Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke

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Sir Gilbert Fitz Gilbert de Clare
Norman Crest
Born 1100
Tonbridge, Kent, England
Died c. 6 Jan 1147-1148
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.

[edit] History

Gilbert de Clare became a 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 on February 2, 1141, Gilbert was among those who rallied to Empress Matilda when she recovered London in June, but he 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 (c. 1102-c. 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.

[edit] References


Persondata
NAME de Clare, Gilbert Fitz Gilbert, Sir
ALTERNATIVE NAMES
SHORT DESCRIPTION Earl of Pembroke
DATE OF BIRTH 1100
PLACE OF BIRTH Tonbridge, Kent, England
DATE OF DEATH 1148
PLACE OF DEATH England