GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives

The Florentine historian , Gamurrini ("Istoria Genealogoca delle Famiglie

Mobili Toscane ed Umbre." published Florence, 1671) gives a full account of

the Gherardini family, as originating from Arezzo ( Arretium in Etruria) as

far back as 800, and afterwards being at Siena, then in the Val d'Elsa, &

finally settling in Florence.

He gives the descent as :

A.D.   910   Rainerio

                 |

A.D.   950   Ramberto

                 |

A.D.   990   Rainerio

                 |

A.D.   1020  Gherardo.

                 |

A.D.   1050     Cece

                 |

A.D.   1090   Uguccione

                 |

A.D.   1120    Ottaviano.

                 |

A.D.   1150   Gherardino.

                 |

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  |           |           |           |           |            |

Cece      Ottaviano    Uguccione    Tommaso    Gherardo     Maurizio

In 1150 the Gherardino had 6 sons, of whom 3 Maurice, Thomas and Gerard

(or Gerald) left Florence for France, where they entered the service of

King Louis le Jeune, and afterwards of his son Philip II.

This king , being asked by Henry II of England to find some

Italian officers (comandanti) to assist him in the prosecution of his

Irish wars, "not wishing to trust either Irish or French" ,

sent him the 3  Gherardini brothers ( or Geraldini),

who to show their parentage had adopted the Norman prefix of

Fitz, i.e. FitzGerald.

Maurice is mentioned as the knight who assisted Strongbow.