Robert Fitz-Stephen

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Robert Fitz-Stephen (fl. 1150) was the son of Stephen, constable of Cardigan, whom Robert succeeded in that office. His mother was Nest, a Welsh princess and former mistress of Henry I.

Robert first appears in history in 1157, when King Henry II of England invaded Gwynedd. While the main royal army faced the forces of Owain Gwynedd east of the River Conwy, a force including Robert and his half-brother Henry Fitz Roy (illegitimate son of Nest and King Henry I) attacked Anglesey by sea. However, this force was defeated in a battle in which Robert was seriously wounded and Henry killed.

Robert was captured in November 1165 by Rhys ap Gruffydd (The Lord Rhys). When Dermot MacMurrough who had been deposed as king of Leinster visited England and Aquitaine in 1167 to seek aid in recovering his throne, he appears to have appealed to Rhys to release Robert for an expedition to Ireland. Rhys did not oblige at the time, but in response to a further appeal in 1168 released Robert from captivity.

In 1169, Robert led the vanguard of Dermot's Anglo-Welsh auxiliaries to Ireland, and captured Wexford, which he was then allowed to hold jointly with Maurice Fitz Gerald. Taken prisoner by the Irish in 1171, he was by them surrendered to Henry II, who appointed him lieutenant of the justiciary of Ireland, Hugh de Lacy. Robert rendered good service in the troubles of 1173, and was rewarded by receiving, jointly with Miles Cogan, a grant of Cork (1177). He had difficulty in maintaining his position and was nearly overwhelmed by a rising of Desmond in 1182. The date of his death is uncertain.

[edit] External links

• The Cambro-Norman Reaction: The Invasion of Ireland
• The Norman Conquest of Ireland (12th Century)
• Battle of Callann

[edit] References

• John Edward Lloyd (1911) A history of Wales from the earliest times to the Edwardian conquest (Longmans, Green & Co.)
• This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.