| From "A Baronial Family in Medieval England: The Clares,
1217-1314", by Michael Altschul, Baltimore, The Johns Hopkins press,
1965.
The Clares came to England with the Conqueror. Like many other great
families which settled in England after the Conquest, they were related
to the dukes of Normandy and had established themselves as important members
of the Norman feudal aristocracy in the late tenth and early eleventh centuries.
The origin of the family can be traced to Godfrey, eldest of the illegitimate
children of Duke Richard I (the Fearless), the Conqueror's great-grandfather.
While the Duke granted Godfrey Brionne, he did not make him a count. Godfrey's
comital title derives from the grant of the county of Eu made to him after
996 by his half-brother, Duke Richard II. After Godfrey's death, Eu was
given to William, another of Duke Richard I's bastard sons, and Gilbert,
Godfrey's son, was left with only the lordship of Brionne. However, under
Duke Robert I, father of William the Conqueror, Gilbert assumed the title
of count of Brionne while not relinquishing his claim to Eu. When Count
William of Eu died shortly before 1040, Gilbert assumed the land and title,
but he was assassinated in 1040 and his young sons, Richard and Baldwin,
were forced to flee Normandy, finding safety at the court of Baldwin V,
Count of Flanders. When William the Conqueror married Count Baldwin's daughter,
he restored Gilbert's sons to Normandy, although he did not invest them
with either Brionne or Eu or a comital title. William granted the lordships
of Bienfaite and Orbec to Richard fitz Gilbert, and Le Sap and Meules to
Baldwin. While Gilbert's descendants later pressed a claim for Brionne,
it was never restored.
Richard and Baldwin fitz Gilbert took part in the Norman conquest of
England, and both assumed important positions in the Conqueror's reign.
Baldwin was made guardian of Exeter in 1068, and appears in the Domesday
Book as sheriff of Devon, lord of Okehampton and numerous other estates
in Devon, Dorset, and Somerset. His sons William and Richard were also
sheriffs of Devon and participated in the abortive Norman penetration of
Carmarthen in the early twelfth century.
However, the lasting position of the family in England must be credited
to Baldwin's brother, Richard fitz Gilbert I. He was regent of England
jointly with William de Warenne during the Conqueror's absence in 1075,
and he served in various other important capacities for the King. King
William rewarded his cousin well, granting him one of the largest fiefs
in the territorial settlement. The lordship centered on Clare (obviously
the origin of the Clare family name), Suffolk, which had been an important
stronghold in Anglo-Saxon times. The bulk of Richard fitz Gilbert's estates
lay in Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, and Kent, but comprised holdings in various
other counties in the southern and eastern parts of the kingdom as well.
In addition, King William arranged for Richard's marriage to Rohese, sister
of Walter Giffard, later Earl of Buckingham, and her dowry, consisting
of lands in Huntingdon and Hertford, became absorbed in the family inheritance.
After Richard's death, his extensive properties in Normandy and England
were divided between his two eldest sons. The Norman fiefs of Bienfaite
and Orbec passed to Roger, while Gilbert, inherited the English honors
of Clare and Tonbridge.
