Earl Richard "de Tonbridge" FitzGilbert - also known as de Clare - was born about 1024, lived in Bienfaite, Normandy, France and died about 1090 in St. Neots, Huntingdonshire, England . He was the son of Count Gilbert "Crispin" de Brionne and Constance d'Eu.

Earl Richard married Rohese Giffard about 1054 in England. Rohese was born about 1034 in Longueville, Normandy, France, the daughter of Walter Giffard de Bolebec and Agnes Ermentrude Fleitel. She died after 1133 .

Earl Richard was Chief Justice of England and Earl of Buckingham, and accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066. He took his new title from the fief of Clare in Suffolk. Richard acquired the earldom of Gloucester by marriage, and became the leading barons of the south-eastern March by early in the 13th century.

Nine Children (see below).

*******************

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3.htm#Richar...:

RICHARD de Brionne, son of GILBERT de Brionne "Crespin" Comte d'Eu & his wife --- (before 1035-[Apr] [1090], bur St Neots, Huntingdonshire). Guillaume de Jumièges names "Richard" as sons of "le comte Gilbert fils du comte Godefroi", recording that he made donations to the church of Bec with his own sons[1712]. He and his brother are named sons of Gilbert de Brionne by Orderic Vitalis, recording that they took refuge in Flanders after their father was murdered[1713]. Seigneur de Bienfaite et d'Orbec, after Guillaume II Duke of Normandy restored these properties to him after being requested to do so by his father-in-law Baudouin V Count of Flanders[1714].

He accompanied William I King of England into England and was rewarded with 176 lordships, mainly in Suffolk (many attached to the honour of Clare) and Kent[1715]. Lord of Clare and Tonbridge. Regent of England 1075. The necrology of Saint-Nicaise de Meulan records the death of "Richardus filius comitis Gilberti monachus nostre congregationis", undated but listed among deaths recorded in late April[1716]. The Genealogia Fundatoris of Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire records that “Ricardo filio comitis Gisleberti” was buried “apud sanctum Neotum”[1717].

m [as her first husband,] ROHESE Giffard, daughter of GAUTHIER Giffard & his wife Ermengarde --- (-after 1113, bur [Colchester]). Her father is named by Orderic Vitalis, who does not state her own name[1718]. Guillaume de Jumièges records that "Gautier-Giffard 1er" & his wife had several daughters, of whom Rohais married "Richard fils du comte Gilbert"[1719]. Rohese may have married secondly Eudes de Rie dapifer. According to the Genealogia Fundatoris of Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire, ”Rohesia” married secondly “Eudoni dapifero Regis Normanniæ” after the death of “Ricardo filio comitis Gisleberti”[1720]. According to the Complete Peerage, this genealogy is “probably erroneous” but it does not explain the basis for the doubts[1721]. From a chronological point of view, the connection would be tight, assuming that the death date of Richard FitzGilbert is correctly estimated to [1090] and the birth of Rohese´s granddaughter by her alleged second marriage, Beatrix, is correctly assessed at [1105]. An alternative perspective is provided by the History of the foundation of St John´s abbey, Colchester which names “Eudoni…major domus regiæ” and “Roasya uxor eius…Gilbertum comes, Rohaisæ frater”[1722], who would have been the daughter of this Rohese Giffard.

Richard & his wife had nine children:

1. ROGER FitzRichard (-after 1131). Guillaume de Jumièges names (in order) "Gilbert, Roger, Gautier et Robert" as sons of Richard, son of "le comte Gilbert fils du comte Godefroi", recording that they made donations to the church of Bec[1723]. He is named and his parentage given by Orderic Vitalis[1724]. He succeeded his father in [1090] as Seigneur de Bienfaite et d'Orbec. He fought with Henry I King of England between 1111 and 1113, and saved the king's life at the battle of Bremulé in 1119[1725]. "Rogerius filius Ricardi cognatus regis" accompanied Mathilda, daughter of Henry I King of England, to Germany for her marriage to Emperor Heinrich V[1726]. "Comes Ricardus filius comitis Gisleberti" confirmed donations of property to Saint-Victor-en-Caux by "Radulfus de Vuaterivilla et Ansuuidus apud Bosunvillam", with the consent of "Rogerii filii Ricardi et comitis Gisleberti patris mei", by undated charter (a copy of which is attached to a late-12th century transcription of a charter under which Hugh de Mortimer confirmed donations to the monastery), witnessed by "Herveio de Monte Morenci…"[1727]. He was succeeded at Bienfaite and Orbec by his nephew Gilbert FitzGilbert de Clare, later Earl of Pembroke. m ---. The name of Roger's wife is not known. Roger & his wife had one child....

2. ROHESE FitzRichard de Clare (-7 Jan 1121, bur Le Bec, Normandy[1730]). The History of the foundation of St John´s abbey, Colchester names “Eudoni…major domus regiæ” and “Roasya uxor eius…Gilbertum comes, Rohaisæ frater”, clarifying in a later passage that she was “filia Ricardi…filius Gilberti comitis, [et] Rohaisam…soror Willielmi Giffardi episcopi Wintoniæ”[1731]. According to the Genealogia Fundatoris of Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire, “Eudoni dapifero Regis Normanniæ” married ”Rohesia” widow of “Ricardo filio comitis Gisleberti”[1732], who would have been the mother of this Rohese (see above). m EUDES de Rie dapifer, of Colchester, Essex, son of HUBERT de Rie & his wife --- (-1 Mar 1120, bur Colchester). The History of the foundation of St John´s abbey, Colchester names “Eudoni…major domus regiæ”, “pater…eius…Hubertus de Ria, qui internuntius et sequester inter ducem Normanniæ et regem Angliæ…”, his three brothers “Radulfus...custodia castelli et comitatus Notingehamiæ, Hubertus…turris Norwici…Adam…in Cantia”, and “Roasya uxor eius…Gilbertum comes, Rohaisæ frater”[1733]. The History of the foundation of St John´s abbey, Colchester records the death “pridie Kal Mar 1120” of “Eudoni…major domus regiæ”, and that “Waltherius eius nepos” brought his body for burial[1734].

