Butler (le Botiller), Theobald (1269–99), magnate and fifth chief butler of Ireland, was born 22 February 1269, eldest son of Theobald Butler (qv), fourth chief butler of Ireland, and Joan, youngest daughter of John FitzGeoffrey (qv), justiciar of Ireland. His brief public career began on 18 February 1290, when, after paying a fine to allow him to do homage before the justiciar of Ireland, he entered into his Irish inheritance, receiving his English lands on 23 May. In March 1290 he gave a recognisance to Queen Eleanor of a fine of £1,000 for his marriage. He spent much of 1292 and 1293 in England surveying his lands in Lancashire. There he became heavily indebted to his uncle, Richard fitz John, and late in 1294 he forfeited one of his English manors till his loans were repaid. He attended the parliament at Kilkenny in March 1295 which negotiated the release of his cousin, Richard de Burgh (qv), earl of Ulster, and he was a witness to the earl's enforced but short-lived agreement that gave John fitz Thomas FitzGerald (qv) a free rein in Connacht. That summer he was active in campaigning in Leinster, particularly against the Irish of Wicklow. He was one of many Irish magnates who received a summons to Scotland (October). In April 1296 he was the leader of one of the contingents that departed for the Scottish war, and on Pentecost he dined with Edward at Roxburgh and probably accompanied the king to Stirling in June. The following August he departed for Ireland. The failure of the fitz Geoffrey line in 1297 brought him a number of valuable estates in England. At his manor of Turvey (in the baronies of Balrothery and Nethercross, Co. Dublin) he died without issue 14 May 1299, and was buried thirteen days later at Abington (Owney) abbey, Co. Limerick. The Butler lordship passed to his younger brother, Edmund Butler (qv).
Sources
CCR, 1288–1302; CDI, 1285–1302; CFR, 1272–1307; Chartul. St Mary's, Dublin, ii; CJI, 1295–1303; CIPM, ii, iii; CPR, 1281–1301; G.E.C., Peerage; Orpen, Normans, iv; James Lydon, ‘An Irish army in Scotland, 1296’, Ir. Sword, v (1962), 184–90; NHI, ix