Christopher Fleming, 8th Baron Slane


Christopher Fleming was an Irish nobleman, who was Lord High Treasurer of Ireland from 1514 until his death. He succeeded as 8th Baron Slane in 1492.

Family

Christopher was the eldest son of James Fleming, 7th Baron Slane. His mother was Elizabeth Welles, daughter of William Welles, Lord Chancellor of Ireland, and his wife Anne Barnewall, and widow of the 3rd Baron Killeen. He married firstly Lady Eilis FitzGerald, daughter of Gerald FitzGerald, 8th Earl of Kildare by his first wife Alison FitzEustace, daughter of Rowland FitzEustace, 1st Baron Portlester. After Eilis's death her husband married secondly Elizabeth Stucley, daughter of Nicholas Stucley of Affleton Castle, Devon, head of an ancient Devonshire family and ancestor of the Stucley baronets.
By his first wife Christopher had three children:
On James's death the barony passed to his cousin Thomas Fleming, 10th Baron Slane.

Slane Friary

Today Christopher Fleming is best remembered for his religious foundations. In 1512, on the site of an earlier abbey at Slane, he built a friary and college for the Franciscan order. The friary was later abandoned, but its ruins are still one of the best known sights of Slane.