3. GILBERT FitzRichard de Clare (-1114 or 1117). Guillaume de Jumièges names (in order) "Gilbert, Roger, Gautier et Robert" as sons of Richard, son of "le comte Gilbert fils du comte Godefroi", recording that they made donations to the church of Bec[1735]. He is named and his parentage stated by Orderic Vitalis[1736]. He succeeded his father in [1090] as Lord of Clare and Tonbridge. During the rebellion of 1089 against King William II, he was besieged in Tonbridge by the king, but wounded and forced to surrender[1737]. Lord of Cardigan 1110. "Comes Ricardus filius comitis Gisleberti" confirmed donations of property to Saint-Victor-en-Caux by "Radulfus de Vuaterivilla et Ansuuidus apud Bosunvillam", with the consent of "Rogerii filii Ricardi et comitis Gisleberti patris mei", by undated charter (a copy of which is attached to a late-12th century transcription of a charter under which Hugh de Mortimer confirmed donations to the monastery), witnessed by "Herveio de Monte Morenci…"[1738]. The Annales Cambriæ record the death in 1117 of "Gilebertus filius Ricardi"[1739]. m as her first husband, ADELISA de Clermont, daughter of HUGUES Comte de Clermont-en-Beauvaisis & his wife Marguerite de Ramerupt. Guillaume de Jumièges records that the wife of Gilbert was the daughter of the Comte de Clermont[1740]. The Genealogiæ Scriptoris Fusniacensis refers to a sister of "comes Rainaldus" as husband of "Gillebertus, filius Richardi Anglici"[1741]. “Adeliz, uxor Gilberti filii Ricardi, et Gillebertus et Walterus et Baldewinus et Rohaisia pueri Gilberti” donated property “quod Tovi dedit…et in Randa…quas Turgisius tenebat” to Thorney Monastery, by undated charter witnessed by “Gilberto filio Gilberti, Galterio, Hervæo, Baldwino fratribus eius et Rohaisia sorore eorum”[1742]. "Hadalaidis filia Hugonis de Claromonte…uxor Gisleberti de Anglia" founded an anniversary at Saint-Leu d´Esserent, like the anniversaries of "patris sui Hugonis et matris sue Margarite", by undated charter[1743]. She married secondly [Herv%C3%A9] de Montmorency. Her second marriage is confirmed by the charter dated under which Robert Bishop of Lincoln confirms previous donations to Thorney, including one by “Adelidæ de Montemoraci” of “…terræ in Randa quas Turgisius tenuit et Toui prius dederat”[1744], which clearly refers back to the earlier charter quoted above. According to Duchesne, her second husband was named Hervé and was the son of Bouchard [III] Seigneur de Montmorency and his second wife, but he cites no primary source on which this statement is based[1745]. Given the date of his marriage, the suggestion appears acceptable from a chronological point of view. A charter in the Stoke-by-Clare Priory Cartulary includes the reference "Rogerus coms Clar’ Aelicie de Clermunt ave sue..."[1746]. Gilbert & his wife had eight children....

4. ROBERT FitzRichard de Clare (-[1134], bur Priory of St Neot). Guillaume de Jumièges names (in order) "Gilbert, Roger, Gautier et Robert" as sons of Richard, son of "le comte Gilbert fils du comte Godefroi", recording that they made donations to the church of Bec[1775]. He is named and his parentage given by Orderic Vitalis, who lists him after his brother Walter[1776]. Henry I King of England granted him the fiefdom of Little Dunmow, Essex[1777]. - FITZWALTER.

5. WALTER Fitz Richard de Clare (-1138). Guillaume de Jumièges names (in order) "Gilbert, Roger, Gautier et Robert" as sons of Richard, son of "le comte Gilbert fils du comte Godefroi", recording that they made donations to the church of Bec[1778]. He is named and his parentage stated by Orderic Vitalis, who names him before his brother Robert[1779]. Lord of Netherwent, with the castle of Strigoil, later known as Chepstow. He founded Tintern Abbey in 1131. He was succeeded by his nephew Gilbert FitzGilbert de Clare, later Earl of Pembroke. [m ISABELLE de Tosny, daughter of RALPH de Tosny & his wife Adelisa of Huntingdon (-after [1158]). The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified.]

6. AVICE de Clare . The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified. "Radulfus Filogerensis et uxor eius Avicia" donated property to Sainte-Trinité de Fougères by undated charter[1780]. m RAOUL [I] de Fougères, son of MEEN [II] de Fougères & his wife Adelaide --- (-1124).

7. RICHARD Fitz Richard de Clare (-16 Jun 1107). He is named and his parentage given by Orderic Vitalis, who specifies that he was a monk at Bec and was appointed abbot of Ely by Henry I King of England[1781]. Robert of Torigny records the death in 1114 of "Ricardo filio Ricardi filii comitis Gisleberti monacho Beccensi" specifying that he was the last abbot of Ely[1782].

8. ADELISA Fitz Richard de Clare (-[1125/35] or after). She is called "Adelidem filiam Ricardi de…prosapia Gifardorum" by Orderic Vitalis, who also records her marriage[1783]. Her identification as the daughter of Richard de Clare was first made by Round[1784]. "Adelissa [mater Gauterii filii Gauterii Tirelli]" donated property to the abbey of Saint-Martin de Pontoise by charter dated [1125/35] which states that the donation was made after the death of her son and the latter was buried at the abbey. The same charter also records a later donation by "Gauterius Tirellus pater memorati Gauterii iuvenis" witnessed by "Ada uxore Hugonis Tirelli, Gauterius Tirelli et Hugonis filii eius"[1785]. The 1130 Pipe Roll records "Adeliz uxor Walti Tirelli" in Essex in relation to "eisde plac de La Wingeha"[1786]. m GAUTHIER [II] Tirell, son of GODRICH & his wife Aremburgis --- (-Jerusalem after [1140]).

9. daughter . Guillaume de Jumièges records that one of the two unnamed daughters of Richard married "Rodolphe de Tilliers", and that they were parents of "Fransvalon, Henri et Robert Giffard"[1787]. m RAOUL Seigneur de Tillières, son of GILBERT Seigneur de Crespin & his wife ---.

---

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_de_Bienfaite

Richard de Bienfaite

Richard de Bienfaite (avant 1035 – 1087/1090), dit aussi de Tonbridge ou de Clare ou encore Richard Fitz Gilbert, seigneur de Bienfaite et d'Orbec, puis lord de Clare et de Tonbridge, fut un important baron anglo-normand, probable compagnon de Guillaume le Conquérant dont il était l'un des conseillers1. Il est le primogéniteur de l'importante famille baronniale anglaise, galloise et irlandaise de Clare.

Biographie

Il était le fils de Gilbert de Brionne († 1040), comte d'Eu et de Brionne. Son père est le tuteur du duc de Normandie Guillaume le Bâtard (plus tard le Conquérant) lors de sa tumultueuse minorité. Richard trouve refuge avec son frère Baudouin en Flandre quand son père est assassiné par les fils de Giroie en 1040. Le duc les rappelle, peu après son mariage vers 1050, et leur restaure leur héritage sur intervention de son beau-père Baudouin V, comte de Flandre2. Richard reçoit Bienfaite et d'Orbec (Calvados).

Il fait partie des barons qui sont consultés sur l'opportunité de l'invasion de l'Angleterre au début de l'année 1066. Il n'y a néanmoins pas de preuves formelles de sa participation à la phase initiale de la conquête normande de l'Angleterre. Toutefois, il est présent dans les premières années du règne de Guillaume le Conquérant, et est un témoin récurrent de ses chartes3.

Il reçoit 176 seigneuries principalement dans le Suffolk, et dans sept autres comtés4. 95 d'entre elles, dans le Suffolk, forment l'honneur de Clare, un vaste domaine de terres d'un seul tenant, inhabituel pour l'époque5. Dans le Kent et le Surrey, il détient un autre domaine important centré sur une place forte, la motte castrale de Tonbridge6. En 1086, il apparaît dans le Domesday Book comme le neuvième baron le plus riche du royaume7.

En 1075 éclate la révolte des comtes Ralph de Gaël, comte de Norfolk et Suffolk, et Roger de Breteuil, comte d'Hereford. Richard et Guillaume de Warenne, que le roi a établi comme régents (Joint Chief Justiciar) d'Angleterre, convoquent les rebelles à la cour. Ceux-ci ne daignant pas obéir aux ordres, ils lèvent l'armée d'Angleterre aidés des évêques Odon de Bayeux et Geoffroy de Montbray, et livrent aux rebelles un combat sanglant. Richard et Guillaume de Warenne bataillent contre Ralph de Gaël dans le Norfolk. Orderic Vital précise que les rebelles capturés ont le pied droit tranché afin de pouvoir être reconnus ultérieurement8.

