Gerald de Windsor

Gerald FitzWalter

Gerald de Windsor, also known as Gerald FitzWalter, was an Anglo-Norman lord and the first Constable of Pembroke Castle in Wales. He was the founding ancestor of the FitzGerald, FitzMaurice, De Barry, and Carew dynasties.

Gerald de Windsor was born around 1075, likely at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England. He was the younger son of Walter FitzOther, the first Constable of Windsor Castle, and Beatrice de Offley.

As a younger son, Gerald sought opportunities in the Welsh Marches, serving under the Norman magnate Arnulf de Montgomery as steward and governor. He was appointed Constable of Pembroke Castle sometime around 1093 to help secure Norman holdings in southwest Wales.

In 1096, an uprising occurred in Wales against the Norman invasion. Fortress after fortress fell to the Welsh, but Pembroke Castle under Gerald de Windsor held out despite a lengthy siege by Uchtryd ab Edwin and Hywel ap Goronwy. Fifteen of Gerald's knights deserted him and the castle at night during the siege. Gerald later confiscated their lands and gave them to the deserters' followers, whom he created knights.

Giraldus Cambrensis described the events as follows:

When they had hardly any provisions left, Gerald, who, as I have said, was a cunning man, created the impression that they were still well supplied and were expecting reinforcements at any moment. He took four hogs, which was about all they had, cut them into sections, and hurled them off over the palisades at the besiegers. The following day, he thought of an even more ingenious strategy. He signed a letter with his own seal and had it placed just outside the lodgings of Wilfred, Bishop of St David's, who chanced to be in the neighborhood. There it would be picked up almost immediately, and the finder would imagine that it had been dropped accidentally by one of Gerald's messengers. The purport of the letter was that Gerald would have no need of reinforcements from Arnulf for a good four months. When this dispatch was read to the Welsh, they immediately abandoned the siege and went home.

Gerald married Nest ferch Rhys, a Welsh princess and daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, the last King of Deheubarth in Wales. The wedding was sanctioned around 1100 and blended Norman and Welsh royal lines for political legitimacy in the region. Nest brought with her the manor of Carew as part of her dowry, and Gerald cleared the existing fort to build Carew Castle.

Gerald and Nest had five children, who would shape Irish and Welsh history: William, Maurice, David, Angharad, and Gwladys.

Gerald held the office of Constable of Pembroke Castle from 1102. In 1108, he built the castle of Little Cenarth, which is probably Cilgerran Castle.

In 1109, Gerald was away when Nest's distant kinsman, Owain ap Cadwgan, abducted her from Cilgerran Castle during a feast, sparking conflict and pursuit by Gerald and the Normans.

According to the Brut y Tywysogion, "Owain and his men entered the couple's home (Cilgerran Castle) and set fire to the buildings. When Gerald was awakened by the noise, Nest urged him to escape by climbing out through the garderobe's drain hole. Owain then seized Nest and her children and carried her off." Some sources suggest that she went willingly.

Owain was exiled to Ireland but returned in 1116 when he was killed when his retinue of fifty men-at-arms was attacked by Gerald de Windsor as they both traveled to aid the King of England.

Gerald died before 1136, likely at Carew Castle, and is sometimes said to be buried there.