White Knight Fitzgibbon

The Pedigree of The White Knight was one of three hereditary knighthoods within Ireland dating from the Medieval period. [ [http://www.burkes-peerage.net/articles/peerage/page66-knight.aspx Burke's Peerage - Article Library - A to Z Definition Guide ] ] . It was held by the Fitzgibbon family. Possibly extinct now. [http://www.thepeerage.com/p18981] The others are Fitzgerald:Knight of Glin (Black Knight) and Fitzmaurice: Knight of Kerry (Green Knight)

Hereditary Knighthoods

The nature of the hereditary knightly titles born by several branches of the Desmond Geraldines cannot be explained by the usages of the feudal system. That the knighthood should be inheritable is contrary to all the principles of chivalry. It was strictly a personal honor only to be won by deeds of valour and daring in the battlefield, though latterly claimed as a right by certain privileged classes.

The hereditary transmission of the knightly title was never legalised until King James 1. invented the grade of baronet to replenish his coffers. The Geraldines of Desmond adopted all the peculiar customs, and assumed the distinctive rights of Irish Chieftans.

The Earldom itself was frequently conferred on the most stalwart scion of the race, setting aside the next male heir. When, then, the heads of certain Geraldine families had once been knighted, either by the King or the Viceroy, or their own Seignior, The Earl of Desmond, the title came to be transmitted by Irish custom.

Whether the title of the hereditary last White Knight could now be re-assumed by an heir male of one of the older braches of that race is a question which would seem to demand an affirmative solution.

It is, at all events, plain that it could not have passed away with an heiress, as Irish Chieftain titles never went with the spindle.

ClanGibbon

The following account of the Clangibbon, a race at one time inferior in power to the Earls of Desmond themselves, and which survived the fall of their Over-Lords, is printed at the expense of Messrs. Maurice and Abraham Fitzgibbon, from the MS. already described in the preface to the first instalment of these inedited Unpublished Geraldine Documents.

(see Vol. 1., P. 4); The source from which the compiler of that MS. derived his information is not indicated by him, but the narrative which he copied bears internal evidence of having been originally written after the restoration of Charles 2, from information supplied by earlier authorities.

List

#Maurice FitzGibbon (–1357)
#David FitzGibbon
#John FitzGibbon
#Maurice FitzGibbon (–1419)
#John FitzGibbon
#Maurice Mor FitzGibbon
#John FitzGibbon
#John FitzGibbon (–1569)
#Edmond FitzJohn FitzGibbon (–23 April 1608)
#Maurice FitzGibbon (–1608)
#Maurice FitzGibbonOne notable knight was Edmund Fitzgibbon.

The Death of John FitzThomas FitzGerald

I cannot in my beginning but endeavour to clear these worthy brethren from the scandalous imputation some unbrideled rouges have late aspersed them, who without ground or authority have alledged that these brethren; worthy of everlasting renown, were illigitemate children of John Fitzthomas Fitzgerald who was slain at Callen by MacCarthy as you have before read in the pedigree of the Earls of Desmond; their whole stress depending on the false construction of one verse I have produced in the general search and inquisition of The Geraldines throughout Ireland. Composed by Old Throna Mulionox the great Antiquary and Master of Art in the Irish Tounge. Whose ancestors were the chief Chroniclers and Registers for The Geraldines since their first arrival to The Conquest of Ireland."

A.D. 1260These four brothers were the sons of John FitzThomas FitzGerald lawfully begotten on the bodey of his second wife, Who was Honara the daughter of O'Conner Donne of Connaught, and the last two of these were born at one birth, in which the mother lost her life.

These children being thus left in their infancy, were looked upon with much care and diligence, and their father in his life time sent them unto four noble Irish families of great estate and lands, with them to be nursed, and well trained up in such a manner of disquise as it seemed best to their said fosterers, for a time to shun the fury of MacCarthy, who then grew mighty and very grevious to most of his subjects in Munster, whose ancestors, not long before, were absolute Princes of Desmond. It was also to avoid MacCarthy's power and greatness that the infant Thomas mentioned afore being sole heir of The Geraldines, was commited to the safe custody and keeping of the Fryars in The Monastery of Traley for their sanctuary.

