John FitzGeoffrey - Lord of Shere

During Henry III's reign, John FitzGeoffrey was an English Nobleman, Crown official, and Justiciar of Ireland. As Justiciar, he was the viceroy of the English Monarch and presided over the Privy Council of Ireland.

 

John was born around 1205 in Shere, Surrey, England. His father was Geoffrey Fitz Peter, 1st Earl of Essex, and his mother was Aveline de Clare, daughter of Roger de Clare, 2nd Earl of Hertford. On April 12th, 1234, he married Isabel Bigod, daughter of Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk. He was Isabel's second husband, and they had seven children. John also began his career in royal service in 1234 when he became sheriff of Yorkshire, England.

After Maurice FitzGerald was removed from the Justiciarship of Ireland, King Henry III informally appointed John in September of 1245. John FitzGeoffrey was officially appointed Justiciar of Ireland on November 4th, 1245, serving from 1245 to 1255. As Justiciar or chief governor, he was the senior official in the Dublin Castle Administration, responsible for maintaining English rule in Ireland. He was the viceroy of the King of England and presided over the Privy Council in Ireland.

John was a strong viceroy. During his time as Justiciar, many of the Anglo-Norman lordships in Ireland were held by minors, making it easier to assert royal authority. He owned much land in Ireland, which he acquired through his marriage to Isabel.

In 1247, he held courts in Ulster, during which he reorganized the province's government. In 1248, John constructed a bridge across the Bann at Coleraine and built Killowen Castle in County Down.

FitzGeoffrey was one of the leaders of the baronial opposition to King Henry III in 1258. On April 1st, 1258, Aymer de Valence, Bishop of Winchester, sent a small force to attack John's men at Shere in Surrey, England, which resulted in one of them being killed. John demanded justice from the King, but Henry refused justice against Aymer, his half-brother. This angered the barons and caused John to ally with six other magnates on April 12th, 1258. In August 1258, Simon de Montfort and John FitzGeoffrey authored the Confederation of Magnates.

On November 23rd, 1258, John FitzGeoffrey suddenly died in King's Lynn, Norfolk, England. Despite his opposition to the King earlier that year, Henry donated a cloth of gold to shroud his coffin and ordered a mass to be celebrated for his soul. John was buried at Shouldham Priory in Norfolk, England.