Duke of Leinster

Highest-ranking noble title in the Peerage of Ireland

This article is about the title created in 1766 for the Earl of Kildare. For the title created in 1691, see Meinhardt Schomberg, 3rd Duke of Schomberg.

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "Duke of Leinster" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (August 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

Dukedom of Leinster

Argent a saltire gules

Creation date| 26 November 1766[1]
Created by| King George III
Peerage| Peerage of Ireland
First holder| James FitzGerald, 1st Marquess of Kildare
Present holder| Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke
Heir presumptive| Edward FitzGerald
(nephew of the present holder)
Remainder to| the 1st Duke's 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 and the premier dukedom in the Peerage of Ireland. 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 3rd Duke of Schomberg, General and K.G. (1641–1719), was created The 1st Duke of Leinster in 1691.[citation needed] However, that creation became extinct upon Schomberg's death in July 1719. For the second creation, it was granted to James FitzGerald, 1st Duke of Leinster, who married to Lady Emily Lennox, the great-granddaughter of King Charles II of the Royal House of Stuart.

The family seat of the current Duke of Leinster is now Oakley Park, near Abingdon, Oxfordshire.[5] He succeeded as 9th Duke of Leinster, 9th Marquess of Kildare, 28th Earl of Kildare, 9th Earl of Offaly, 9th Viscount Leinster of Taplow, 14th Baron Offaly, 6th Baron Kildare, and as the Premier Duke, Marquess and Earl in the Peerage of Ireland.

## Earls of Kildare from 1316

[edit]

This branch of the Cambro Norman FitzGerald/FitzMaurice dynasty, which came to Ireland in 1169, were initially created Earls of Kildare. The earldom was created in 1316 for John FitzGerald. Two senior FitzGeralds, Garret Mór FitzGerald and his son, Garret Óg FitzGerald served as Lords Deputy of Ireland, the representative of the Lord of Ireland (the King of England) in Ireland. The tenth earl, Thomas FitzGerald, known as Silken Thomas, was attainted and his honours were forfeit in 1537. In 1554, Thomas's half-brother and only male heir, Gerald FitzGerald, was created Earl of Kildare in the Peerage of Ireland. He was subsequently restored to the original letters patent in 1569, as 11th earl. The second (1554-created) earldom became extinct in 1599, although the original earldom survived.

## Dukes of Leinster from 1766

[edit]

The 1st Duke of Leinster. The 2nd Duke of Leinster

The family was originally based in Maynooth Castle in Maynooth in County Kildare. In later centuries the family owned estates in County 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 Royal Dublin Society, which held its famed Spring Show and Horse Show in its grounds, Oireachtas Éireann, the two chamber parliament of the new Irish Free State, rented Leinster House in 1922 to be its temporary parliament house. In 1924 it bought the building for parliamentary use. It has remained the parliament house of the Irish state.

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

[edit]

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 Department of Constitutional Affairs by Theresa Pamella Caudill,[7] daughter of Eleanor and Maurice F. “Desmond” FitzGerald, on behalf of her nephew, a California builder, Paul FitzGerald, as claimant to be the rightful Duke of Leinster.[8] FitzGerald was claimed to be the grandson of Major Lord Desmond FitzGerald (1888–1916), the second son of The 5th Duke of Leinster, who was recorded as having been killed in action during the First World War, while serving with the Irish Guards. When Maurice, 6th Duke of Leinster, died, mad and childless, in February 1922, the Leinster dukedom and its considerable wealth and estates devolved upon his youngest brother, Lord Edward FitzGerald, who succeeded as 7th Duke. However, Paul FitzGerald's supporters claim that Lord Desmond faked his death and emigrated to California, by way of Winnipeg, Canada, where he lived until his death in 1967. It was further claimed by Mrs Caudill that a package of documents, witnessed by Edward, Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII), Sir Edgar Vincent, and Lord Feversham, had been lodged by her father with the Crown Office of the House of Lords in 1929, and the family had been denied access to them. Mrs Caudill believed the documents included evidence that her father agreed to relinquish the title for one generation but made it clear it was to be passed down to his son, her brother Leonard FitzGerald. Instead, it was passed down through her father's brother's family. It was alleged that an archivist had acknowledged the package had once existed, but the official line was that it was now lost.[8]