Il est un bienfaiteur de l'abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec comme son père qui avait aidé son chevalier Herluin à la fonder. Il la dote de nombreux domaines fonciers, fonde des prieurés dépendant d'elle et lui verse la dîme. Toute la famille Clare ainsi que certains de leur vassaux contribuent à enrichir l'abbaye3.

Sa date de décès n'est pas connue précisément, mais il n'est témoin d'aucune charte de Guillaume le Roux, couronné en 1087, et lors de la rébellion de 1088, ce sont ses fils Gilbert et Roger qui sont impliqués et tiennent Tonbridge contre le roi. Orderic Vital relate un rêve qu'un moine fait, ce qui permet de dater sa mort d'avant 1091. Il est donc possible qu'il soit entré dans un monastère durant les dernières années de sa vie3.

Il est inhumé à St Neots (Cambridgeshire), dans le prieuré fondé par sa femme. Comme dans la plupart des familles de la première génération anglo-normande, son fils aîné Roger lui succède dans ses possessions de Normandie, et son cadet Gilbert lui succède en Angleterre.

Sa réputation posthume est très favorable. Robert de Torigny le décrit comme un « très vaillant soldat ». Orderic Vital le considère comme l'un des plus formidables laïcs de son époque, qui avait hérité du courage de ses ancêtres et excellait dans la justesse de son jugement et la sagesse de ses conseils3.

Richard de Bienfaite fut le fondateur d'une famille baronniale très puissante d'Angleterre, dont les descendants furent comtes d'Hertford, de Pembroke et de Gloucester.

Famille et descendance

• Il épousa Rohaise († après 1113), fille de Gautier Giffard (I), seigneur de Longueville, et d'Ermengarde, fille de Gérard Flaitel, et sœur de Guillaume, l'évêque d'Évreux. Le mariage est dit avoir été arrangé par le roi. Rohaise était la sœur de Walter Giffard, créé comte de Buckingham en 1097. Elle avait une dot comprenant des terres dans le Huntingdonshire et le Hertfordshire9. Ils eurent dix enfants :
• Roger († après 1131), seigneur de Bienfaite et d'Orbec. Il sauva la vie d'Henri Ier à la bataille de Brémule. Son neveu Gilbert lui succéda ;
• Rohaise († 1121), épousa Eudes FitzHubert, sénéchal ;
• Gilbert († v. 1117), lord de Clare et de Tonbridge, puis de Cardigan ;
• Robert († 1137), lord de Little Dunmow (Essex), épousa Mathilde, fille de Simon Ier de Saint-Lis. Il reçoit d'Henri Ier les terres confisquées à Guillaume Baynard. Il est un sénéchal d'Étienne d'Angleterre au début de son règne;
• Gautier († 1138), reçoit d'Henri Ier la seigneurie de Netherwent (Galles du sud), épousa Isabelle, fille d'un certain Ralph de Tosny10 ;
• Avice, épousa Raoul de Fougères, un seigneur breton ;
• Richard († 1107), moine à l'abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec, puis abbé d'Ely en Angleterre vers 1100. Déposé en 1102 puis réinstallé en 1107 ;
• Adèlise († après 1125), épousa Gautier II Tirel, seigneur de Poix, qui tua accidentellement le roi Guillaume II le Roux ;
• Et peut-être :
• une fille non nommée, qui épousa Raoul de Tillières, seigneur de Tillières ;
• une fille non nommée, qui épousa un certain Baudry.

Voir aussi

Famille de Clare

Richardides

Références

1. ↑ Orderic Vital, Histoire de la Normandie, Éd. Guizot, 1826, vol. II, livre III, p. 115
2. ↑ Histoire de la Normandie, vol. III, tome VIII, p. 298
3. ↑ a, b, c et d Richard Mortimer, « Clare, Richard de (1030x35–1087x90) », ODNB.
4. ↑ Norfolk, Essex, Devon, Surrey, Kent, Cambridgeshire entre autres.
5. ↑ Traditionnellement, les souverains normands donnent à leurs vassaux des terres éparpillées, afin de les dissuader de se révolter, leur domaine étant difficilement défendable.
6. ↑ George Cokayne et autres, The Complete Peerage, vol. III, p. 242
7. ↑ C. Warren Hollister, The Greater Domesday Tenants-in-Chief, Domesday Studies, Éd. J.C. Holt (Woodbridge), 1987, p. 219-248.
8. ↑ Histoire de la Normandie, vol. II, livre IV p. 253
9. ↑ Michael Altschul, A Baronial Family in Medieval England: The Clares, 1217-1314, The Johns Hopkins press, Baltimore, 1965. La meilleure étude à ce jour sur la famille de Clare.
10. ↑ Issu probablement d'un branche mineure de la famille de Tosny.

Sources

• Richard Mortimer, « Clare, Richard de (1030x35–1087x90) », dans Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004. Accédé en novembre 2008.
• Orderic Vital, Histoire de la Normandie, Éd. Guizot, 1826.
• Biographie de Richard de Bienfaite dans le Dictionary of National Biography.
• Richard de Bienfaite sur Medieval Lands, biographie, généalogie.
• Richard de Bienfaite dans le Domesday Book

-------------------------------

Richard FitzGilbert de Clare, Earl of Clare; Lord of Bienfaite, Orbec and Tonbridge.

Born in 1035

Died in 1090

Richard FitzGilbert de Clare was most probably present at the Battle of Hastings. Richard

married Rohese Giffard, daughter of Walter Giffard (died 1084), Lord of Longueville who was

most certainly present at the Battle of Hastings. (See Normandy, Generation Ten)

Richard and Rohese had the following children:

· Gilbert FitzRichard de Clare, mentioned next.

· Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent

· Roger FitzRichard de Clare

· Richard FitzRichard de Clare, Abbot of Ely

· Robert FitzRichard de Clare, Baron of Baynard and Dunmow, who married Maud de
Saint Liz, daughter of Simon de Saint Liz, Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton. (See Fitz Walter) Robert FitzRichard died between 1134 and 1136, and Maud then married to Saher de Quincy.

• Adelize de Clare

· Rohese de Clare

---

Richard FitzGilbert de CLARE Lord of Clare & Tonbridge (1035-1090) [Pedigree]

Son of Gilbert de BRUINE Count of Brionne, Normandy Count of Brionne, Eu (-1040) and Gunnora

      REF AR7. Seigneur of Bienfaite & Orbed, Normandy & of Clare, Suffolk.

b. 1035
r. Brionne, Normandy, France
d. ABT 1090
d. 1095, of Tunbridge, Essex, Eng.
bur. St. Neots, Huntingdon, Eng.
Married Rohese GIFFARD (-1113)

Children:

  1. Rohaise de CLARE (1055-1121) m. Eudo de RIE (-1120)

2. Avoye de CLARE
3. Robert FITZRICHARD Lord of Little Dunmow, Essex (-1134) m. Maud de ST.LIZ Lady Bradham (1094-1140)
4. Adeliza de CLARE
5. Avice de CLARE m. Robert de STAFFORD (-1088)
6. Gilbert FitzRichard de CLARE 2nd Earl of Clare (1066-1114) m. Adelaide de_Clermont (1074-)
Sources:

1. "Ancestral roots of certain American colonists who came

        to America before 1700",

Frederick Lewis Weis, 1992, seventh edition.
The earlier editions were called: "Ancestral roots of
sixty colonists who came to New England 1623-1650"
2. "Europaische Stammtafeln",

        Isenburg.

3. "The Complete Peerage",

        Cokayne.

4. "Ancestors of Deacon Edward Converse".

5. "Some Early English Pedigrees",

        Vernon M. Norr.

