Richard Fitz Gilbert

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Sir Richard Fitz Gilbert, Earl of Clare Lord of Bienfaite, Orbec and Tonbridge
Born 1035
Normandy, France
Died 1090
St. Neot's Priory, Huntingdonshire, England

Richard FitzGilbert was the founder of the early Anglo-Norman noble family the de Clares. Known as "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and "de Tonbridge", he accompanied his reputed kinsman William the Duke of Normandy into England, and was rewarded with no less than one hundred and seventy six lordships and large grants of land in England, including the right to build the castles of Clare and of Tonbridge, in return for his service at the Battle of Hastings, and general assistance in conquering the Saxon. Served as Joint Chief Justiciar in William's absence, and played a major part in suppressing the revolt of 1075.

Richard took the name Earl of Clare from one of his lordships in Suffolk, where parts of the wall of Clare Castle still stand. The modern Irish county of County Clare was historically part of the North Munster Gaelic kingdom of Thomond, dominated by the O'Briens, Kings of Thomond. The region was granted to the De Clare family in 1275 and they became Lords of Thomond. When the boundaries of the modern County Clare were fixed by Sir Henry Sidney in 1565, it was named after the De Clares.

His parents were Gilbert "Crispin", Count of Brionne and his mistress Constance de Eu. Gilbert was married to Gunnora d'Aunou, and some sources list her as Richards mother. Richard's father is also sometimes listed as Robert I "the Devil", father of William the Conqueror. Sources as far back as the Annals of the Four Masters claim that Richard's great grandson, Richard "Strongbow", was the direct descendant of Robert "the Devil". Gilbert "Crispin" is a descendant of Robert's cousin, but not Robert himself. One thing can be sure, Richard was a close and trusted friend of the King.

Name Birth Death Notes
By Rohese Giffard, married 1054, (ca. 1034-1133), daughter of Sir Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville, and Agnes Flaitel.
Miss (Fitz Gilbert) de Clare 1055 Normandy, France    
Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent 1058 1138  
Ronais Fitz Gilbert 1060 Unknown  
Richard Fitz Richard de Clare, Abbot of Ely 1062 1107  
Roger Fitz Richard de Clare 1064 1131  
Gilbert Fitz Richard 1065 1115 Succeeded his father as Earl of Clare.
Robert Fitz Richard, Lord of Little Dunmow, Baron of Baynard 1064 1136  
Rohese de Clare 1067 1121 m. (ca. 1088), Eudo de Rie.
Adelize de Clare 1069 1138  
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