| Elizabeth Darcy | |
|---|---|
| Countess of Ormond Lady de Hereford |
|
| Spouse(s) | James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond Sir Robert de Hereford |
| Issue | |
| Ralph Butler Eleanor Butler James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond Thomas Butler Catherine Butler Joan Butler |
|
| Father | Sir John Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Knaith |
| Mother | Joan de Burgh |
| Born | 3 April 1332 Platten, County Meath, Ireland |
| Died | 24 March 1390 |
Elizabeth Butler (nee Darcy), Countess of Ormond (3 April 1332 – 24 March 1390) was the wife of James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond, and the mother of his six children, including James Butler, 3rd Earl of Ormond.
Contents |
Elizabeth Darcy was born on 3 April 1332 at Platten, County Meath, Ireland, the daughter of Sir John Darcy, 1st Baron Darcy of Knaith, Justiciar of Ireland, and his second wife Joan de Burgh. Sir John was a veteran of the Battle of Crecy. He held the offices of Constable of Nottingham Castle, Constable of the Tower of London, and Sheriff of Lancashire. From 1341- 1346, he was Chamberlain to King Edward III. Elizabeth had a brother Sir William Darcy, who married Catherine FitzGerald, by whom he had issue. She also had numerous half-siblings from her parents' previous marriages. Her father's first wife was Emeline Heron, by whom he had eight children, including his heir, John Darcy, 2nd Baron Darcy of Knaith. Elizabeth's mother's first husband had been Thomas FitzGerald, 2nd Earl of Kildare, by whom she had three sons, John FitzGerald, Richard FitzGerald, 3rd Earl of Kildare, and Maurice FitzGerald, 4th Earl of Kildare.
Elizabeth's paternal grandparents were Roger Darcy and Isabel d'Aton, and her maternal grandparents were Richard de Burgh, 2nd Earl of Ulster and Margaret de Burgh, daughter of Sir John de Burgh and Hawise of Lanvaley.
One of her maternal aunts was Elizabeth de Burgh, the second wife of Robert the Bruce.
On 15 May 1346 in Ormond, Ireland, when Elizabeth was fourteen, she married her first husband James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond (4 October 1331- 18 October 1382), the son of James Butler, 1st Earl of Ormond and Lady Eleanor de Bohun. He was Lord Justice of Ireland in 1359, 1364, and 1376. He was also Constable of Dublin Castle in 1349. He was known as the Noble Earl, however, the Irish called him The Chaste.
Upon her marriage to the Earl, Elizabeth assumed the title of Countess of Ormond.
James and Elizabeth had six children:
James Butler, 2nd Earl of Ormond, died on 18 October 1382 in Knocktopher and was buried in Gowran Church, Co. Kilkenny. Elizabeth married secondly, Sir Robert de Hereford, Seneschal of the Liberty of Tipperary, between 28 December 1383 and 30 March 1384.[2]
Elizabeth Darcy died on 24 March 1390, shortly before her 58th birthday.