6. "Royal Ancestors of Some American Families",

        Michel L. Call, 1972.

7. "Plantagenet Ancestry",

        Turton.

8. "The Royal Descents of 500 Immigrants",

        Gary Boyd Roberts, 1993.

9. "Magna Charta Pedigrees (Portland East LDS Stake Gen. Lib.)".

10. "Ancestors of American Presidents",

        Gary Boyd Roberts.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Fitz_Gilbert

---

Richard FitzGilbert (c. 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.

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.

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.

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.

Death and succession

He died in St. Neot's Priory in 1090. His land was inherited by his son, Gilbert Fitz Richard.

Family

He was the son of Gilbert "Crispin", Count of Brionne.

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-aft. 1113), 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.

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.

---

In Normandy, Richard was Lord of Bienfaite and Orbee. He accompanied William the Conqueror to England, and was rewarded with 127 Lordships, of which 95 were attached to the Honour of Clare. He got the Castle of Clare and the Castle of Tonbridge in Kent, During the King's absence, he was Joint Chief Justiciar and as such, suppressed the revolt of 1075.

---

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.

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.

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.

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.

Death and succession

He died in St. Neot's Priory in 1090. His land was inherited by his son, Gilbert Fitz Richard.

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.

Issue

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.

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]

References

The Royal Ancestry Bible Royal ancestors of 300 American Families By Michel L. Call ISBN 1-933194-22-7 (chart 1696)

^ Surrey Domesday Book

---

From http://www.rpi.edu/~holmes/Hobbies/Genealogy/ps06/ps06_349.htm

Richard was Lord of Bienfaite and Orbec in Normandy and Lord of Clare of Tonbridge; Chief Justice of England; kinsman and companion of William the Conqueror. He founded the House of Clare during the Conquest, and played a major role in suppressing the revolt of 1075. His wife Rohese Giffard brought him the great estates of her family. Their son Walter founded Tintern Abbey.

RICHARD FITZGILBERT, a lawyer and Chief Justice of Eng, bornbef 1035, was the founder of the House of Clare in England. He was the eldest son of Gislebert [insert Crispin,] Count of Eu, and Brionne, a descendant of the Emperor Charlemagne, see Ch 29 (p 182). He accomp Duke Wm into Eng, and later held one hunderd seventy-six lordships or manors. One of these lordships was that of Clare, in co./ Suffolk which, becoming his chief seat, caused him to be styled Richard de Clare, and his d escendants known as Earls of Clare. He fell in a skirmish with the Welsh in 1090. He md Rohese, dau of Walter Giffard de Bolebec, and had... a son

He was also Seigneur de Orbec et Bienfaite, Normandy; Lord of Clare & Tonbridge j.u. When his father was assassinated in 1040, Richard and his brother and Baldwin, were forced to flee Normandy, finding safety at the court of Baldwin V, count of Flanders. When cousin William the Conqueror married Count Baldwin's daughter, he restored Gilbert's sons to Normandy, although he did not invest them with either Brionne or Eu or a comital title. William granted the lordships of Bienfaite and Orbec to Richard fitz Gilbert, and Le Sap and Meules to

Baldwin. Richard and Baldwin fitz Gilbert took part in the Norman conquest of England, and both assumed important positions in the Conqueror's reign. Richard was regent of England jointly with William de Warenne during the Conqueror's absence in 1075, and he served in

various other important capacities for the King. King William rewarded his cousin well, granting him one of the largest fiefs in the territorial settlement. The lordship centered on Clare (obviously the origin of the Clare family name), Suffolk, which had been an important stronghold in Anglo-Saxon times. The bulk of Richard fitz Gilbert's estates lay in Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, and Kent, but comprised holdings in various other counties in the southern and eastern parts of the kingdom as well. In addition, King William arranged for Richard's marriage to Rohese, sister of Walter Giffard, later earl of Buckingham, and her dowry, consisting of lands in Huntingdon and Hertford, became absorbed in the family

inheritance. After Richard's death, his extensive properties in Normandy and England were divided between his two eldest sons.

---

Richard was also called Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare--and Richard de Bienfaite. He was a descendant of Alfred the Great and of Charlemagne.

He was Justiciar of England. He might have accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066, but whether or not he fought at the Battle of Hastings is not recorded.

He took his new title from the fief of Clare in Suffolk after 28 September 1066.

Richard was in arms with William de Warenne against the rebellious lords, Robert de Britolio, Earl of Hereford, and Ralph Waher, or Guader, Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, and behaved with great gallantry in 1076.

Richard died before January 1090.

Richard was our ancestor through two distinct descent lines--one through his son Roger and the other through his son Gilbert, each of whom was independently our ancestor.

See "My Lines"

( http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/p352.htm#i7080 )

from Compiler: R. B. Stewart, Evans, GA

( http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/index.htm )

---

Richard* FitzGilbert de Tonebrugh DE CLARE (Ist Earl of Devon)

[439]

ABT 1030 - ABT 1090

   * TITLE: Ist Earl of Devon

* BIRTH: ABT 1030, Brionne,Normandy,France
* DEATH: ABT 1090, Huntingdon,England
Father: Gilbert I* CRISPIN

Mother: Gunnora* D'AUNOU

Family 1 : Rohaise* GIFFARD

  1. +Gilbert* de Tonebrugh DE CLARE

2. Roger DE CLARE
3. Walter DE CLARE
4. +Richard Fitz Richard DE CLARE
5. Robert DE CLARE
6. +Rohaise* DE CLARE
7. +Adeliza* DE CLARE
Family 2 : Adeliza* FITZ-OSBORN

  1. +Baldwin* DE REDVERS 

---

Richard FitzGilbert (c. 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.

He was the son of Gilbert "Crispin", Count of Brionne.

---

Descended from Godfrey, eldest natural son of Duke Richard the Fearless, of Normandy. Title: 1st Earl of Clare; Lord of Bienfaite & Orbecq, in Normandy; Joint Chief Justiciar of England; Lord of Tunbridge. Founded Tunbridge Priory. Sometimes AKA Richard de Bienfaite. Founder of the house of Clare. He was a commander in the army of the Conqueror & accompained William (The Conqueror) on the Norman invasion of England. Richard acquired vast landholdings in Suffolk Co., & in the village of Clare he built a castle, the ruins of which still exist.

Source: The book, 'The Thomas Book'.

---

Descended from Godfrey, eldest natural son of Duke Richard 'the Fearless', of Normandy. Title: 1st Earl of Clare; Lord of Bienfaite & Orbecq, in Normandy; Joint Chief Justiciar of England; Lord of Tunbridge. Founded Tunbridge Priory. Sometimes known as, Richard de Bienfaite. Founder of the house of Clare. He was a commander in the army of the Conqueror & accompanied William (the Conqueror) on the Norman invasion of England. Richard acquired vast landholdings in Suffolk Co. & in the village of Clare he built a castle, the ruins of which still exist.

Source: The book, 'The Thomas Book'

---

"He accompanied WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR on the invasion of England in 1066 and received great estates, including Clare in Suffolk, from whence the family took its name. "A Baronial Family in Medeival England: The Clares, 1217-1314; Michael Altschul; The Johns Hopkins Press, 1965: Richard FitzGilbert, styled (from his possessions) "de Bienfaite", "De Clare", and "de Tonbridge". Lord of Bienfaite, Orbec in Normandy; Clare & Tonbridge in England. Regent of England jointly with William de Warenne during the Conqueror's absence in 1075. King William granted him one of the largest fiefs in the territorial settlement. The lordship centered on Clare, Suffolk, which had been an important stronghold in Anglo-Saxon times. The bulk of Richard's estates lay in Suffolk, Essex, Surrey, and Kent, but comprised holdings in other counties in the southern and eastern parts of the kingdom as well. In addition, William (King) arranged for his marriage with Rohese, sister of Walter Giffard, later earl of Buckingham, and her dowry, consisting of lands in Huntingdon and Hertford, became absorbed in the family inheritance. "De Tonbridge", Lord Bienfaite."

