Gerald FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Kildare

Gerald FitzGerald (1525-1585), also known as the "Wizard Earl" (a sobriquet also given to Henry Percy, 9th Earl of Northumberland), was the 11th Earl of Kildare.

FitzGerald became the sole male representative of the Kildare Geraldines when only twelve years of age, after his half brother Silken Thomas—the tenth earl— together with 5 of his uncles were executed at Tyburn in 1537 ["Surviving the Tudors - The ‘Wizard’ Earl of Kildare and English Rule in Ireland, 1537–1586" Author: Brady C. Oxford University Press, 2002] . Thereafter he was on the run in Ireland and ended up in Donegal under the guardianship of his aunt, Lady Eleanor McCarthy, the wife of the O Domhnaill chief. Around his claims to the Earldom of Kildare formed the short-lived Geraldine League, a federation including the O'Neills, the O'Donnells, the O'Briens of Thomond, and other powerful Irish clans, related to the Geraldines by marriage. The League came to nothing after the principal members were badly defeated in Monaghan following a raid into The Pale in August 1539.

FitzGerald escaped Ireland with a few loyal servants and was protected from Henry VIII and his agents by King Francis I of France and Emperor Charles V of the Holy Roman Empire. He was educated at a monastery in Liège, and spent time with the Bishop of Verona, the Cardinal of Mantua and the Duke of Mantua. From his time at the Duke's court, Kildare was fluent in Italian and experienced in the court culture of Renaissance Italy. He then moved on to Rome, to his kinsman Cardinal Reginald Pole. He spent three years studying there under his guidance. [Who's Who in British History. ISBN 1-85585-771 - 5. p 320] ; He fought with the Knights of Rhodes against the Turks and during these years in exile he travelled as far as Tripoli in Libya, then held by the Knights of St. John. He returned to Kildare following the death of Henry VIII and was received at court.There his lands were returned to him by Edward IV.Also, at court he met Mabel Browne, daughter of Sir Anthony, Master of the Horse. They were wed on 28 May 1554 in the Chapel Royal. During the reign of Henry VIII's daughter Mary I in 1554 FitzGerald helped suppress the rebellion of Sir Thomas Wyatt the younger. He was created Earl of Kildare and Baron of Offaly. He returned to Ireland soon after receiving his titles. [Who's Who in British History. ISBN 1-85585-771 - 5. p 320]

His interest in alchemy caused much interest among those living around his Kilkea Castle, and he was said to possess magic powers. This interest earned him the nickname "the Wizard Earl".

The Earl died in 1585, and according to legend his ghost returns to the castle every seventh year, mounted on a silver-shod white charger.

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