In February 2006, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, Lord Chancellor (2003–2007), and Harriet Harman, Minister of State in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, considered this claim.[9] The claim was dismissed by Lord Falconer of Thoroton, despite a 30-year campaign by Paul FitzGerald's family reputedly costing £1.3 million. The Lord Chancellor adjudicated that the title was to remain with the existing holder, Maurice FitzGerald. Paul FitzGerald has a right of appeal against the Lord Chancellor's verdict by petitioning the monarch.[10]

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)

[edit]

Ireland in 1450, with the Earldom of Kildare shown just southwest of the Pale

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)

[edit]

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)

[edit]

Genealogy of Dukes of Leinster from 1766 : Premier Duke, Marquess, and Earl of Ireland[13]

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  | 8\. Augustus Frederick FitzGerald
3rd Duke of Leinster (1791–1874)

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

| 4\. Charles William FitzGerald
4th Duke of Leinster (1847–1887)|

|  |  |
| 9\. Charlotte Augusta Stanhope
(1793–1859)

| 2\. Gerald FitzGerald
5th Duke of Leinster (1851–1893)|

|  |  |  |  |
| 10\. George Granville Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
2nd Duke of Sutherland KG (1786–1861)

| 5\. Caroline Sutherland-Leveson-Gower
(da. 2nd Duke of Sutherland) (1817–1887)|

|  |  |
| 11\. Harriet Elizabeth Georgina Howard
(1806–1868)

| 1.Maurice FitzGerald
6th Duke of Leinster (b. 1887)

|  |  |  |  |  |  |
| 12\. William Duncombe
2nd Baron Faversham (1798–1867)

| 6\. William Ernest Duncombe
1st Earl of Feversham (b. 1829)|

|  |  |
| 13\. Louisa Stewart
(d. 1889)

| 3\. Hermione Wilhelmina Duncombe
(1864–1895)|

|  |  |  |  |
| 14\. James Robert George Graham PC
(1792–1861)

| 7\. Mabel Violet Graham
(18??)|

|  |  |
| 15\. Fanny Callender
(d. 1857)

|  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |

Divisions of the Peerage Peerage of England

Peerage of Scotland
Peerage of Great Britain
Peerage of Ireland
Peerage of the United Kingdom

The Most Noble Maurice (FitzGerald), 6th Duke of Leinster. (1887–1922).
Marquess and Earl of Kildare, County Kildare, Earl and Baron of Offaly, all in the Peerage of Ireland;
Viscount Leinster of Taplow, co. Bucks, in the Peerage of Great Britain
and Baron Kildare of Kildare in the Peerage of the United Kingdom;

Premier Duke and Earl of Ireland.

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

[edit]

As of 2024, the 9th Duke and Marquess of Leinster and 29th Earl of Kildare is Maurice FitzGerald (born 7 April 1948). A landscape gardener by profession,[14][15] he is the elder son of the 8th Duke and his second wife, Anne.[14] He was educated at Millfield and 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 Maurice FitzGerald's only son died childless in 1997, his brother, Lord John FitzGerald (1952–2015), became heir presumptive to the peerages.[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

[edit]

Line of succession

* Charles FitzGerald, 4th Duke of Leinster (1819–1897)
* Gerald FitzGerald, 5th Duke of Leinster (1851–1893)
* Edward FitzGerald, 7th Duke of Leinster (1892–1976)
* Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Duke of Leinster (1914–2004)
* Maurice FitzGerald, 9th Duke of Leinster (born 1948)
* Lord John FitzGerald (1952–2015)
* (1) Edward FitzGerald (b. 1988)
* Lord Charles FitzGerald (1859–1928)
* Rupert Augustus FitzGerald (1900–1969)
* (2) Peter Charles FitzGerald (b. 1925)
* (3) Stephen Peter FitzGerald (b. 1953)

[21]

## Family tree

[edit]

