Family Card - Person Sheet
Family Card - Person Sheet
NameWilliam de Burgh (Burgo) , Lord of Connaught 
Birthabt 1160, Burgh Castle, Norfolk, England
Death1205, Athassell Abbey, Golden, County Tipperary, Ireland
Misc. Notes
William de Burgh (c. 1160 - 1204) was born in the village of Burgh Castle, Norfolk, East Anglia, Kingdom of England and died at Athassell Abbey, Golden, County Tipperary, Munster, Ireland.
William took his surname from the village of Burgh Castle, Norfolk, England. Very little can be ascertained about his background other than his family were minor gentry, and that his probable younger brother was Hubert de Burgh, later Earl of Kent.
William apparently arrived in Ireland in 1184 among the retinue of Prince John of England, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
John apparently appointed him Governor of Limerick. Within a few years he was granted the manors of Kilsheeland and Ardpatrick, and in time, the castle of Tibraghty in County Kilkenny.
Sometime in the 1190s, William married a daughter of Donal Mor mac Turlough O'Brian, King of Thomond (died 1194). This alliance probably took place during the reign of his son, Murtough, as up to the time of his death Donal had being at war with the Normans. At any rate no more wars are recorded between the two sides for the rest of the decade.
The Annals of the Four Masters recorded his passing in 1204:
"William Burke plundered Connaught, as well churches as territories; but God and the saints took vengeance on him for that; for he died of a singular disease, too shameful to be described."
He was survived by his sons Richard Mor de Burgh (d.1242), Bishop Hubert de Burgh of Limerick (d. 1251), Sheriff William de Burgh (d. 1247) and an apparently illegitimate son, Richard de Burgh.
The senior male line of the family came to an end with the murder of William Donn de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster, in 1333. A junior branch later gave rise to the Earls of Clanricarde.
William took his surname from the village of Burgh Castle, Norfolk, England. Very little can be ascertained about his background other than his family were minor gentry, and that his probable younger brother was Hubert de Burgh, later Earl of Kent.
William apparently arrived in Ireland in 1184 among the retinue of Prince John of England, son of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine.
John apparently appointed him Governor of Limerick. Within a few years he was granted the manors of Kilsheeland and Ardpatrick, and in time, the castle of Tibraghty in County Kilkenny.
Sometime in the 1190s, William married a daughter of Donal Mor mac Turlough O'Brian, King of Thomond (died 1194). This alliance probably took place during the reign of his son, Murtough, as up to the time of his death Donal had being at war with the Normans. At any rate no more wars are recorded between the two sides for the rest of the decade.
The Annals of the Four Masters recorded his passing in 1204:
"William Burke plundered Connaught, as well churches as territories; but God and the saints took vengeance on him for that; for he died of a singular disease, too shameful to be described."
He was survived by his sons Richard Mor de Burgh (d.1242), Bishop Hubert de Burgh of Limerick (d. 1251), Sheriff William de Burgh (d. 1247) and an apparently illegitimate son, Richard de Burgh.
The senior male line of the family came to an end with the murder of William Donn de Burgh, 3rd Earl of Ulster, in 1333. A junior branch later gave rise to the Earls of Clanricarde.