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Katherine FitzGerald, Countess of Desmond (c. 1504 – 1604) was a noblewoman of the Anglo-Norman FitzGerald dynasty in Ireland. English writers of the Tudor period, including Sir Walter Raleigh, helped popularise "the old Countess of Desmond" as a nickname for her, due to her longevity. One estimate placed her age at death in excess of 120 years. Another ranged as high as 140. Most likely she lived to about 100. == Life == Katherine FitzGerald was the daughter of Sir John FitzGerald, second Lord of Decies in Waterford, and Ellen Fitzgibbon. She was probably born at Dromana, in County Waterford. In 1529, she married, becoming the second wife of Thomas FitzGerald, 11th Earl of Desmond (1454–1534), "her cousin german once removed." The couple had a single daughter, also named Katherine, and she remained single following the death of her husband in 1534. In later life, Desmond was party to a property dispute typical of late-Tudor Ireland (1485–1603). Her husband had granted her a life tenancy in Inchiquin Castle, about 5 miles southwest of the town of Youghal, in Munster. The remainder interest was to revert to the line of the Earls of Desmond, upon Countess Desmond's death. In 1575, she passed title to the castle and lands in trust, by deed, to the incumbent earl, Gerald FitzGerald, who then passed it in trust to his servants. Following the earl's attainder in 1582, whereby his estate fell to the Crown after the Desmond Rebellions, Inchiquin Castle and its lands were granted to New England colonist Sir Walter Raleigh. He proceeded to lease certain of the lands, always preserving the life interest of the Countess. He assumed that she would soon die of old age. She survived far beyond Raleigh's expectations. Sir Richard Boyle, later 1st Earl of Cork, purchased Raleigh's colonial possessions in Ireland, including the title to the castle. Boyle instituted eviction proceedings. Legend has it that to protect her interests, the impoverished "old Countess" set out from Cork in 1604. After sailing to Bristol, she walked the road to London. The unlikely legend claims she made the trip accompanied by her invalid 90-year-old daughter, the daughter trailing behind in a small cart. In the 19th century it was claimed that this story arose from a confusion with another dowager countess of Desmond, who travelled to London to petition Elizabeth I. In London, her petition was presented to King James I. She returned to Inchiquin and died later the same year. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Katherine FitzGerald, Countess of Desmond」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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