Nesta of Wales

The Treacherous ‘King of Carew’

Mar 1, 2023

anniversaries, battles, buildings, law, travel

“Lambert Simnel”, “Perkin”, Brecon Castle, Carew Castle, Carmarthen Castle, castles, executions, Gerald of Windsor, Henry Rice, James Lord Audley, limestone, Lord Ferrers, Milford Haven, Nesta of Wales, Nottingham Castle, Pembrokeshire, rebellions, Rhys ap Thomas, The Cornish Rebellion, Wales

Recently I went on a little jaunt to visit some fine Welsh Castles. One of those happened to be Carew in Pembrokshire, an impressive limestone fortress overlooking Carew inlet, which is part of the Milford Haven Waterway. Built by the Norman Gerald of Windsor, the site stands on the lands of his wife, the…
Death in Drogheda: Thomas Fitzgerald, 7th Earl of Desmond

Feb 15, 2023

anniversaries, battles, genealogy, law, religion, sources

“Perkin”, Anglo-Norman lordships, Annals of the Four Masters, Anne Butler, Annette Carson, archers, attainder, bigamy, Burkes of Clanricarde, coyne and livery, Dame Elizabeth Corbet, de Burghs, Dictionary of Irish Biography, dispensations, Drogheda, Earls of Desmond, Earls of Kildare, Earls of Ormond, Edward IV, Edward Plunkett, Elizabeth Woodville, Elizabeth Wydeville, Ellice Barry, executions, Fitzgeralds, Henry II, Henry V, Ireland, John Ashdown-Hill, John Earl of Shrewsbury, John Tiptoft Earl of Worcester, Lionel of Antwerp, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, Lord Deputy of Ireland, Maurice Fitzgerald, Nesta of Wales, Pale, Peter Spring, Piltown, pre-contract, Ricardian, Sir John Butler, Sir Roland FitzEustace, South Munster, Statute of Kilkenny, Tadhg King of Thomond, The Book of Howth, The Ricardian, treason, William Shirwood

FAMILY BACKGROUND The FitzGeralds of Desmond traced their descent from Maurice FitzGerald, son of Gerald of Windsor and the Welsh princess Nest. The original Norman conquests were confined to the eastern parts of Ireland, and the Anglo-Norman lordship as created by Henry II was based on a clear division of authority between this area and…
The Welsh princess men found irresistible….

Dec 1, 2021

anniversaries, battles, buildings

Carew Castle, Cilgerran Castle, Gerald de Windsor, Henry I, Kings of South Wales, Nesta of Wales, Owain ap Cadwgan, Pembroke Castle, Powys

When it comes to medieval ladies whose story I have always wanted to write but have never found the moment. something else always got in the way. One such lady is Princess Nest/Nesta of Wales, daughter of the last King of South Wales, whose life spanned the end of the 11th century and beginning…

Nesta of Wales

The Treacherous ‘King of Carew’

Death in Drogheda: Thomas Fitzgerald, 7th Earl of Desmond

The Welsh princess men found irresistible….