Gerald FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Desmond

In 1356 he was brought to England as a hostage for his father's good behaviour, but as his father died that same year, he was soon released. Three years later, he succeeded his brother Maurice, who had died without male heirs, and became the 3rd Earl of Desmond. King Edward III confirmed Gerald in his large estates in Munster, provided that he marry Eleanor Butler, daughter of the Justiciar, James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond. Gerald did so, but did not make peace with Ormond, nor adopt English ways and customs as expected. ==Career and poetry==

According to Alfred Webb: Duanaire Ghearóid Iarla (The Poem-Book of Earl Gerald) is preserved in a fifteenth-century manuscript, the Book of Fermoy. In addition, nine of his poems are preserved in the Book of the Dean of Lismore. Duanaire Ghearóid Iarla was published by Gearóid Mac Niocaill in Studia Hibernica 3 (1963): 7-59. In 1367 Desmond was made Lord Chief Justice of Ireland, Also an accomplished poet in Norman French, Gerald was instrumental in the move by the Desmond Geraldines towards greater use of the Irish language. ==In legend==

, beneath which Earl Gerald was said to sleep In legend, Gerald's conception was the result of his father's romantic relationship with, or rape of, the goddess Áine, updating it with themes drawn from the Francophone courtly love poetry of Continental Europe, and will someday awaken and ride forth on a silver-shod steed to rule again in Desmond, – one of the many worldwide versions of the King asleep in mountain mythologisation of heroes. ==Marriage and issue==

In 1359 Gerald married Eleanor (or Ellen) Butler, daughter of James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond. She died in 1404. They had four sons: • John FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Desmond • Maurice FitzGerald • James FitzGerald, 6th Earl of Desmond, 'the Usurper' • Robert FitzGerald de Adair and two daughters: • Joan, who married Maurice FitzJohn, Lord of Kerry • Catherine, who married John FitzThomas ==See also==