- the players -
Richard I, Duke of Normandy, died 996
:
Godfrey of Brionne and Eu died ca 1015
:
Gilbert, count of Brionne died 1040
:
-Richard fitz Gilbert (1035-1090) = Rohese de Giffard
:
Roger d.s.p. 1130
Gilbert fitz Richard I(ca1066-1117 ) = Adeliz daughter of Hugh Claremont
Walter d.s.p.1138
Richard, abbot of Ely 1100
Robert d.1136
Adelice = Walter Tirel
Rohese = Eudo Dapifer
-Baldwin fitz Gilbert died 1095
:
William d.s.p. 1096
Robert d.s.p.1101
Richard d.s.p.1137
While Gilbert fitz Richard I found himself at odds with the Conqueror's
successor, William Rufus, he and other members of the family enjoyed great
favor with Rufus' successor King Henry I. Some have suggested that Henry's
largesse was due to the fact that Walter Tirel, husband of Richard's daughter
Adelize, shot the arrow which slew Rufus. Proof of this is lacking, but
with certainty the wealth and position of the Clare family increased rapidly
during Henry's reign. One of Rohese Giffards brothers (Walter) was made
Earl of Buckingham and another Bishop of Winchester. Gilbert fitz Richard's
brothers were also rewarded: Richard, a monk at Bec, was made abbot of
Ely in 1100; Robert was granted the forfeited manors of Ralph Baynard in
East Anglia; Walter, who founded Tintern Abbey in 1131, was given the great
lordship of Netherwent with the castle of Striguil in the southern march,
territories previously held by Roger, son of William fitz Osborn, Earl
of Hereford, who had forfeited them in 1075. In 1110 Gilbert was granted
the lordship of Ceredigion (Cardigan) in southwestern Wales, and immediately
embarked upon an intensive campaign to subjagate the area.
- the players -
Gilbert fitz Richard I (ca1066-1117)=Adeliz d/o Hugh Claremont
:
Richard fitz Gilbert II (ante 1100-1136)=Adelize de Chester
Gilbert b. 1100
Baldwin d. 1154
Hervey
Walter
Margaret=William de Montifichet
Alice=Aubrey de Vere
Rohese=Baderon de Monmouth
After Gilbert fitz Richard I died in 1117, his children continued to profit
from royal generosity and favorable connections. His daughters were all
married to important barons; William de Montfichet, Lord of Stansted in
Essex, the marcher Lord Baderon de Monmouth, and Aubrey de Vere, Lord of
Hedingham in Essex and father of the first Vere Earl of Oxford. Of the
five sons, little is known of two: Hervey, whom King Stephen sent on an
expedition to Cardigan abt 1140, and Walter, who participated in the Second
Crusade of 1147. Baldwin established himself as an important member of
the lesser baronage by obtaining the Lincolnshire barony of Bourne through
marriage. Richard fitz Gilbert II, the eldest and heir, was allowed to
marry Adeliz, sister of Ranulf des Gernons, Earl of Chester, thus acquiring
lands in Lincoln and Northampton as her marriage portion. He tried to consolidate
the gains made by his father in Cardigan, but was killed in an ambush in
1136 and the lordship was soon recovered by the Welsh.
Of Gilbert fitz Richard I' sons, Gilbert was the only one to achieve
any great prominence, being the founder of the great cadet branch of the
family and the father of one of the most famous men in English history.
Gilbert fitz Gilbert de Clare was high in the favor of Henry I, perhaps
because his wife Isabell, daughter of Robert de Beaumont, Count of Meulan
and Earl of Leicester, was one of Henry's favourite mistresses. When Gilbert's
uncle Roger died without heirs, Henry granted Gilbert the lordships of
Bienfaite and Orbec in Normandy. When another uncle, Walter, Lord of Netherwent
in South Wales, died without issue in 1138, King Richard? gave Gilbert
this lordship in addition to the lordship of Pembroke, which had been forfeited
by Arnulf of Montgomery in 1102. Gilbert was also created Earl of Pembroke
in 1138. At his death in 1148, he was succeeded by his son Richard fitz
Gilbert, aka "Strongbow" who led the Norman invasion of Ireland and obtained
the great lordship of Leinster in 1171.
Thus, in just two generations, the cadet branch of the Clares became
one of the most important families in England. Strongbow was Earl of Pembroke,
Lord of Netherwent, and Lord of Leinster being the most powerful of the
marcher and Anglo-Irish magnates under King Henry II. Strongbow d. in 1176
and son Gilbert d. abt. 1185, ending the male line. In 1189, the inheritance
passed to Strongbow's daugther Isabel and her husband, William Marshal.
Meanwhile, the senior side prospered. After Richard fitz Gilbert II
died in 1136, Clare, Tonbridge, and other estates passed to the eldest
son Gilbert fitz Richard II, who was created Earl of Hertford by King Stephen.