Also called Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare. Also called Richard de Bienfaite. Richard fitz Gilbert, Justiciar of England was a descendant of Alfred the Great and Charlemagne. He was born in 1035. The eldest son. He was the son of Gilbert I, comte d' Eu & de Brionne. He married Rohesia Giffard, daughter of Walter I Giffard, 1st Earl of Buckingham and Ermengarde Fleitel , before 1065. He may have accompanied William the Conqueror to England, but is not recorded in the records as having fought at Hastings on 28 September 1066. He was took his new title from the fief of Clare in Suffolk after 28 September 1066. He was joined, as "Ricardus de Benefacta," William de Warren in the great office of Justiciary of England in 1073 in 6 William I. Justiciar of England in 1073. He was in arms with William de Warenne against the rebellious lords, Robert de Britolio, Earl of Hereford, and Ralph Waher, or Guader, Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, and behaved with great gallantry in 1076. He died before January 1090.

---

Biography

According to the medieval chronicler Gerald of Wales, the first of this great family, Richard de Clare, was the eldest son of Gilbert, surnamed Crispin, Count of Brionne, in Normandy. This Richard fitz-Gilbert came into England with William the Conqueror, and received from him great advancement in honour and possessions.[3] The Dictionary of National Biography and other sources are vague and sometimes contradictory about when the name de Clare came into common usuage, but what we do know is that Richard fitz Gilbert (of Tonbridge), the earliest identifiable progenitor of the family, is once referred to as Richard of Clare in the Suffolk return of the Domesday Book.[4] [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 received the lordship of Clare, in Suffolk, where parts of the wall of Clare Castle still stand.[5] He was thus Lord of Clare. Some contemporaneous and later sources called him Earl of Clare, though many modern sources view the title as a "styled title". 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 fitz Osbern 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.[6] [edit]Death and succession

He was buried in St. Neot's Priory in 1091. His widow was still living in 1113. His lands were inherited by his son, Gilbert fitz Richard.

---

Richard Fitz Gilbert

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

'Richard Fitz Gilbert, Lord of Clare, Bienfaite, Orbec and Tonbridge'

Born bef. 1036

Normandy, France

Died 1090

St. Neot's Priory, Huntingdonshire, England

Richard FitzGilbert (c. 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.

Contents

[hide]

   * 1 Victor at Hastings

* 2 Rewards
* 3 Rebel Baron
* 4 Death and succession
* 5 Family
* 6 Surrey
* 7 References
[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-aft. 1113), 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)

* A Baronial Family in Medieval England: The Clares, 1217-1314 by Michael Altschul (Baltimore, Johns Hopkins, 1965)
1. ^ Surrey Domesday Book
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Fitz_Gilbert"

Categories: 1030 births | 1090 deaths | Anglo-Normans | Earls in the Peerage of England | Normans | People from Tonbridge | People from Suffolk

---

Richard fitz Gilbert (bef. 1035–c. 1090), was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and was styled "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and of Tonbridge "[n 1][1] from his holdings He was the son of Gilbert, Count of Brionne in Normandy.[2] Gilbert was a guardian of the young duke William and when he was killed by Ralph de Wacy in 1040, his two older sons Richard and Gilbert fled to Flanders.[4] On his later return to Normandy Richard was rewarded with the lordship of Bienfaite and Orbec in Normandy.[4] In 1066, Richard came into England with his kinsman William the Conqueror, and received from him great advancement in honour and possessions.[2]

The Dictionary of National Biography and other sources are vague and sometimes contradictory about when the name de Clare came into common usage, but what we do know is that Richard fitz Gilbert (of Tonbridge), the earliest identifiable progenitor of the family, is once referred to as Richard of Clare in the Suffolk return of the Domesday Book.[5]

Rewards[edit]

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 received the lordship of Clare, in Suffolk, where parts of the wall of Clare Castle still stand.[6] He was thus Lord of Clare. Some contemporaneous and later sources called him Earl of Clare, though many modern sources view the title as a "styled title".

He served as Joint Chief Justiciar in William's absence, and played a major part in suppressing the revolt of 1075.

Rebel Baron[edit]

On the Conqueror's death, Richard and other great Norman barons, including Odo of Bayeux, Robert, Count of Mortain, William fitz Osbern 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.[7]

Death and succession[edit]

He was buried in St. Neot's Priory in 1091. His widow was still living in 1113. His lands were inherited by his son, Gilbert fitz Richard.

Marriage[edit]

Richard married Rohese Giffard, daughter of Sir Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville and Agnes Flaitel,[3] and they had the following children: Roger fitz Richard de Clare, received Norman lands and d. 1131, apparently without issue.[3] Gilbert fitz Richard, d. 1115, succeeded his father as Earl of Clare.[3] Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent, d. 1138.[3] Richard fitz Richard de Clare, Abbot of Ely.[3] Robert fitz Richard,[3] Lord of Little Dunmow, Baron of Baynard, d. 1136.[8] Alice (or Adeliza) de Clare, d. 1138. m. Walter Tirel.[3][9] Rohese de Clare, d. 1121, m. (ca. 1088), Eudo Dapifer.[3]

Notes and References[edit] Notes 1.Jump up ^ Seen in the Domesday book variously as ""de Tonebridge/Tonebrige/Tonbridge" References 1.Jump up ^ Domesday Map website - image of Betchworth's entry and transcription in summary retrieved 2012-10-30 Normally de Tonebridge in Surrey 2.^ Jump up to: a b c G. E. Cokayne, The Complete Peerage, Vol. III (The St. Catherine Press, London, 1913), p. 242 3.^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Band III Teilband 1 (Marburg, Germany: J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 156 4.^ Jump up to: a b J.H. Round, 'The Family

---

Biography

In about 1026, Herleva of Falaise, the sixteen year old daughter of a tanner from Falaise in Normandy, gave birth to a son called Richard. The boy's father was Gilbert, Count of Brionne, one of the most powerful landowners in Normandy. As Herleva was not married to Gilbert, the boy became known as Richard Fitz Gilbert. The term 'Fitz' was used to show that Richard was the illegitimate son of Gilbert.

When Robert, Duke of Normandy died in 1035, William of Normandy inherited his father's title. Several leading Normans, including Gilbert of Brionne, Osbern the Seneschal and Alan of Brittany, became William's guardians.

A number of Norman barons would not accept an illegitimate son as their leader and in 1040 an attempt was made to kill William. The plot failed but they did manage to kill Gilbert of Brionne. As Richard was illegitimate, he did not receive very much land when his father died.

Richard married Rohese, daughter of Walter Giffard of Normandy. The couple had at least three children, Rohaise, Gilbert de Clare and Walter of Clare.

When William of Normandy, decided to invade England in 1066, he invited his three half-brothers, Richard Fitz Gilbert, Odo of Bayeux and Robert of Mortain to join him. Richard, who had married Rohese, daughter of Walter Giffard of Normandy, also brought with him members of his wife's family. After his coronation in 1066, William the Conqueror claimed that all the land in England now belonged to him. William retained about a fifth of this land for his own use. The rest was distributed to those men who had helped him defeat Harold at the Battle of Hastings.