The elder of these four brothers was named Gilbert FitzJohn, whose Foster father was called by name Gibbon O'Cunyne, who carried away to raise the child Gilbert with him into Twomond, where his estate and dwelling was; and named him after himself, so that the child was to be raised secretly named young Gibbon O'Cunyne, and by this means those of Clangibbon are most commenly so nominated by custom ever since. Clangibbon was named after Gilbert FitzJohn Legitimate son of John FitzThomas Fitzgerald and Foster named after (Gibbon O'Cunyne) his foster father to be raised in secrecy.

The second son was carried away and fostered by O'Cullane. The third son Maurice, O'Kennedy carried away and fostered; and the fourth son, Dermond O'Knogher took away.

Not long after their father and elder brother being slain by MacCarthy, these children, (and also Thomas Fitzgerald their nephew, being the heir), who were all of so tender age, as they were in a manner past all recovery, and unlikely ever to lift up their heads again, were in their youth kept by their faithful friends and fosterers under such clouds of obscurity, until the clear sun of everlasting providence was pleased to dissipate the clouds of their misfortunes so that at last they recovered their due fame and renowne, and being arrived to some years of perfection, they were always mightily helped and assited by FitzMaurice of Kerry, Who matched his daughter with the said heir Thomas FitzGerald. After which time they were ever victorious, and triumphed over their adversaries in so much as they were glad to creep to them and sue for peace.

'"Three renowned surviving Knights of Gerald's powerful race"In Ireland (Well 'twas known), being stoutest had the place;"To distinguish each of these Gallants progeny,"By right of birth and worth, The White Knight bore the sway."'

These four brothers having arrived to some years of perfection, though not too much discretion, and Thomas FitzGerald, their nephew, being at ease and well settled in his estate and dignity, called home for these youngsters, who before that time never knew themselves, nor hardly others, but were undoughtly assured that they were the children of these fosterers who brought them up.

Now, having certain knowledge, and it being perfectly given to understand whose children they really were, they thought it time to employ that breeding both literature and arms which their fosterers had bestowed on them. Nothing would now satisfy their aspiring thoughts but war and disturbance; wherefore, being informed of the death of their father and elder brother by The MacCarthys, they would need to pick a new quarrell with him, to exercise their vengence on him; but before this time there was peace concluded on between MacCarthys, and that family; so that being dissappointed of their design in that, they were forced to accept to civil employments, whereon they should be occupied. Upon Gilbert the elder brother, he bestowed, Mene, Mahawanagh; and several other lands thereabouts, and constituted him overseer of all his estate and affairs both at home and abroad.

1. Gilbert Fitzgerald, from whom descended the White Knight;

2. John Fitzgerald, ancestor of the Knight of Glynn;

3. Maurice Fitzgerald, form whom the Knight of Kerry descended; and

4. Thomas Fitzgerald, ancestor to the Fitz-Gerald of the island of Kerry.

"The White Knight" - To Gilbert Fitzjohn, the eldest of these sons, his father John Fitzthomas Fitzgerald gave the manors of Castleton and Mitcheltown, in the county of Cork, and other large possessions. Gilbert's son, Maurice, was called Fitz-Gibbon, i. e. son of Gilbert, as were his descendents; by the irish, they were called Clan-Gibbon, the tribe of Gibbon; and by the Hiberno-Normans, Fitz-Gibbon.

"This Gilbert was of fair hair and complexion, and, being knighted, was called "The White Knight"; and by the Irish Ryther-u-fin. His eldest male descendent were constantly denominated by that title until the time of Queen Elizabeth, when John Og FitzGibbon, the then White Knight, who had taken an active part in the Desmond Rebellions of his kinsmon The Earl of Desmond, was attained by act of parliment, after his death, by the name of John Fitzgerald, The White Knight, or John Og FitzJohn, Knight, FitzGibbon.

References