Wogan, John de

Wogan, John de (d. 1321), justiciar 1295–1308, 1309–12, lord of Picton Castle near Haverfordwest in Pembrokeshire. Wogan seems to have had no connection with Ireland prior to his appointment as justiciar on 18 October 1295, though he founded a family which remained important in north Kildare until the early 18th century. Because calendared versions of the justiciary rolls survive for his period in office historians have perhaps exaggerated his importance, but he was certainly an energetic and effective justiciar, under whom the area under direct royal control was considerably increased. He also oversaw the ending of the long‐running FitzGerald–de Burgh feud, presided over the Kilkenny parliaments of 1297 and 1310 which sought to address the growing problem of lawlessness and rebellion in Ireland, led numerous campaigns to restore order in the localities, and organized large contingents from the colony for participation in Edward I's campaigns in Scotland and Flanders.

Seán Duffy