Richard Fitz Gilbert, was granted land in Kent, Essex, Surrey, Suffolk and Norfolk. In exchange for this land, Richard had to promise to provide the king with sixty knights. In order to supply these knights, barons divided their land up into smaller units called manors. These manors were then passed on to men who promised to serve as knights when the king needed them.

Richard built castles at Tonbridge (Kent), Clare (Suffolk), Bletchingley (Surrey) and Hanley (Worcester). His knights normally lived in the manor that they had been granted. Once or twice a year, Richard would visit his knights to check the manor accounts and to collect the profits that the land had made.

The Normans were very impressed with Richard's castle at Tonbridge. After a while people in Kent began calling him Richard of Tonbridge. Other people called him Richard of Clare, after the castle and large estates he owned in Clare in Suffolk. In time, Richard adopted Clare as his family name and he became known as Richard de Clare.

William the Conqueror trusted Richard de Clare and appointed him as a member of his ruling council. Richard was also given the title Chief Justiciar. This meant that Richard took over the running of the government when the king was making one of his many visits to Normandy. In this post he played an important role in the suppression of the revolt against William in 1075.

Just before William the Conqueror died he decided that William Rufus, rather than his older brother, Robert Curthose, should be king of England. He was crowned by Lanfranc, the Archbishop of Canterbury, on 26th September, 1087.

The following year some Normans, including Richard de Clare, Odo of Bayeux, Robert of Mortain, William Fitz Osbern and Geoffrey of Coutances, led a rebellion against the rule of Rufus in order to place Robert Curthose on the throne. However most Normans in England remained loyal and Rufus and his army successfully attacked the rebel strongholds at Tonbridge, Pevensey and Rochester. After a two day siege at Tonbridge Castle, Richard de Clare was forced to surrender to William Rufus. Richard was punished by having his castle and the town of Tonbridge burnt to the ground. Richard de Clare was also forced to live in a monastery where he died three years later. His land was inherited by his son, Gilbert.

Richard de Clare accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066. He took his new title from the fief of Clare in Suffolk. Richard's descendants acquired the earldom of Gloucester by marriage, and became the leading barons of the southeastern March by early in the 13th century. By the middle of that century another Richard de Clare (1222-62) had expelled the Welsh rulers from the western valleys of Glamorgan, as far as the Rhondda, whilst leaving the rest undisturbed.

Richard de Clare (1222) was a leading member of the reforming party of barons in England. King Henry III's personal style of government and his reliance on foreign advisers had antagonized many of the barons who regarded the royal policy as diminishing their own power and influence. Llywelyn ap Gruffydd (d.1282), prince of Gwynedd, exploited this division and dissension amongst the English. On Richard's death in 1262, Llywelyn moved up the Usk valley, capturing the Brecon lands of Humphrey de Bohun (guardian of the young de Clare heir), and reaching the northern edge of Glamorgan. By 1267 Llywelyn had become master of the greater part of modern Wales, except for the southern coastal plain.

Richard de Clare's heir, Gilbert (1243-95) - Gilbert "the Red" as he was known after the fiery color of his hair - was to become involved in the turbulent English politics of the 1260s. At the time of his father's death Gilbert was a minor, though he was given possession of the Gloucester estates in 1263. To begin with, Gilbert continued in good terms with his powerful neighbor, Llywelyn ap Gruffydd. However, over the next few years a series of military and political events was to completely change this situation; the building of de Clare's masterpiece Caerphilly Castle, can be seen as the last and most dramatic episode in this story.

It was probably in 1070 that, with his brother, he witnessed a charter of William at Salisbury (Glouc. Cart. i. 387). On William's departure for Normandy he was appointed, with William of Warrenne, chief justiciar (or regent), and in that capacity took a leading part in the suppression of the revolt of 1075 (Ord. Vit. ii. 202). He is further found in attendance on the king at Berkeley, Christmas 1080 (Glouc. Cart. i. 374), and again, with his brother, at Winchester in 1081 (Men. Angl. iii. 141 ). The date of his death is somewhat uncertain. Ordericus (iii. 371) alludes to him as lately (nuper) dead in 1091, yet apparently implies that at this very time he was captured at the siege of Courcy. From Domesday we learn that he received in England some hundred and seventy lordships, of which ninety-five were in Suffolk, attached to his castle of Clare. In Kent he held another stronghold, the castle of Tunbridge, with its appendant Lowy (Lega), of which the continuator of William of Jumièges asserts (viii. 37) that he received it in exchange for his claim on his father's comté of Brionne, while the Tintern 'Genealogia' (Monasticon Anglican. v. 269) states that he obtained it by exchange from the see of Canterbury, which is confirmed by the fact that, in later days, it was claimed by Becket as having been wrongly alienated, and homage for its tenure exacted from the earls (Materials, iii. 47, 251). By Stapleton (ii. 136) and Ormerod (Strig. 79) it has been held that he received the lordship of Chepstow as an escheat in 1075, but for this there is no foundation. The abbey of Bec received from him a cell, afterwards an alien priory, at Tooting (Mon. Arngl. vi. 1052-3). He married Rohaise, the daughter of Walter Giffard the elder (Ord. Vit. iii. 340), through whom his descendants became coheirs to the Giffard estates. She held lands at St. Neot's (Domesday), and there founded a religious house, where her husband is said to have been buried (Mon. Angl. v. 269). She was still living as his widow in 1113 (ib. iii. 473), and is commonly, but wrongly, said to have married her son-in-law, Eudes the sewer (Eudo Dapifer). By her Richard FitzGilbert left several children (Ord. Vit. iii. 340). Of these Roger, mentioned first by Ordericus, was probably the eldest, though he is commonly, as by Stapleton (ii. 136), styled the 'second.' He had sided with Robert in the revolt of 1077-8 (Ord. Vit. ii. 381), and is said by the continuator of William of Jumièges (viii. 37) to have received from Robert the castle of Hommez in exchange for his claims on Brionne, but it was, according to Ordencus (iii. 343), his cousin Robert FitzBaldwin who made and pressed the claim to Brionne. Roger, who witnessed as 'Roger de Clare' (apparently the earliest occurrence of the name) a charter to St. Evreul (Ord. Vit. v. 180) about 1080, was his father's heir in Normandy, but left no issue. The other sons were Gilbert (d. 1115?) [q.v.], the heir in England, Walter [see Clare, Walter de], Robert, said to be ancestor of the Barons FitzWalter (but on this descent see Mr. Eyton's criticisms in Add. MS 31938, f. 98), and Richard a monk of Bec (Ord. Vit. iii. 340), who was made abbot of Ely on the accession of Henry I (ib. iv. 93), deprived in 1102, and restored in 1107 (Eadmer, v. 143, 185). There was also a daughter Rohaise, married about 1088 to Eudes the sewer (Mon. Angl. iv. 609).

The eldest son of Gislebert, was the founder of the House of Clare. He accompanied his kinsman, William the Conqueror, into England and participated in the spoils of conquest. He became possessed of 38 lordships in Surrey, 35 in Essex, 3 in Cambridgeshire, 95 in Suffolk, and some in Wiltshire and Devonshire. One was the manor of Westley in Suffolk (Manors of Suffolk, pages 112-113) and another was that of Clare, on the borders and in the county of Suffolk, which subsequently became his chief seat and his descendants were known as the Earls of Clare although never so created.

