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. ...

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. *

, d. 1115, succeeded his father as

. * 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