Gilbert died probably unmarried in 1152, when his younger brother Roger
inherited the estates and comital title. Roger resumed the the campaign
against the Welsh in Cardigan where, after 8 years, he was defeated in
1165. However, Roger did add some lands and nine knights' fees through
his marriage to Maud, daughter and heir of the Norfolk baron James de St.
Hillary. Roger died in 1173 and his widow, Maud, conveyed the remainder
of the inheritance to her next husband, William de Aubigny, Earl of Arundel.
The Clare estates along with the earldom passed to Roger's son, Richard,
who for the next 4 decades until he died in 1217, was the head of the great
house of CLARE, adding immensely to the wealth, prestige, and landed endowment
of his line.
Roger's son Richard, hereinafter Richard de CLARE acquired half of the
former honor of Giffard in 1189 when King Richard I, in need of money for
the Third Crusade, agreed to divide the Giffard estates between Richard
de CLARE and his cousin Isabel, Strongbow's daughter based on their claims
of descendancy to Rohese Giffard. Richard de CLARE obtained Long Crendon
in Buckingham, the caput of the Giffard honor in England, associated manors
in Buckingham, Cambridge, and Bedfordshire, and 43 knights' fees, in addition
to some former Giffard lands in Normandy. When Richard de CLARE's mother
Maud died in 1195, he obtained the honor of St. Hilary. Maud's 2nd husband,
William de Aubigny, Earl of Arundel, who had held St. Hilary jure uxoris,
d. in 1193, and despite the fact he had a son and heir, the honor reverted
to Maud and after her death escheated to the crown. Richard de CLARE offered
360 and acquired it. The honor later became absorbed into the honor of
CLARE and lost its separate identity.
Richard de CLARE's most important act, however, was his marriage to
Amicia, 2nd daughter and eventual sole heir to William Earl of Gloucester.
The Gloucester inheritance included the earldom and honor of Gloucester
with over 260 knights' fees in England, along with the important marcher
lordships of Glamorgan and Gwynllwg. It was not easy though!! William died
1183, leaving 3 daughters. The eldest, Mabel, married Amaury de Montfort,
Count of Evreux, while the second, Amicia married Richard de CLARE. King
Henry II meanwhile arranged the marriage of the youngest Isabel, to his
son John, Count of Mortain, in 1189. When John became King in 1199, he
divorced Isabel to marry Isabelle of Angoulªme, but, he kept the 1st
Isabel in his custody. Then in 1200, John created Mabel's son Amaury Earl
of Gloucester. In addition, Richard de CLARE and his son Gilbert were given
a few estates and 10 fees of the honor of Gloucester of Kent; otherwise,
John kept the bulk of the honor, with the great lordships of Glamorgan
and Gwynllwg. Mabel's son Amaury died without issue in 1213. Shortly thereafter,
John gave the 1st Isabel in marriage to Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of
Essex, who was also created Earl of Gloucester. When Geoffrey died, the
inheritance was assigned to Hubert de Burgh, the justiciar. Hubert married
Countess Isabel shortly before her death in Oct. 1217, however, he did
not retain the estates, since they passed to Amicia, now recognized as
Countess of Gloucesthire, and her husband Richard de CLARE, despite the
fact Richard and Amicia had been separated since 1200.
Richard outlived Isabel by several weeks and by 28 Nov 1217, he was
dead, leaving Gilbert, aged 38, as the sole heir to the Clare and Gloucester
estates and title. Gilbert de CLARE assumed the title of Earl of Gloucester
and Hertford and was charged £350 relief for the honors of Clare,
Gloucester, St. Hilary and his half of the old Giffard barony. He controlled
some 456 knights fees, far more than any other, and it did not include
some 50 fees in Glamorgan and Gwynllwg.
