Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester

Family

He was married three times. His wives were:

Elizabeth Brune, daughter of John Brune

Joan (or Jenet) Bellew of Bellewstown, widow of Christopher Plunket, 2nd Baron Killeen, whom he married in 1463

Margaret (or Marguerite) d'Artois (or Jenico), granddaughter and heiress of the Gascon-born knight Sir Jenico d'Artois, and widow of Sir John Dowdall, whom he married sometime after 1467. Since their daughter Katherine was legitimised by act of Parliament in 1475–6, it appears that they cohabited before marriage. This marriage brought him a considerable increase in his landholdings, since Margaret through her mother Jane Serjeant was heiress to half of the lands of Castleknock, County Dublin, although her right to hold the lands was disputed by the Barnewall family, in right of Margaret's sister Ismay.

He had issue with all of his wives, but it is uncertain in some cases which wife was the mother of which child. Joan is thought to have been Elizabeth's daughter, while Katherine and Alison were Margaret's. His only legitimate son, Richard, died young.

His daughters were:

Alice, or Alison (died 1495), married Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare.

Joan, married firstly Richard Plunkett, 2nd Baron of Dunsany, and secondly her cousin Sir Maurice FitzEustace of Coghlanstown, eldest son and heir of Sir Robert FitzEustace.

Jenet, married Sir Walter Delahide: both played an important role in the rebellion of the Earl of Kildare's grandson, Silken Thomas, as did their sons. Jenet died in prison under suspicion of treason, and her sons were attainted as traitors.

Margaret, married Christopher Rochfort

Maud, married Thomas Marward, titular Baron Skryne

Katherine, his second daughter by Margaret d"Artois, born out of wedlock but legitimated by Act of the Parliament of Ireland in 1475–6.

He also had an illegitimate son:

Oliver FitzEustace, who became Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer; since Oliver seems to have been mentally deficient, his father further extended his influence by appointing Deputies to act on his behalf.

The barony became extinct on his death in 1496, but his nephew Thomas, son of his brother Richard, was created Viscount Baltinglass in 1541. Sir Maurice Eustace, a wealthy and influential member of the FitzEustace clan who became Lord Chancellor of Ireland, accepted the title Baron Portlester at the Restoration of Charles II, but then changed his mind, apparently because, like Rowland, he had no legitimate son to succeed him.

Reputation

Elrington Ball regarded him as perhaps the most important Irish political figure during his 40-year career, more influential even than his son-in-law, the "Great Earl of Kildare".

Memorial

There is a memorial to him and his third wife Margaret Jenico d'Artois in St. Audoen's Church, Dublin, erected in 1482. It is suggested that his private chapel was founded there in gratitude for his preservation from a shipwreck near the site. He founded New Abbey, Kilcullen, where he is buried beside his daughter Alison. His estates passed to his nephew Thomas Eustace, 1st Viscount Baltinglass.