Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Lanstephan

Maurice FitzGerald, Lord of Maynooth, Naas, and Llanstephan (born: Windsor Castle c.1105 – September c.1176 Wexford, Ireland.He was a medieval Anglo-Norman baron and a major figure in the Norman Invasion of Ireland.

A Welsh Marcher Lord, Lord Lanstephan fought, along with his older brother William, and half-brother Robert FitzStephen, constable of Cardigan, under Robert FitzMartin at the Battle of Crug Mawr in Wales in 1136.

Llansteffan Castle overlooks the River Tywi estuary where it enters Carmarthen Bay. It was captured by Maredudd ap Gruffydd in 1146 against the forces of Maurice FitzGerald and his brother William, Lord of Emlyn who were the leading Norman settlers of the region.The castle was retaken by the Normans in 1158.

Diarmait Mac Murchada (Dermot MacMurrough), the deposed King of Leinster who had been exiled by the High King of Ireland, sought Cambro-Norman assistance to regain his throne. Lord Lanstephan participated in the resulting 1169 Norman invasion of Ireland.He assisted his younger half-brother Robert Fitz-Stephen in the Siege of Wexford (1169). His nephew Raymond was Strongbow's second-in-command and had the chief share both in the capture of Waterford and in the successful assault on Dublin in 1171. Lord Lanstephan and his son's the Fitzmaurices also fought in this battle.

Maurice FitzGerald (Lord Llanstephan) is known to have married Alice, a daughter of Arnulf de Montgomery. It has been asserted by eminent authorities that Arnulf left, by his wife, Lafracoth, a daughter, Alice, and that she was later the wife of Maurice FitzGerald, son of Gerald of Windsor.By Maurice, one of the first conquerors of Ireland, who died in 1176, she was the mother of Gerald (died 1205), who laid the fortunes of the FitzGeralds of Kildare.Alice herself was living in 1171, and was then in Ireland with her husband and sons. Maurice FitzGerald, by his wife Alice, had the following children:

• Thomas FitzMaurice, Lord O'Connello (d. c.1213)
• Gerald FitzMaurice, 1st Lord of Offaly (b. c. 1150, d. before 15 Jan 1204)
• Alexander Fitzmaurice
• William Fitzmaurice, Lord of Naas (d. c.1199)
• Maurice Fitzmaurice, Lord of Kiltrany
• Robert Fitzmaurice
• Nest FitzMaurice (m. Hervey de Montmorenci, Constable of England)

Lord Llanstephan's second eldest son, Sir Gerald Fitzmaurice (the 1st Lord of Offaly) was the progenitor of the FitzGerald Earls of Kildare and Dukes of Leinster.

The original Earldom of Desmond in the province of Munster was based on landholdings belonging to the descendants of Maurice's eldest son Thomas FitzMaurice, Lord OConnello. Thomas's son John FitzMaurice FitzThomas, who was killed in the Battle of Callann, became the first Baron Desmond. Others from this line include the Knights of Glin and Knights of Kerry.

Maurice FitzGerald was the second son of Gerald FitzWalter known as Gerald de Windsor, Constable of Pembroke Castle by his wife, Nest ferch Rhys, Princess of Deheubarth and a member of the Welsh royal House of Dinefwr.

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