Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly

Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly (1238 – before 10 November 1286) was a Norman-Irish peer, soldier, and Justiciar of Ireland from 1272 to 1273.

Career
He was born in 1238 in Wexford, Ireland, one of the sons of Maurice FitzGerald, 2nd Lord of Offaly and Juliana, whose surname is unknown. He had three brothers, Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1243), Thomas FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died 1271), David FitzMaurice FitzGerald (died without issue). Maurice was known by the nickname of Maurice Mael (in English bald). He succeeded as 3rd Lord of Offaly on 20 May 1257, upon the death of his father at Youghal Monastery, bypassing the rightful heir to the barony, his nephew Maurice (died 1268), son of his elder brother, Gerald FitzMaurice FitzGerald who had died in 1243.

In May 1262, he was among the chief magnates in Ireland summoned to inform King Henry III of England and his son Prince Edward about conditions in the country. He was summoned again in June 1265. Maurice was appointed Justiciar of Ireland on 23 June 1272 following the accidental death of his predecessor, James de Audley on 11 June of that year; his father had served in the same capacity from 1232 to 1245. Maurice himself held the post until September 1273, when he was succeeded by Sir Geoffrey de Geneville, Seigneur de Vaucouleurs.

He held four knight's fees in both Lea and Geashill from Roger Mortimer, 1st Baron Mortimer who had inherited them from his wife, Maud de Braose.

In 1276, he led a force of men from Connacht against the Irish clans of County Wicklow. Maurice's contingent joined the main army of Normans jointly commanded by his son-in-law, Thomas de Clare, Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal who had been made Lord of Thomond earlier that same year, and Sir Geoffrey de Geneville, Maurice's successor as Justiciar of Ireland. The Normans under Lords Thomond and Justiciar de Geneville attacked the Irish at Glenmalure, but were defeated and suffered heavy losses.

Marriages and issue
Sometime between May 1258 and 28 October 1259, he married his first wife, Maud de Prendergast, daughter of Sir Gerald de Prendergast of Beauvoir and an unnamed daughter of Richard Mor de Burgh. Together he and Maud had two daughters: Maurice was Maud's third husband. She died on an unknown date. In 1273, Maurice married his second wife, Emeline Longespee (1252–1291), daughter of Stephen Longespee and Emmeline de Ridelsford. His marriage to Emeline was childless. Emeline's property was inherited by Maud la Zouche, Lady Holand, granddaughter of her elder sister, Ela Longespee.
 * Juliana FitzGerald (c.1263 Dublin, Ireland- 24 September 1300), married firstly, Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond, by whom she had four children; she married secondly Nicholas Avenel, and thirdly, Adam de Cretynges.
 * Amabel FitzGerald, married but died childless.

Maurice died sometime before 10 November 1286 at Ross, County Wexford. As he did not have any sons, he was succeeded by his nephew John FitzGerald, who would be created 1st Earl of Kildare on 14 May 1316. John was the son of his brother Thomas by Rohesia de St. Michael.