Keeper of Dublin Lord of Llanstephan, Wales Maurice FitzGerald

Notes:

Died:
Abbey Grey Friar, Welford, Berkshire, England

Family/Spouse: Alice de Montgomery. Alice (daughter of Arnulph de Montgomery and Lafracoth O'Brien) was born in 1115 in Munster, Ireland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. 1st Baron of Offaly Gerald FitzMaurice was born about 1150 in Windsor, Berkshire, England; died before 15 Jan 1203/04 in Offaly, Kildare, Ireland.
2. Lord of Connello Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald was born about 1153 in Wexford, Kildare, Ireland; died in 1213 in Shanid, Connello, Ireland.
3. Nesta FitzGerald was born about 1145; died on 15 Jan 1203/04.

Notes:

Granted Mulsford, Berks. by Henry I; Constable of Pembroke Castle, 1108

Gerald married Nest verch Rhys about 1089. Nest (daughter of King of Deheubarth Rhys ap Tewdwr Mawr and Gwladus verch Rhiwallon) was born about 1073 in Dynevor, Llandyfeisant, Caemarvonshire, Wales; died about 1163. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Known as the most beautiful woman in Wales. She had many lovers. In Christmas 1108 Owain ap Cadwgan of Cardigan came to visit Gerald and Nesta. He so lusted after her that he, that night, attacked the castle and carried her off and had his way with her. This upset Henry I so much that the incident started a war.

Nesta - mother and grandmother of Norman-Welsh Invaders; children from three fathers: Stephen the Castellan, Gerald FitzWalter and Henry I. In Christmas 1108 Owain ap Cadwgan of Cardigan came to visit Gerald and Nesta. He so lusted after her that he, that night, attacked the castle and carried her off and had his way with her. This upset Henry I so much that the incident started a war. Her father was Rhys ap Tewdwr Mawr, Prince of South Wales (1081-1093). Her brother, Gruffydd ap Rhys, Lord of South Wales was the father and grandfather of two Gruffydd Ap Rhys, who were titled Lord Rhys of South Wales.


South Wales is quite long. Her father was Rhys ap Tewdwr Mawr, son of was Tewdwr Mawr (the Great) ap Cadell. Tewdr Mawr was the son of Cadell ap Einion, son of Einion ap Owain, who in turn was the son of Owain ap Hywel Dha, King of South Wales. Owain was the son of Hywel Dha (the Good) ap Cadell, Prince of Deheubarth, who in turn was the son of Cadell ap Rhodri Mawr, King of South Wales. Cadell was the son of Rhodri Mawr (the Great), Prince of South Wales, who was the son of Merfyn the Freckled, King of Gwynedd, who was in turn the son of Gwriad of Man, King of Gwynedd, and so on. her had a son named Henry FitzHenry (1103-1157). One of Henry's sons was Meiler FitzHenry who was also involved in the Norman invasion. Henry also had sons, Robert, Master Morgan and Amabel FitzHenry. Meiler married a de Lacy, claimed to be a daughter of Robert de Lacy (d. 1220), and had another son known as Meiler FitzHenry. The elder Meiler (or Meyler) FitzHenry assisted a David (Walsh) in becoming rector of Dungarvan and Bishop of Waterford in 1204.

Notes:

Castellan of Windsor 1078; warden of Forests in Berks 1066-1078

Walter married Beatrice de Offaly. Beatrice was born about 1041 in Offaly, Kildare, Ireland. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

THE NORMANS OVER-RUN WALES

By 1081 the native dynasties had reasserted their integrity with Gruffuddap Cynan and Rhys ap Tewdwr emerging to the fore. However it was apparent that the fragmented Wales bequeathed by the defeat of 1063 was ill placed to resist the Norman power. That challenge assumed the form of both piecemeal advance by the Marcher lords as well as the concerted power of William the Conqueror.

Initially Wales suffered the brunt of attack by both. Indicating his commitment to exercise overlordship William I in 1081 led an expedition into South West Wales - in all probability accepting the submission of Rhys ap Tewdwr of Deheubarth in return for an annual payment of L40. Gruffudd ap Cynan was not as fortunate. He was captured by the forces of the Earl of Chester and imprisoned for at least twelve years. During this period individual Marcher lords were also conquering territory along the Welsh border.

Rhys ap Tewdwr survived in power until 1093 but his death created a power vacuum into which both Welsh contenders and Norman Marcher lords - with centralized aid and direction - rushed. As a consequence Wales was effectively over-run. It appeared that the Norman conquest of England of 1066 was being followed by the Norman conquest of Wales of 1093.

"1093 ...Rhys ap Tewdwr, king of Deheubarth, was slain by the French who were inhabiting Brycheiniog. And then fell the kingdom of the Britons..... And then, two months after that, .... the French came to Dyfed and Ceredigion, which they have held to this day, and they fortified them with castles ; and they seized all the land of the Britons ...."

Brut y Tywysogion 1093 (Hergest version.)

Rhys married Gwladus verch Rhiwallon. Gwladus (daughter of Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn) was born about 1041 in Powys, Wales. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her marriage to Walter Fitz Other is indicated in 2 WFT's. However it is not backed by Burke's Peerage. Additionally her daughter is documented (by WFT and Burke's) to be the wife of Walter's son Gerald FitzWalter which would not have been allowed if Nesta were her child by Walter.

Tewdwr married Gwenllian. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]