Baron of Navan

The Barony of Navan was an Irish feudal barony which was held by the de Angulo family who (later changed their name to Nangle). It was a customary title; in other words the holder was always referred to as a Baron, and this privilege was hereditary, but the Baron was not a peer in the strict sense, and was not entitled to a seat in the Irish House of Lords.

The title was conferred by Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath, on his trusted lieutenant Jocelyn de Angulo, in or about the year 1172. The family is thought to have derived its name from Angle, Pembrokeshire. Junior branches of the Nangle dynasty founded the Nagle and Costello families. Jocelyn acquired not only Navan but also Morgallion and Ardbraccan. His building of the fort at Navan is regarded as marking the foundation of the town.

Jocelyn's son Gilbert de Angulo, the 2nd Baron, rebelled against King Richard I of England in 1195. He was attainted and his estates declared forfeit to the Crown; but he was later pardoned by King John of England. He was killed in a skirmish in 1212 or 1213.

The family acquired wealth and lands, but played a curiously obscure role in Irish history. John Nangle, 16th Baron of Navan, like most of the Anglo-Irish nobility, supported the Yorkist pretender to the Crown, Lambert Simnel and shared in the general pardon issued by Henry VII of England. Described as a lusty warrior, he fought at the Battle of Knockdoe in 1504. Patrick, 18th Baron, was one of the Anglo-Irish nobles of the Pale who were involved in the cess controversy of 1577, on the Crown's right to levy taxes for the upkeep of garrisons, and was briefly imprisoned for non-payment of the tax.

Peter Nangle, a younger son of Thomas, 17th Baron, was in the entourage of Hugh O'Neill, 2nd Earl of Tyrone and played some part in the events leading to the Flight of the Earls. Thomas, 19th Baron, took part in the Irish Rebellion of 1641, and signed the "Catholic Remonstrance" in 1642 . As a result, he was attainted as a traitor and forfeited much of his property. Although his son George, 20th Baron, appears to have recovered some part of the estates at the Restoration of Charles II the family's fortunes had begun to decline. John, 21st Baron, was a supporter of James II of England: after the Glorious Revolution he was attainted and the Nangles left Ireland for good. Patrick, 22nd Baron, was a soldier in the French Army, and supporter of the Old Pretender. Francis, 23rd and last Baron, spent many years serving in the Austrian Army; he died unmarried in Vienna in 1781, when the title became extinct.

Barons of Navan 1172-1781

References

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