Richard FitzGilbert, having accompanied the Conqueror into England, participated in the spoils of conquest and obtained extensive possessions in the new and old dominions of his royal leader and kinsman. In 10873 we find him joined under the designation of Ricardus de Benefacta, with William de Warren, in the great office of Justiciary of England, with whom, in three years afterwards, he was in arms against the rebellious lords Robert de Britolio, Earl of Hereford, and Ralph Waher, or Guarder, Earl of Norfolk and Suffolk, and behaved with great gallantry. But afterwards, at the time of the General Survey, which was towards the close of William's reign, he is called Ricardus de Tonebruge, from his seat at Tonebruge (now Tunbridge) in Kent, which town and castle he obtained from the archbishop of Canterbury in lieu of the castle of Brion, at which time he enjoyed thirty-eight lordships in Surrey, thirty-five in Essex, three in Cambridgeshire, with some others in Wilts and Devon, and ninety-five in Suffolk, amongst those was Clare, whence he was occasionally styled Richard de Clare, and that place in a few years afterwards becoming the chief seat of the family, his descendants are said to have assumed thereupon the title of Earls of Clare.

This great feudal lord married Rohese, daughter of Walter Giffard, Earl of Buckingham, and had issue: Gilbert, his successor; Roger, Walter; Richard; Robert; a daughter who married Ralph de Telgers; and a daughter married to Eudo Dapifer. Richard de Tonebruge, or de Clare, who is said to have fallen in a skirmish with the Welsh, was succeeded by his eldest son, Gilbert de Tonebruge.

Clare is a small village in the County of Suffolk. The manor of Westley descended to Gilbert de Clare, his grandson (son of Gilbert de Clare, who was created by King Stephen, in 1138, Earl of Pembroke, and who married Elizabeth, sister of Waleran, Earl of Muellent, and on his death in 1149. The Earldom of Clare was created in 1138, i.e., in the reign of King Stephen, 1135-1154.[1]

SEE Also: The Wikipedia article on Richard Fitz Gilbert

Children

Richard had the following children by Rohese de Giffard:[2] 1. ROGER FitzRichard (-after 1131) 2. ROHESE FitzRichard de Clare (-7 Jan 1121) 3. GILBERT FitzRichard de Clare (-1114 or 1117) 4. ROBERT FitzRichard de Clare (-[1134] 5. WALTER FitzRichard de Clare (-1138) 6. AVICE de Clare 7. RICHARD FitzRichard de Clare (-16 Jun 1107) 8. ADELISA FitzRichard de Clare (-[1125/35] or after Tonbridge Castle

View of Tonbridge Castle 1070 View of Tonbridge Castle Today Sources

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/NORrichardfitz.htm Source S-17 Title: Medieval Lands Index Publication: Foundation for Medieval Genealogy, online database: Address: http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ Additional Sources: 1. Banks Dormant Peerage 2. G.E.C. Complete Peerage 3 242 3. J.H. Round Feudal England p. 471, 474, 523 ↑ Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant and Extinct Peerages, Burke's Peerage, London, 1883, p. 118, Clare, Lords of Clare, Earls of Hertford, Earls of Gloucester ↑ Source: #S-17 http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3.htm#_Toc33...

---

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_fitz_Gilbert

---

Richard fitz Gilbert (bef. 1035–c. 1090), was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and was styled "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and of Tonbridge "[n 1][1] from his holdings.

He was the son of Gilbert, Count of Brionne in Normandy.[2] Gilbert was a guardian of the young duke William and when he was killed by Ralph de Wacy in 1040, his two older sons Richard and Gilbert fled to Flanders.[4] On his later return to Normandy Richard was rewarded with the lordship of Bienfaite and Orbec in Normandy.[4] In 1066, Richard came into England with his kinsman William the Conqueror, and received from him great advancement in honour and possessions.[2]

The Dictionary of National Biography and other sources are vague and sometimes contradictory about when the name de Clare came into common usage, but what we do know is that Richard fitz Gilbert (of Tonbridge), the earliest identifiable progenitor of the family, is once referred to as Richard of Clare in the Suffolk return of the Domesday Book.[5]

Rewards[edit]

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 received the lordship of Clare, in Suffolk, where parts of the wall of Clare Castle still stand.[6] He was thus Lord of Clare. Some contemporaneous and later sources called him Earl of Clare, though many modern sources view the title as a "styled title".

He served as Joint Chief Justiciar in William's absence, and played a major part in suppressing the revolt of 1075.

Rebel Baron[edit]

On the Conqueror's death, Richard and other great Norman barons, including Odo of Bayeux, Robert, Count of Mortain, William fitz Osbern 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.[7]

Death and succession[edit]

He was buried in St. Neot's Priory in 1091. His widow was still living in 1113. His lands were inherited by his son, Gilbert fitz Richard.

Marriage[edit]

Richard married Rohese Giffard, daughter of Sir Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville and Agnes Flaitel,[3] and they had the following children: Roger fitz Richard de Clare, received Norman lands and d. 1131, apparently without issue.[3] Gilbert fitz Richard, d. 1115, succeeded his father as Earl of Clare.[3] Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent, d. 1138.[3] Richard fitz Richard de Clare, Abbot of Ely.[3] Robert fitz Richard,[3] Lord of Little Dunmow, Baron of Baynard, d. 1136.[8] Alice (or Adeliza) de Clare, d. 1138. m. Walter Tirel.[3][9] Rohese de Clare, d. 1121, m. (ca. 1088), Eudo Dapifer.[3]

---

Sources: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Clare-15 and https://gw.geneanet.org/alaindufour11?lang=fr&pz=aude+ariane+marie+...

Richard de Bienfaite seigneur de Bienfaite et d'Orbec, puis lord de Clare et de Tonbridge, est le fondateur de la puissante famille anglo-normande des Clare.

La famille de Clare est une célèbre et puissante famille anglo-normande issue de Godefroi (ou Geoffroy), comte d'Eu, un des fils illégitimes du duc de Normandie Richard Sans-Peur.

Arrivée avec la conquête normande de l'Angleterre en 1066, elle joua un rôle primordial en Angleterre, Galles et Irlande jusqu'à sa disparition en 1314.La famille tire son nom d'une ville qui servait de siège au grand honneur qu'avait reçu en récompense Richard de Bienfaite, fils de Gilbert de Brionne, et fondateur de cette famille, à Clare dans le Suffolk, après la conquête de l'Angleterre.

Richard de Bienfaite fut l'un des plus riches barons de l'Angleterre nouvellement conquise. Il était un proche conseiller du roi Guillaume le Conquérant, et fut un temps corégent du Royaume d'Angleterre.

ils utilisaient les prénoms Richard et Gilbert à chaque génération, on trouve donc de nombreux Fitz Richard et Fitz Gilbert (fitz est une altération de fils).

Richard Fitz Gilbert dit aussi Richard de Bienfaite ( 1090), fut le fils de Gilbert de Brionne ( 1040 ), comte d'Eu. Son père fut le tuteur du duc Guillaume le Bâtard (plus tard le Conquérant) lors de sa minorité. Richard trouva refuge en Flandre quand son père fut assassiné par Raoul de Gacé et Robert, fils de Giroie en 10402,.

Il fut seigneur de Bienfaite et d'Orbec après que le duc l'eut restauré dans ses possessions, et après la conquête de l'Angleterre fut lord de Clare et de Tonbridge. Il était le neuvième baron le plus riche du royaume en 1086 d'après le Domesday Book. Sa possession principale était l'honneur de Clare , un vaste ensemble de terres d'un seul tenant dans le Suffolk.