* v
* t
* e

FitzGerald family tree: Earls of Kildare, Dukes of Leinster, Marquesses of Kildare and Barons Rayleigh

| | | | | Gerald de Windsor| | Nest ferch Rhys

|
|
|
|
|
|

| | | | | | | | | |
| | |
| | | | Maurice FitzGerald
(c. 1105–1176)
Lord of Lanstephan
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | Baron Offaly, 1175| | | | |
| | | | Gerald FitzMaurice
(c. 1150–1204)
1st Lord of Offaly| | Thomas FitzMaurice
(c. 1175–1213)
Lord of O'Connelloe
| | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Maurice FitzGerald
(1194–1257)
2nd Lord of Offaly| | Earl of Desmond
| | | | | | | |
| | | | |
Maurice FitzGerald
3rd Lord of Offaly
(1238–c. 1286)| | Thomas FitzGerald
(d. 1271)
| | | | | | |
| | | | Earl of Kildare, 1316
| | | | John FitzGerald
(1250–1316)
1st Earl of Kildare, 4th Lord of Offaly
| | | | | | |
| | | | Thomas FitzGerald
(d. 1328)
2nd Earl of Kildare
| | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | Richard FitzGerald
(1317–1329)
3rd Earl of Kildare| | Maurice FitzGerald
(1318–1390)
4th Earl of Kildare
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | |
| | | | | | | | Gerald FitzGerald
(d. 1432)
5th Earl of Kildare| | John FitzGerald
(d. 1434)
6th Earl of Kildare
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Thomas FitzGerald
(c. 1421–1478)
7th Earl of Kildare
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Gerald FitzGerald
(c. 1456–1513)
8th Earl of Kildare
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | Gerald FitzGerald
(1487–1534)
9th Earl of Kildare
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | Earl of Kildare (2nd creation), 1554
Ancient earldom restored, 1569| | | | | | | |
Thomas FitzGerald
(1513–1537)
10th Earl of Kildare| | Gerald FitzGerald
(1525–1585)
1st & 11th Earl of Kildare| | | | | | Edward FitzGerald
(1528–1590)
Kildare earldom (1st creation) forfeit, 1537| | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Henry FitzGerald
(1562–1597)
2nd & 12th Earl of Kildare| | William FitzGerald
(c. 1563–1599)
3rd & 13th Earl of Kildare| | King James VI & I
(1566–1625)| | Gerald FitzGerald
(d. 1612)
14th Earl of Kildare| | Thomas FitzGerald
(c. 1560–1619)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | Elizabeth, Queen of Bohemia
(1596–1662)| | King Charles I
(1600–1649)| | Gerald FitzGerald
(1611–1620)
15th Earl of Kildare| | George FitzGerald
(1612–1660)
16th Earl of Kildare
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | Charles Louis
(1617–1680)
Elector Palatine| | King Charles II
(1630–1685)| | Wentworth FitzGerald
(1634–1664)
17th Earl of Kildare| | Robert FitzGerald
(1638–1698)
Duke of Leinster (1st creation), 1691| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Meinhardt Schomberg
(1641–1719)
Duke of Leinster, Duke of Schomberg, Marquess of Harwich, Earl of Brentford, Earl of Bangor, Baron Tara, Count of Mértola (Portugal)| | Raugravine Caroline Elisabeth
(1659–1696)| | Charles Lennox
(1672–1723)
Duke of Richmond| | John FitzGerald
(1661–1707)
18th Earl of Kildare| | Robert FitzGerald
(1675–1744)
19th Earl of Kildare

Dukedom of Leinster (1st creation) extinct, 1719| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | |
| | | | Charles Schomberg
(1683–1713)
styled Marquess of Harwich| | Charles Lennox
(1701–1750)
Duke of Richmond| | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Viscount Leinster, of Taplow in the County of Buckingham, 1747
Marquess of Kildare, 1761
Duke of Leinster (2nd creation), 1766
| | | | | | | | Emily Lennox
(1731–1814)| | James FitzGerald
(1722–1773)
1st Duke of Leinster, 1st Marquess of Kildare, 20th Earl of Kildare, 1st Earl of Offaly, 1st Viscount Leinster, 1st Baron Offaly

| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Baron Lecale| | Baron Rayleigh
| | | | George FitzGerald
(1748–1765)
styled Earl of Offaly| | William Robert FitzGerald
(1749–1804)
2nd Duke of Leinster, 2nd Marquess of Kildare, 21st Earl of Kildare, 2nd Earl of Offaly, 2nd Viscount Leinster, 2nd Baron Offaly| | Charles James FitzGerald
(1756–1810)
Baron Lecale| | Charlotte Strutt
(1758–1836)
1st Baroness Rayleigh
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | Lecale barony extinct, 1810| | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | George FitzGerald
(1783–1784)
styled Marquess of Kildare| | Augustus Frederick FitzGerald
(1791–1874)
3rd Duke of Leinster, 3rd Marquess of Kildare, 22nd Earl of Kildare, 3rd Earl of Offaly, 3rd Viscount Leinster, 8th Baron Offaly| | | | | | John James Strutt
(1796–1873)
2nd Baron Rayleigh
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Baron Kildare, 1870
| | | | | | | | Charles William FitzGerald
(1819–1887)
4th Duke of Leinster, 4th Marquess of Kildare, 23rd Earl of Kildare, 4th Earl of Offaly, 4th Viscount Leinster, 9th Baron Offaly, 1st Baron Kildare| | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Gerald FitzGerald
(1851–1893)
5th Duke of Leinster, 5th Marquess of Kildare, 24th Earl of Kildare, 5th Earl of Offaly, 5th Viscount Leinster, 10th Baron Offaly, 2nd Baron Kildare| | | | | | John William Strutt
(1842–1919)
3rd Baron Rayleigh
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | | |
Maurice FitzGerald
(1887–1922)
6th Duke of Leinster, 6th Marquess of Kildare, 25th Earl of Kildare, 6th Earl of Offaly, 6th Viscount Leinster, 11th Baron Offaly, 3rd Baron Kildare| | Lord Desmond FitzGerald
(1888–1916)| | Edward FitzGerald
(1892–1976)
7th Duke of Leinster, 7th Marquess of Kildare, 26th Earl of Kildare, 7th Earl of Offaly, 7th Viscount Leinster, 12th Baron Offaly, 4th Baron Kildare| | | | | | Robert John Strutt
(1875–1947)
4th Baron Rayleigh
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | | | | | Gerald FitzGerald
(1914–2004)
8th Duke of Leinster, 8th Marquess of Kildare, 27th Earl of Kildare, 8th Earl of Offaly, 8th Viscount Leinster, 13th Baron Offaly, 5th Baron Kildare| | | | | | John Arthur Strutt
(1908–1988)
5th Baron Rayleigh
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | |
| | | | Maurice FitzGerald
(b. 1948)
9th Duke of Leinster, 9th Marquess of Kildare, 28th Earl of Kildare, 9th Earl of Offaly, 9th Viscount Leinster, 14th Baron Offaly, 6th Baron Kildare| | Lord John FitzGerald
(1952–2015)| | | | | | John Gerald Strutt
(b. 1960)
6th Baron Rayleigh
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| | | | Thomas FitzGerald
(1974–1997)
styled Earl of Offaly| | Edward FitzGerald
(b. 1988)| | | | | | John Frederick Strutt
(b. 1993)
| | | | | | | | Heir presumptive to the Leinster dukedom| | | | | | Heir apparent to the Barony Rayleigh

## Coat of arms

[edit]

Arms of the Duke of Leinster

The coat of arms of the Dukes of Leinster derives from the legend that John FitzGerald, 1st Earl of Kildare, as a baby in Woodstock Castle, was trapped in a fire when a pet monkey rescued him. The FitzGeralds then adopted a monkey as their crest (and later supporters) and occasionally use the additional motto Non immemor beneficii (Not forgetful of a helping hand).[22] The motto "Crom A Boo" comes from the medieval Croom Castle and "Abu", meaning "up" in Irish; Crom Abu was the FitzGeralds' medieval warcry. Crom (Croom) and Shanet (Shanid) were two castles about 16 miles apart in County Limerick, one being the seat of the Geraldines of Kildare, and the other that of the Geraldines of Desmond, whose distinctive war cries were accordingly “Crom-a-boo” and “Shanet-a-boo.” In 1495 an act of Parliament was passed (10 Hen. 7. c. 20 (Ir)) “to abolish the words Crom-a-boo and Butler-a-boo.” The word “Abu” or “Aboo,” an exclamation of defiance, was the usual termination of the war cries in Ireland, as in a' buaidh, "to victory!"[23] Saint Patrick's Saltire, a red saltire on a white field, may have been adapted from the duke's arms on the 1783 creation of the Order of Saint Patrick, of which the 2nd Duke of Leinster was the senior founder knight.

