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
The House of Clare was a prominent Anglo-Norman noble house that held at various times the earldoms of Pembroke, Hertford and Gloucester in England and Wales, as well as playing a prominent role in the Norman invasion of Ireland.
They were de ...
", and of "Tonbridge" from his holdings.
[G. E. Cokayne, ''The Complete Peerage'', Vol. III (The St. Catherine Press, London, 1913), p. 242]
Biography
Richard was the son of
Gilbert, Count of Brionne
Gilbert (or Giselbert) de Brionne, Count of Eu and of Brionne ( – ), was an influential nobleman in the Duchy of Normandy in Northern France.Robinson, J. A. (1911). Gilbert Crispin, abbot of Westminster: a study of the abbey under Norman ru ...
in Normandy
(''Fitz'' was a variant spelling of the Norman ''filz'', French ''fils'', signifying "son of"). Gilbert was a guardian of the young duke
William and when Gilbert was killed by Ralph de Wacy in 1040, his two older sons Richard and Gilbert fled to Flanders.
[J.H. Round, 'The Family of Clare', ''The Archaeological Journal'', Vol. 56 2nd series Vol 6 (1899), p. 224] On his later return to Normandy Richard was rewarded with the lordship of
Bienfaite and
Orbec in Normandy.
In 1066, Richard came into England with his kinsman William the Conqueror, and received from him great advancement in honour and possessions.
The ''
Dictionary of National Biography'' and other sources are vague and sometimes contradictory about when the name de Clare came into common usage, but what we do know is that Richard fitz Gilbert (of Tonbridge), the earliest identifiable progenitor of the family, is once referred to as Richard of Clare in the Suffolk return of the Domesday Book.
Rewards
He was rewarded with 176
manors in England, including the right to build
castles at
Clare in Suffolk,
caput of his feudal barony, and at
Tonbridge in Kent. Some contemporaneous and later sources called him
Earl of Clare
Earl of Clare was a title of British nobility created three times: once each in the peerages of England, Great Britain and Ireland.
The title derives from Clare, Suffolk, where a prominent Anglo-Norman family was seated since the Norman Conques ...
, though many modern sources view the title as a "
styled title".
He served as Joint
Chief Justiciar
Justiciar is the English form of the medieval Latin term ''justiciarius'' or ''justitiarius'' ("man of justice", i.e. judge). During the Middle Ages in England, the Chief Justiciar (later known simply as the Justiciar) was roughly equivale ...
in William's absence, and played a major part in suppressing the revolt of 1075.
Rebel baron
On the Conqueror's death, Richard and other great
Norman barons, including
Odo of Bayeux,
Robert, Count of Mortain, and
Geoffrey of Coutances, led a rebellion against the rule 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 ...
in order to place
Robert Curthose
Robert Curthose, or Robert II of Normandy ( 1051 – 3 February 1134, french: Robert Courteheuse / Robert II de Normandie), was the eldest son of William the Conqueror and succeeded his father as Duke of Normandy in 1087, reigning until 1106. ...
on the throne. However, most
Normans
The Normans ( Norman: ''Normaunds''; french: Normands; la, Nortmanni/Normanni) were a population arising in the medieval Duchy of Normandy from the intermingling between Norse Viking settlers and indigenous West Franks and Gallo-Romans. ...
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 ...
remained loyal. William Rufus and his army successfully attacked the rebel strongholds at
Tonbridge,
Pevensey
Pevensey ( ) is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The main village is located north-east of Eastbourne, one mile (1.6 km) inland from Pevensey Bay. The settlement of Pevensey Bay forms part ...
and
Rochester
Rochester may refer to:
Places Australia
* Rochester, Victoria
Canada
* Rochester, Alberta
United Kingdom
*Rochester, Kent
** City of Rochester-upon-Medway (1982–1998), district council area
** History of Rochester, Kent
** HM Prison ...
.
Death and succession
He was buried in
St. Neot's Priory in 1091. His widow was still living in 1113. His lands were inherited by his son,
Gilbert fitz Richard
Gilbert Fitz Richard (–), 2nd feudal baron of Clare in Suffolk, and styled "de Tonbridge", was a powerful Anglo-Norman baron who was granted the Lordship of Cardigan, in Wales .
Life
Gilbert, born before 1066, was the second son and an heir ...
.
Marriage
Richard married
Rohese Giffard, daughter of
Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville
Walter Gautier Giffard, Lord of Longueville, Normandy (a.k.a. 'Giffard of Barbastre'), was a Norman baron, a Tenant-in-chief in England, a Christian knight who fought against the Saracens in Spain during the Reconquista and was one of the 15 ...
and Agnes Flaitel, and they had at least the following children:
*Roger fitz Richard de Clare, received Norman lands and d. 1131. Wife unknown, daughter Joanna married Gilbert de Neville.
*
Gilbert fitz Richard
Gilbert Fitz Richard (–), 2nd feudal baron of Clare in Suffolk, and styled "de Tonbridge", was a powerful Anglo-Norman baron who was granted the Lordship of Cardigan, in Wales .
Life
Gilbert, born before 1066, was the second son and an heir ...
, d. 1115, succeeded his father as
Earl of Clare
Earl of Clare was a title of British nobility created three times: once each in the peerages of England, Great Britain and Ireland.
The title derives from Clare, Suffolk, where a prominent Anglo-Norman family was seated since the Norman Conques ...
.
*
Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent, d. 1138.
*Richard fitz Richard de Clare, Abbot of Ely.
*
Robert fitz Richard
__NOTOC__
Robert Fitz Richard (1064–1136) was an Anglo-Norman feudal baron of Little Dunmow, Essex and constable of Baynard's Castle in the City of London. His feudal barony, the caput of which was at Little Dunmow in Essex, was granted to hi ...
, Lord of
Little Dunmow, Baron of Baynard, d. 1136.
*Godfrey
*Alice (or Adeliza) de Clare, d. 1138. m.
Walter Tirel.
*Rohese de Clare, d. 1121, m. (ca. 1088),
Eudo Dapifer.
*Isabel de Clare, d. 1088, m. Humphrey d'Isle.
*Avice de Clare, m.
Robert de Stafford / Tosny.
[Falconer Madan M.A. - ''The Gresleys of Drakelow'', Toeni pedigree page 223 and Chapter 2, page 16 (Oxford, 1899)]
Notes and references
Notes
References
Sources
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:FitzGilbert, Richard
11th-century births
1090s deaths
Year of birth unknown
Year of death uncertain
Normans in England
Norman warriors
Bush family
Richard
People from St Neots
People from Tonbridge
People from Clare, Suffolk
Devon Domesday Book tenants-in-chief