By a remarkable series of fortuitous marriages and quick deaths, the
CLARES were left in 1217 in possession of an inheritance which in terms
of social prestige, potential revenues, knights' fees, and a lasting position
of great importance among the marcher lords of Wales. They were probably
the most successful family in developing their lands and power during the
12th century and in many ways the most powerful noble family in 13th century
England. By 1317, however, the male line of Clares became extinct and the
inheritance was partitioned. Between 1217 and 1317 there were four Clare
generations.
Gilbert de CLARE, born abt. 1180 had a brother Richard/Roger and a sister
Matilda. Richard accompanied Henry III's brother, Richard of Cornwall,
to Gascony in 1225-26 and was never heard from again. Matilda was married
to William de Braose (died 1210 when he and his mother were starved to
death by King John), eldest son of the great marcher baron William de Braose
(died 1211), Lord of Brecknock, Abergavenny, Builth, Radnor, and Gower,
who was exiled by King John. Matilda returned to her father and later (1219)
sued Reginald de Braose, second son of William, for the family lands, succeeding
only in recovering Gower and the Sussex baronry of Bramber.
Gilbert de CLARE, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford from 1217 to 1230,
married Oct. 1214 his cousin Isabel, daughter and eventual co-heiress of
William Marshal (died 1219), earl of Pembroke. Gilbert and Isabel had three
sons and two daughters, with the eldest son and heir Richard, born 4 Aug
1222, thus only 8, when his father died. In 1243, Richard de CLARE came
of age and assumed the estates and titles of his father until he d. 15
July 1262. His brother William, b. 1228 held lands of Earl Richard in Hampshire
and Norfolk for the service of a knight's fee. In June 1258, during a baronial
reform program, William was granted custody of Winchester castle. A month
later he died, reportedly by poison administered by the Earl Richard's
seneschal (an official in a medieval noble household in charge of domestic
arrangements and the administration of servants; a steward or major- domo.
Middle English, from Old French, of Germanic origin), Walter de Scoteny,
in supposed collaboration with Henry III's Poitevin half-brothers, who
strongly opposed the baronial program and Earl Richard's participation
in it. (Why didn't they poison Richard??)
Earl Gilbert's daughters were very well placed. Amicia, born 1220, was
betrothed (promised to be given in marriage) in 1226 to Baldwin de Reviers,
grandson and heir to William de Reviers, Earl of Devon (died 1217). Baldwin
was only a year or two older than Amicia and Earl Gilbert offered 2,000
marks to the King for the marriage and custody of some Reviers estates
during Baldwin's minority. The marriage must have been consummated around
1235, since Baldwin's son and heir (Baldwin) was born the next year. After
Baldwin died in 1245, Amicia (died 1283) controlled the lands of her son
(died 1262) and was given permission to marry a minor English baron, Robert
de Guines/Gynes, uncle of Arnold III, Count of Guines.
Earl Gilbert's other daughter, Isabel born 1226, married 1240 the Scots
baron Robert Bruce, lord of Annandale (d 1295), and by him was the grandmother
of the hero of Bannockburn. Her marriage was probably arranged by her mother
Isabel and uncle, Gilbert Marshal who gave her the Sussex manor of Ripe
as a marriage portion.
Isabel Marshal outlived Earl Gilbert de CLARE by ten years, during which
time she was busy. In 1231 she married Richard of Cornwall, to the displeasure
of Richard's brother King Henry III, who was trying to arrange another
match for Richard. She died 1240, after 4 children by Richard, only one
of which lived past infancy. According to the Tewkesbury chronicle, she
wished to be buried next to her 1st husband, but Richard of Cornwall had
her buried at Beaulieu Abbey in Hampshire, although as a pious gesture
he allowed her heart to be sent to Tewkesbury.
- the players -
Richard de CLARE, Earl of Hertford d. 1217
Joan of Acredid died1307
Eleanor (1292-1337)=(1) 1306 Hugh Despenser died1326
William la Zouche died 1337
Margaret (1293-1342)= (1) 1307 Peter Gaveston d.s.p. 1312
Hugh D'Audley died 1347
Elizabeth (1295-1360)= (1) 1308 John de Burgh died 1313
Put together by Dave Utz |