* Escutcheon: Argent a saltire gules.
* Crest: A monkey 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

[edit]

* Irish nobility
* Baron Offaly
* Baron Lecale
* Baron Rayleigh
* Baron de Ros
* Earl of Desmond

## References

[edit]

1. ^ 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.
2. ^ Scriven, Marcus (1 December 2009). Splendour and Squalor: The Disgrace and Disintegration of Three Aristocratic Dynasties. Atlantic Books. ISBN 9781848874855 - via Google Books.
3. ^ Maynooth, Archaeology in (13 December 2011). "Maynooth Castle The History Part 3". Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
4. ^ Oireachtais, Tithe an. "Teach Laighean, Tithe an Oireachtais". Archived from the original on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
5. ^ 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
6. ^ Peterkin, Tom. Battle over Irish dukedom settled[dead link], Daily Telegraph, 21 April 2007. Accessed 12 June 2008.
7. ^ a b "Theresa Caudill". Archived from the original on 25 August 2016. Retrieved 25 August 2016.
8. ^ a b Craig, Olga (14 May 2006). "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.
9. ^ 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
10. ^ American loses battle over Leinster dukedom claim Archived 2016-03-03 at the Wayback Machine \- website IrishAbroad
11. ^ 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
12. ^ Angela Lambert, Unquiet Souls (Harper & Row, 1984), p. 64
13. ^ Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles (1904) [1986]. The Art of Heraldry: An Encyclopædia of Armory. London: Bloomsbury Books. p. 485\. ISBN 0-906223-34-2.
14. ^ a b c d e Burke's Peerage, volume 2 (2003), p. 2297
15. ^ A Californian claimant, an 'escape' from the trenches and the fight for a dukedom, The Daily Telegraph, accessed 6 August 2014
16. ^ "The Duke of Leinster". The Telegraph. 7 December 2004. Retrieved 28 November 2023.
17. ^ "Thomas Earl of Offaly killed in car accident". The Irish Times. 20 May 1997.
18. ^ Lanwades Stud - Newmarket - Information, archived 22 February 2012
19. ^ "FITZGERALD - Deaths Announcements - Telegraph Announcements". Announcements.telegraph.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 December 2015. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
20. ^ "Lord John FitzGerald", in Debrett's People of Today (Debrett's Peerage Limited), January 1995, ISBN 9781870520249
21. ^ Morris, Susan; Bosberry-Scott, Wendy; Belfield, Gervase, eds. (2019). "Leinster, Duke of". Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage. Vol. 1 (150th ed.). London: Debrett's Ltd. pp. 3333–3336. ISBN 978-1-999767-0-5-1.
22. ^ "burkes-peerage.net - burkes-peerage Resources and Information". Archived from the original on 14 March 2007. Retrieved 10 January 2007.
23. ^ Complete Peerage. (1890) Vol III. (D-F) p358 "Fitz-Gerald of Offaly".

## Further reading

[edit]

* 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: Four Courts Press. ISBN 9781846825330. OCLC 872987047.
* Hesilrige, Arthur G. M. (1921). Debrett's Peerage and Titles of courtesy. London, UK: Dean & Son. p. 553.

## External Links

[edit]

* The Carton Collection at the Library of Trinity College Dublin contains works from the library of the Duke of Leinster.

* v
* t
* e

Extant dukedoms in the peerages of Britain and Ireland

Royal dukedoms|

* Cornwall and Rothesay
* Cambridge
* Sussex
* York
* Edinburgh
* Gloucester
* Kent

England |

* Norfolk
* Somerset
* Richmond
* Grafton
* Beaufort
* St Albans
* Bedford
* Devonshire
* Marlborough
* Rutland

Scotland |

* Hamilton
* Buccleuch
* Lennox
* Queensberry
* Argyll
* Atholl
* Montrose
* Roxburghe

Great Britain |

* Brandon
* Manchester
* Northumberland

Ireland |

* Leinster
* Abercorn

United Kingdom |

* Wellington
* Sutherland
* Westminster
* Gordon
* Argyll
* Fife

Italics: This title is held by a peer who holds another of higher precedence.
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[c.]: circa
*[d.]: died
*[b.]: born