Meiler FitzHenry

Ancestors

Died 1220 in Ireland

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Biography

An important Anglo-Irish magnate, with Welsh family connections.

In 1167, Diarmaid Mac Murchadha (Dermot MacMurrough) and Meiler's uncle, Robert fitz Stephen led an advance party of Norman adventurers to Ireland, including Robert's nephews, Miler Fitz Henry, Milo Fitz David and Hervé de Marisco They captured Wexford, and camped at Ferns, waiting for Richard de Clare, better known as "Strongbow" to arrive with reinforcements. ^{[1] [2]}

In 1199, Myler fitz Henry was made a Governor of Ireland ^[3] "By letters of credence, issued in 1200, John ordered his Barons of Ireland to deliver hostages for their fidelity to Meiller Fitz-Henri, and to obey him as chief governor of all his land in Ireland." ^[4]

Gilbert writes "King John, during the first four years of his reign, entrusted the Viceroyalty to Meiller Fitz-Henri, who, while a youth, had, as already noticed, served with his Geraldine kinsmen, the first Anglo-Norman adventurers in Ireland." ^[5]

Meiler Fitzhenry began the construction of Dublin Castle as a major defensive work in 1204 ^[6]

In his History of the viceroys of Ireland, Gilbert describes "Fitz-Henri, so named from his father Henry having been an illegitimate son of King Henry I of England, was short in stature, of dark complexion, with black eyes, a stern, penetrating aspect, and remarkable for his impetuous, but unreasoning military ardour. De Lasci (Hugh de Lacy) had given him Ardnurcher in Meath, ^[7] and from the Earl Richard he received Kildare, with adjacent lands, which he subsequently exchanged for Laoighis, or Leix (County Laois) comprising the eastern and southern parts of the district now styled the Queen's County, where a castle was erected for him by Hugues de Lasci, his wife's uncle. Meiller, we are told, was induced to consent to this change, because the interests of the colony required all the energies of a vigorous and indefatigable commander to repress the native septs in the rough and woody territory of Leix, lying on the borders, or 'marches,' of the Anglo-Norman settlement." (The Pale) ^[8]

Fitz-Henri was succeeded in Ireland, in 1203, as Viceroy by Hugh de Lacy (Hugues de Lasci,) Lord of Meath

In 1212, Donnell, the son of Donnell O'Melaghlin, was slain, while on a predatory excursion, by the people of Meyler. ^[9]

Meiler died in 1220, interred in Great Connell Priory, an Augustinian monastery in county Kildare, that he had founded in 1202. His grave was marked by headstone with the inscription: "Conduntur tumulo Meyleri Nobilis ossa, Indomitus domitor totius gentis Hiberniae." ^{[10] [11] [12]}

Meiler Fitzhenry is said to have married a niece of Hugh de Lacy, and had a son named Meiler who was active in Ireland. ^[13]

Sources

1. ↑ "About the beginning of May, Robert Fitz-Stephens, sometime Governor of the Castle of Cardigan, remembering his promise with 30 horse-men among whom the principal were Miler Fitz-Henry, Milo Fitz-David of Menevia and Harvey de Montemarisco with 60 Men at Arms and 300 Archers on foot in three ships, first of the Norman race landed in Ireland."The Antiquities and History of Ireland by Sir James Ware pub: A. Crook 1705
2. ↑ Library Ireland : Robert FitzStephen
3. ↑ The Present State of Great-Britain and Ireland: In Three Parts ... pdf by Guy Miege pub: 1718
4. ↑ History of the viceroys of Ireland; with notices of the Castle of Dublin and its chief occupants in former times 59: Meiller Fitz-Henri appointed Justiciary - by J.T.Gilbert
5. ↑ A description of Fitz Henry's activities in Ireland can be found in History of the viceroys of Ireland; with notices of the Castle of Dublin and its chief occupants in former times 59: Meiller Fitz-Henri appointed Justiciary - by J.T.Gilbert
6. ↑ Wikipedia : Dublin Castle
7. ↑ Ardnorwith.—Ardnorcher, or Horseleap, near Kilbeggan, in Westmeath, given by Hugh de Lacy to Meiler Fitz Henry. ‘Le cantref pus de Hadhnorkur / A Meiler qui ert de grant valur, / Donad Huge de Laci / Al bon Meiler le fitz Hervi.’ From Annales Hiberniae (Author: James Grace of Kilkenny), p.114
8. ↑ History of the viceroys of Ireland; with notices of the Castle of Dublin and its chief occupants in former times 59: Meiller Fitz-Henri appointed Justiciary - by J.T.Gilbert
9. ↑ Celt: Annals of the Four Masters : M1212.12
10. ↑ Hibernia anglicana, or, The history of Ireland, from the conquest thereof by the English, to this present time with an introductory discourse touching the ancient state of that kingdom and a new and exact map of the same p: 48 by Cox, Richard, Sir, 1650-1733.
11. ↑ Visions of the Past : Great Connell Church, Kildare, Ireland
12. ↑ Wikipedia : Great Connell Priory
13. ↑ Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900 - Fitzhenry, Meiler by Thomas Frederick Tout

• A description of Fitz Henry's activities in Ireland can be found in sections 16: Death of King Dermod; 17: Anglo Normans besieged in Dublin; 19: Irish Camp at Finglas Surprised; 59: Meiller Fitz-Henri appointed Justiciary in - History of the viceroys of Ireland; with notices of the Castle of Dublin and its chief occupants in former times by J.T.Gilbert
• https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Fitzhenry,_Meiler_(DNB00)
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Meiler_Fitzhenry
• http://what-when-how.com/medieval-ireland/fitzhenry-meiler-medieval-ireland/
• A brief biography of Meiler Fitz-Henry appears in James Wills' Lives of Illustrious and Distinguished Irishmen, from the earliest times to the present period (Dublin: Macgregor, Polson 1840-47) pp.326-7:
  • https://archive.org/details/livesofillustrio01willuoft/page/326/mode/2up