Richard Fitz Gilbert
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| 'Richard Fitz Gilbert, Lord of Clare, Bienfaite, Orbec and Tonbridge' | |
| Born | 1030 Normandy, France |
|---|---|
| Died | 1090 St. Neot's Priory, Huntingdonshire, England |
Richard FitzGilbert (1030 - 1090), was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman conquest of England in 1066. He was the founder of the English noble family, the de Clares.
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[edit] Victor at Hastings
Known as "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and "de Tonbridge", he accompanied his reputed kinsman William, Duke of Normandy into England. He served at the Battle of Hastings, and assisted William in subduing the Anglo-Saxons.
[edit] Rewards
He was rewarded with 176 lordships and large grants of land in England, including the right to build the castles of Clare and of Tonbridge. Richard Fitz Gilbert took the name Earl of Clare from one of his lordships in Suffolk, where parts of the wall of Clare Castle still stand.
He served as Joint Chief Justiciar in William's absence, and played a major part in suppressing the revolt of 1075.
[edit] Rebel Baron
On William's death, Richard and other great Norman barons, including Odo of Bayeux, Robert, Count of Mortain , William fitzOsbern and Geoffrey of Coutances, led a rebellion against the rule of William Rufus in order to place Robert Curthose on the throne. However, most Normans in England remained loyal. William Rufus and his army successfully attacked the rebel strongholds at Tonbridge, Pevensey and Rochester.
[edit] Death and succession
He died in St. Neot's Priory in 1090. His land was inherited by his son, Gilbert Fitz Richard.
[edit] Family
He was the son of Gilbert "Crispin", Count of Brionne.
The reference listed below states that Richard's Great Grandfather was Richard I of Normandy. 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" was a descendant of Robert's cousin, but not Robert himself.
| 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 | m. Walter Tirel |
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.
[edit] Surrey
Richard's Surrey lands had a value of £241: 30% of the value of his English lands. Within Surrey, Richard Fitz Gilbert owned manors in the following places: Albury, Beddington, Bletchingley, Buckland, Chelsham, Chessington, Chipstead, Chivington, Effingham, Apps in Elmbridge, Farleigh, Immerworth (Kingston upon Thames), Long Ditton, Mickleham, Molesey, Ockley, Old Malden, Shalford, Streatham, Tandridge, Tolworth, Tooting, Walton-on-Thames, Warlingham, Tillingdon, and Woldingham.[1]
[edit] References
- The Royal Ancestry Bible Royal ancestors of 300 American Families By Michel L. Call ISBN 1-933194-22-7 (chart 1696)
