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Birth:          ABT 1245 Tonbridge, Kent, England
Death:          Feb 1288 Thomond, Connaught, County Clare, Ireland

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_de_Clare,_Lord_of_Thomond
Thomas de Clare, 1st Lord of Thomond, 1st Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal was a 
Hiberno-Norman peer and soldier. He was the second son of Richard de Clare, 6th 
Earl of Gloucester and his wife Maud de Lacy, Countess of Gloucester. On 26 January 
1276 he was granted the Lordship of Thomond by Edward I of England; he spent the 
next eight years attempting to conquer it from the O'Brien dynasty, kings of Thomond.
Career[edit]

Thomas was born in about 1245 in Tonbridge, Kent, England, the second eldest son 
of Richard de Clare and Maud de Lacy.[1] He and his brother Bogo received gifts from 
King Henry III when they were studying at Oxford from 1257–59.[2] Thomas was a 
close friend and intimate advisor of Prince Edward of England, who would in 1272 
accede to the throne as King Edward I. Together they took part in the Ninth Crusade. 
He held many important posts such as Governor of Colchester Castle (1266) and 
Governor of The City of London (1273). He was made Commander of the English 
forces in Munster, Ireland and created Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal. On 26 January 
1276, he was granted the entire lordship of Thomond by King Edward.

That same year, he jointly commanded a Norman army along with Sir Geoffrey de 
Geneville, Justiciar of Ireland against the Irish clans of County Wicklow. They were 
joined by a contingent of men from Connacht led by his father-in-law Maurice 
FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly. Thomas and Justiciar de Geneville's forces attacked the 
Irish at Glenmalure, but they were soundly defeated and suffered severe losses.[3]

Civil War in Thomond[edit]

Civil war raged in Thomond between the rival factions of the O'Brien dynasty. In 1276, 
Brian Ruad, the deposed King of Thomond appealed to Thomas for support to help him 
regain his kingdom from his great-nephew Toirrdelbach MacTaidg O' Brien, who had 
usurped the throne. In return for his aid, Brian Ruad promised that Thomas would be 
allowed to colonise all the land between Athsollus in Quin and Limerick.[4] Together, 
Thomas and Brian Ruad expelled Toirrdelbach MacTaidg O'Brien and recaptured 
Clonroad which the latter had taken from Brian Ruad. O'Brien escaped to Galway 
where he elicited the help of his cousin William de Burgh, and in 1277 together with 
the assistance from clans, MacNamara and O'Dea they defeated the combined forces 
of Thomas and Brian Ruad. The latter fled to Bunratty Castle, but Thomas had his 
former ally hanged and drawn for treason.[5] The civil war continued for the next 
seven years, with Thomas supporting Brian Ruad's son Donnchad against 
Toirrdelbach; however, following the drowning death of Donnchad in 1284, 
Toirrdelbach emerged the victor. Thereafter until his death in 1306, Toirrdelbach 
MacTaidg O'Brien ruled as undisputed King of Thomond and Thomas had no choice 
but to accommodate him. O'Brien rented part of Bunratty Manor at £121 per annum.[5] 
In 1280, Thomas embarked on a castle-building project at Quin, but was disrupted in 
his efforts by the O'Briens and MacNamaras. Thomas also reconstructed Bunratty 
Castle in stone, replacing the earlier wooden building.

Marriage and children[edit]

In February 1275, he married Juliana FitzGerald, the 12-year-old daughter of Maurice 
FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly and Maud de Prendergast.[6] During their marriage, 
Thomas and Juliana lived in Ireland and in England. For instance, on 5 May 1284 the 
King notified his bailiffs and lieges in Ireland of the attorneys who were to act in 
Ireland on behalf of the couple as they were then in England. This arrangement was to 
continue for three years, except when Thomas and Juliana went to Ireland.[7]

Thomas and Juliana had four children:
Maud de Clare (1276–1327), married firstly, Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford, by 
whom she had issue; and secondly Robert de Welles, 2nd Baron Welles.
Gilbert de Clare, Lord of Thomond, (3 February 1281–1308)
Richard de Clare, Steward of Forest of Essex, 1st Lord Clare, Lord of Thomond (after 
1281 – 10 May 1318), married a woman by the name of Joan, by whom he had one 
son, Thomas. He was killed at the Battle of Dysert O'Dea.
Margaret de Clare (c. 1 April 1287 – 22 October 1333/3 January 1334), married firstly, 
Gilbert de Umfraville; and secondly Bartholomew de Badlesmere, 1st Baron 
Badlesmere, by whom she had issue.

Death[edit]

When evidence was taken in 1302 to prove the age of his son Gilbert, it was 
established that Thomas had died on 29 August 1287.[8] A mid-18th century 
compilation known as the Dublin Annals of Inisfallen states that Thomas was killed in 
battle against Turlough son of Teige and others. However, none of the earlier records 
of his death indicate that Thomas met a violent end. Some of the witnesses to 
Gilbert's age in 1302 referred to the date of Thomas' death in their calculations but all 
were silent as to its circumstances. This and much other evidence on the subject has 
been set out and evaluated by Goddard Henry Orpen of Trinity College, Dublin.[9] 
Thomas was succeeded as Lord of Thomond by his eldest son, Gilbert who was six 
years old. His widow Juliana, aged 24 years, would go on to marry two more times.

Parents
DE CLARE Richard (4 Aug 1222 - 14 Jul 1262)
DE LACY Maud (25 Jan 1223 - 10 Mar 1289)

Siblings
DE CLARE Gilbert "the Red Earl" (2 Sep 1243 - 7 Dec 1295)
DE CLARE Thomas (ABT 1245 - Feb 1288)
DE CLARE Roese (Rohesia) (17 Oct 1252 - AFT 1316)

Marriage To FITZ GERALD Juliana (12 Apr 1266 - 29 Sep 1300)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
FITZ GERALD Maurice (1238 - BEF 10 Nov 1286)
DE PRENDERGAST Maud (17 Mar 1242 - BEF 1273)

Children by FITZ GERALD Juliana 12 Apr 1266 - 29 Sep 1300
DE CLARE Maud (ABT 1282 - 1 Feb 1327)
DE CLARE Margaret (ABT 1 Apr 1287 - 22 Oct 1333)

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