Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke

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Sir Gilbert Fitz Gilbert de Clare
Born	1100 Tonbridge, Kent, England
Died	1148 England
Office	Earl of Pembroke 1138-1147
Preceded by	New Creation
Succeeded by	Richard de Clare

Gilbert de Clare, son of Gilbert Fitz Richard Earl of Clare and Alice de Claremont. Sometimes referred to as "Strongbow" but his son is better remembered by this name. Became a great baron, obtaining the estates of his paternal uncles, Roger and Walter, which included the baronies and castles of Bienfaite and Orbec in Normandy, the lordship of Nether Gwent and the castle of Striguil (later Chepstow). King Stephen created him Earl of Pembroke, and gave him the rape and castle of Pevensey. At Stephen's defeat at Lincoln in February 2, 1141, he was among those who rallied to Empress Matilda when she recovered London in June, but was at Canterbury when Stephen was recrowned late in 1141. He then joined Geoffrey's plot against Stephen, but when that conspiracy collapsed, he was again adhered to Stephen, being with him at the siege of Oxford late in 1142. In 1147 he rebelled when Stephen refused to give him the castles surrendered by his nephew Gilbert, 2nd Earl of Hertford, whereupon the King marched to his nearest castle and nearly captured him. However, the Earl appears to have made his peace with Stephen before his death the following year. He married Isabel de Beaumont (1112-1172), around 1130, daughter of Sir Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester, Count of Meulan, and Isabel de Vermandois. Isabel had previously been the mistress of King Henry I of England.

Name	Birth	Death	Notes
By Isabel de Beaumont
Agnes de Clare	1112, Tonbridge, Kent	Unknown
Baldwin de Clare	1114, Tonbridge, Kent	Unknown
Basilia de Clare	1116, Tonbridge, Kent	Unknown
Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare	1130	1176	[n] "Strongbow", 2nd Earl of Pembroke.