Gilbert Fitz Richard (–), 2nd

feudal baron A feudal baron is a vassal holding a heritable fief called a ''barony'', comprising a specific portion of land, granted by an overlord in return for allegiance and service. Following the end of European feudalism, feudal baronies have largely been ...

of Clare in Suffolk, and styled "de Tonbridge", was a powerful

Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman may refer to: *Anglo-Normans, the medieval ruling class in England following the Norman conquest of 1066 * Anglo-Norman language **Anglo-Norman literature * Anglo-Norman England, or Norman England, the period in English history from 10 ...

baron who was granted the Lordship of Cardigan, in Wales .

Life

Gilbert, born before 1066, was the second son and an heir of

Richard Fitz Gilbert Richard fitz Gilbert (before 1035–), 1st feudal baron of Clare in Suffolk, was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and was styled "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and of "Tonbridge" from his holdings.G. E. Cok ...

of Clare and Rohese Giffard. He succeeded to his father's possessions in

England England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...

in 1088 when his father retired to a monastery; his brother, Roger Fitz Richard, inherited his father's lands in

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

. That same year he, along with his brother Roger, fortified his castle at Tonbridge against the forces of

William Rufus William II ( xno, Williame; – 2 August 1100) was King of England from 26 September 1087 until his death in 1100, with powers over Normandy and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales. The third so ...

. But his castle was stormed, Gilbert was wounded and taken prisoner. However he and his brother were in attendance on king William Rufus at his death in August 1100. He was with

Henry I Henry I may refer to: 876–1366 * Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936) * Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955) * Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018) * Henry I of France (1008–1060) * Henry I the Long, Margrave of the ...

at his Christmas court at

Westminster Westminster is an area of Central London, part of the wider City of Westminster. The area, which extends from the River Thames to Oxford Street, has many visitor attractions and historic landmarks, including the Palace of Westminster, Bu ...

in 1101. It has been hinted, by modern historians, that Gilbert, as a part of a baronial conspiracy, played some part in the suspicious death of William II.Frank Barlow, ''William Rufus'' (Berkeley & Los Angeles, University of California Press, 1983), p. 425 Frank Barlow points out that no proof has been found he had any part in the king's death or that a conspiracy even existed. In 1110, King Henry I took Cardigan from

Owain ap Cadwgan Owain ap Cadwgan (died 1116) was a prince of Powys in eastern Wales. He is best known for his abduction of Nest, wife of Gerald of Windsor. Owain was the eldest son of Cadwgan ap Bleddyn, prince of part of Powys. He is first recorded in 1106, when ...

, son of

Cadwgan ap Bleddyn Cadwgan ap Bleddyn (1051–1111) was a prince of the Kingdom of Powys ( cy, Teyrnas Powys) in north eastern Wales. Cadwgan (possibly born 1060) was the second son of Bleddyn ap Cynfyn who was king of both Kingdom of Powys and Gwynedd. The Anglo ...

as punishment for a number of crimes including that of the abduction of

Nest A nest is a structure built for certain animals to hold eggs or young. Although nests are most closely associated with birds, members of all classes of vertebrates and some invertebrates construct nests. They may be composed of organic materia ...

, wife of

Gerald de Windsor Gerald de Windsor (1075 – 1135), ''alias'' Gerald FitzWalter, was an Anglo-Normans, Anglo-Norman lord who was the first Castellan of Pembroke Castle in Pembrokeshire (formerly part of the Kingdom of Deheubarth). Son of the first Constable of Wi ...

. In turn Henry gave the Lordship of Cardigan, including

Cardigan Castle Cardigan Castle ( cy, Castell Aberteifi) is a castle overlooking the River Teifi in Cardigan, Ceredigion, Wales. It is a Grade I listed building. The castle dates from the late 11th-century, though was rebuilt in 1244. Castle Green House was b ...

to Gilbert Fitz Richard.George Edward Cokayne, ''The Complete Peerage of England Scotland Ireland Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant Extinct or Dormant'', Vol III, Ed. Vicary Gibbs (London: The St. Catherine Press, Ltd., 1913), p. 243 He founded the Clunic priory at Stoke-by-Clare, Suffolk. Gilbert died in or before 1117.Detlev Schwennicke, ''Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten'', Neue Folge, Band III Teilband 4 (Marburg, Germany: Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 653

Family

About 1088, Gilbert married Adeliza/Alice de Clermont, daughter of

Hugh Hugh may refer to: *Hugh (given name) Noblemen and clergy French * Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks * Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II * Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...

, Count of Clermont, and Margaret de Ramerupt. Gilbert and Adeliza had at least eight children: * Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare, d. 1136.John Horace Round, ''Studies in Peerage and Family History'' (Archibald Constable and Co., Ltd., 1901), p. 214 * Gilbert Fitz Gilbert de Clare, d. 1148, 1st

Earl of Pembroke Earl of Pembroke is a title in the Peerage of England that was first created in the 12th century by King Stephen of England. The title, which is associated with Pembroke, Pembrokeshire in West Wales, has been recreated ten times from its origin ...

. * Baldwin Fitz Gilbert de Clare, d. 1154, m. Adeline de Rollos. * Adelize/Alice de Clare, d. 1163, m. (ca. 1105), Aubrey II de Vere, son of Aubrey I de Vere and Beatrice. She had 9 children and in her widowhood was a

corrodian Corrodians were in essence pensioners who lived in monasteries or nunneries. They were usually well-to-do elderly lay people who paid or were sponsored for accommodation and food for the rest of their lives. This payment might be in cash but would m ...

at St. Osyth's, Chich, Essex. * Hervey de Clare, Lord of Montmorency. * Walter de Clare, d. 1149. * Margaret de Clare, d. 1185, m. (ca. 1108), Sir William de Montfitchet, Lord of

Stansted Mountfitchet Stansted Mountfitchet is an English village and civil parish in Uttlesford district, Essex, near the Hertfordshire border, north of London. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 5,533, increasing to 6,011 at the 2011 census. The v ...

. * Rohese de Clare, d. 1149, m. (ca. 1130),

Baderon of Monmouth Baderon of Monmouth (c. 1100–1176), also known as Baderon fitzWilliam, was lord of Monmouth between about 1125 and 1176. Biography Baderon succeeded his father, William fitzBaderon, as lord of Monmouth in about 1125, when his father either ...

George Edward Cokayne, ''The Complete Peerage of England Scotland Ireland Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant Extinct or Dormant'', Vol 12, Part 2, Eds. Geoffrey H. White & R.S. Lea (London: The St. Catherine Press, Ltd., 1959), p. 168

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Gilbert fitz Richard Anglo-Normans De Clare family People from Clare, Suffolk Burials at Tonbridge Priory, Kent 1060s births 1110s deaths Year of birth uncertain Year of death uncertain