. He was reputed to have accumulated great wealth, but this seems unlikely in view of the pleas of poverty made by King Edward to the Pope on his behalf, just six years before he died, although his alleged appropriation of the benefices of Cloyne gives some credence to the story. Lurid rumours about his private life - in particular the story that he had fathered fourteen illegitimate daughters, all of whom he married to very rich men - which were circulated in his last years, can probably be discounted as malicious inventions.^[6]

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