Il fut nommé corégent (Joint Chief Justiciar) par le roi Guillaume lors de son absence du royaume, et il aida à réprimer la révolte des comtes en 1075. Richard épousa Rohaise, fille de Gautier Giffard. Le couple eut cinq fils (dans l'ordre) : Roger, Gilbert, Robert, Gautier, Richard. Roger lui succéda en Normandie, Gilbert en Angleterre. Sous le règne d'Henri Ier, la richesse et la puissance des Clare s'accrut encore.

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Famille_de_Clare Wikipedia :

Richard de Bienfaite (avant 1035 avril 1090), dit aussi de Tonbridge ou de Clare ou encore Richard Fitz Gilbert, seigneur de Bienfaite et d'Orbec, puis lord deClare et de Tonbridge, fut un important baron anglo-normand, probable compagnon de Guillaume le Conquérant dont il était l'un des conseillers.Il était le fils de Gilbert de Brionne ( 1040), comte d'Eu etdeBrionne. Son père fut le tuteur du duc de Normandie Guillaume le Bâtard (plus tard le Conquérant) lors de sa tumultueuse minorité. Richard trouva refuge avec son frère Baudouin en Flandre quandsonpère fut assassiné par les fils de Giroie en 1040. Le duc lui restaura ses possessions sur intervention de son beau-père Baudouin V, comte de Flandre.

Après la conquête de l'Angleterre, il reçut 176 seigneuries principalement dans le Suffolk, et dans sept autres comtés. 95 d'entre elles, dans le Suffolk, formaient l'honneur de Clare, un vaste domainede terres d'un seul tenant, inhabituel pour l'époque. Dans le Kent, il détenait une autre place forte, la motte castrale de Tonbridge.

En 1086, il apparaît dans le Domesday Book comme le neuvième baron le plus riche du royaume.En 1075 éclate la révolte des comtes Ralph de Gaël, comte de Norfolk et Suffolk, et Roger de Breteuil, comte d'Hereford. Richard et Guillaume de Warenne, que le roi a établit comme régents (Joint Chief Justiciar) d'Angleterre, convoquent lesrebelles à la cour. Ceux-ci ne daignant pas obéir aux ordres, ilslèvent l'armée d'Angleterre aidés des évêques Odon de Bayeux et Geoffroy de Montbray, et livrent aux rebelles un combat sanglant. Orderic Vital précise que les rebelles capturésont le pied droit tranché afin de pouvoir être reconnus.

Il fut inhumé à St Neots (Cambridgeshire), dans le prieuré fondé par sa femme. Comme dans la plupart des familles de la première génération anglo-normande, son fils aîné Roger lui succéda dans ses possessions en Normandie, et son cadet Gilbert lui succéda en Angleterre.

Richard de Bienfaite fut le fondateur d'une famille baronniale très puissante d'Angleterre, dont les descendants furent comtes d'Hertford, de Pembroke et de Gloucester.

Il épousa Rohaise ( après 1113), fille de Gautier Giffard, seigneur de Longueville, et d'Ermengarde. Le mariage est dit avoir été arrangé par le roi. Rohaise était la s ur de Walter Giffard, créé comte de Buckingham en 1097. Elle avait une dot comprenant des terres dans le Huntingdonshire et le Hertfordshire.

Le couple eut 10 enfants, dont 5 fils :

- Robert Fitz Richard ( 1134), fut lord de Little Dunmow (Essex). Il épousa Mathilde ( 1140), la fille de Simon Ier de Saint-Lis, comte de Northampton et d'Huntingdon. Sa mère était Mathilde d'Huntingdon, qui, une fois veuve, fut l'épouse du roi David Ier d'Écosse. Il reçut d'Henri Ier les seigneuries confisquées à Ralph Baynard en Est-Anglie4. Son fils Walter est le fondateur dela branche des FitzWalter (éteinte en 1432), dont le plus célèbre membre fut Robert FitzWalter, chef de la révolte des barons contre le roi Jean. Il était l'un des commandants à la bataille de Brémule, déclenchée par la rencontre fortuite des rois Henri Ier et Louis VI le Gros sur leur marche respective, en 1119. Orderic Vital relate qu'il maîtrisa Guillaume de Crespin, un Normand combattant pour les Français, après que celui-ci eut tenté de tuer le roi. Son neveu Gilbert lui succéda.

- Roger Fitz Richard ( v. 1131), seigneur de Bienfaite et d'Orbec, fut l'un des compagnons de Robert Courteheuse lorsque celui-ci se rebella contre son père en 1077. Il se rebella avec son frère Gilbert contre le roi Guillaume le Roux en 1088. Il accompagne Mathilde, la fille d'Henri Ier à la cour germanique en 1111, pour qu'elle soit élevée par la famille de son futur époux, Henri V du Saint-Empire.

- Gilbert Fitz Richard ( 1117), fut lord de Clare, de Tonbridge et de Cardigan. En 1088, il se rebella contre Guillaume le Roux. Celui-ci l'assiégea dans son château de Tonbridge, et après un combat acharné qui dura deux jours, il força Gilbert, qui était blessé, et son frère aîné Roger, à se rendre. Par la suite, Gilbert fera partie des barons pardonnés. Il semble aussi impliqué dans la conspiration de 1095, menée par Robert de Montbray. Henri Ier lui permit de conquérir la seigneurie de Cardigan (appelé aussi Ceredigion)dans le Pays de Galles. Il fonda le prieuré de Clare et eut deux descendants : Richard ( 1136), et Gilbert ( 1148/49), 1er comte de Pembroke .

- Gautier Fitz Richard ( v. 1138), reçut d'Henri Ier la grande seigneurie de Netherwent avec les châteauc de Striguil et Chepstow, marche galloise du sud. Ces territoires avaient été confisqués à Roger de Breteuil, fils de Guillaume FitzOsbern, à la suite de la révolte des comtes que son père avait contribué à réprimer. Il fonda l'abbaye cistercienne de Tintern en 11314, qui était alors la deuxième maison cistercienne fondée en Angleterre. On ne sait pas s'il se maria, mais il mourut sans descendance probablement en 1137-1138. Son neveu Gilbert lui succéda.

- Richard Fitz Richard ( 1107), fut moine à l'abbaye Notre-Dame du Bec, puis fut nommé abbé d'Ely en Angleterre par Henri Ier juste après son couronnement en 1100. Il fut déposé en 1102, puis réinstallé juste avant sa mort en 1107. Il fut le dernier abbé, Ely devenant le siège d'un évêché ensuite. Il était le principal artisan de cette transformation en évêché.

-Rohaise ( 1121), épousa Eudes FitzHubert, sénéchal ?;

- Avice, épousa Raoul de Fougères, un seigneur breton ?

-Adèlise ( après 1125), épousa Gautier II Tirel, seigneur de Poix, qui tua accidentellement le roi Guillaume II le Roux ;

et peut-être :

-une fille non nommée, qui épousa Raoul de Tillières, seigneur de Tillières ?; - une fille non nommée, qui épousa un certain Baudry.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clare_Castle

Clare Castle is a medieval castle in the small town of Clare in Suffolk, England. Built shortly after the Norman conquest of England by Richard Fitz Gilbert , the motte and bailey castle was later improved in stone. In the 14th century the castle was the home of Elizabeth de Clare, one of the richest women in England, who maintained a substantial household there. The castle passed into the hands of the Crown,and by the 16th century was in ruins.

Décès Compagnon de Guillaume le Conquérant. sources: adecarne

Sources Naissance: geneanet: Kalimat - Union: geneanet: Kalimat Décès: adecarne -