Living

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Family/Spouse: Living. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Books About: Strongbow: The Story of Richard and Aoife : A Biographical Novel
• Books About: Three Chevrons Red
• Differentiator: Magna Carta Baron
• Royalty & Nobility: 3rd Earl of Hertford, lord of Clare, Tonbridge, and Cardigan
• Web Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_de_Clare%2C_3rd_Earl_of_Hertford
• Web Address: https://frontlinestates.ltd.uk/richard-and-gilbert-de-clare/
• Web Address: https://magnacarta800th.com/schools/biographies/the-25-barons-of-magna-carta/richard-de-clare-and-gilbert-de-clare/
• Web Address: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Clare-651
• _MILT: 1171; Leader of the semi-official Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland in Henry II’s reign and obtained a grant of the lordship of Leinster from the king in 1171
• Magna Carta: 1215; 1215 Richard was one of the Surety Barons for the Magna Carta. His subsequent participation in baronial rebellion against King John led to his excommunication in December that year and to the confiscation of his lands. He formally returned to allegiance on 5 October 1217, after John\'s death, and his lands were restored

Notes:

Richard de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford (c. 1153-1217), was a significant figure in the late 12th and early 13th centuries in England. Born into the powerful de Clare family, he inherited vast landholdings and titles, including the Earldom of Hertford and lordships in Tonbridge, Kent, and Cardigan, Wales.

Richard's life was marked by his involvement in key political events of his time. He was present at the coronations of Kings Richard I and John, and at the homage of King William of Scotland as the English Earl of Huntingdon. His political activities extended beyond mere appearances; he played a crucial role in the baronial opposition to King John.

During the turbulent times leading up to the sealing of the Magna Carta in 1215, Richard sided with the barons against King John. His castle at Tonbridge was taken during these conflicts, reflecting his active participation in the baronial cause. Richard was one of the twenty-five sureties of the Magna Carta, a group of barons responsible for ensuring the king's adherence to the charter. This involvement places him at the heart of one of the most significant moments in medieval English history.

Richard's marriage to Amice FitzWilliam, the 4th Countess of Gloucester, further elevated his status. This union brought him additional lands and titles, including the estates of Gloucester and the honor of St. Hilary. Their children included Gilbert de Clare, who succeeded him as the 4th Earl of Hertford and 5th Earl of Gloucester, and Maud de Clare, who married Sir William de Braose.

Despite his opposition to King John, Richard was excommunicated by the Pope in 1215 along with his son and other barons. This excommunication was part of the wider conflict between the barons and the king, which the Pope supported.

Richard de Clare's coat of arms, "Or, three chevronels gules," adopted at the start of the age of heraldry around 1200-1215, became a symbol of his family's enduring legacy in English nobility.

Richard de Clare's life and actions, particularly his role in the Magna Carta, highlight the complex interplay of power, loyalty, and rebellion in medieval England. His legacy is not only in his contributions to one of the foundational documents of English law but also in his descendants, who continued to play significant roles in English history. His death in 1217 marked the end of an era, but his impact on English history continued through his family and their extensive influence.

Richard married FITZWILLIAM, 4th Countess of Gloucester Amice in 1177. Amice (daughter of Living, daughter of FITZROBERT, William and BEAUMONT, Hawise) was born in 1160 in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England; died on 1 Jan 1225 in England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Maud married DE BRAOSE, Sir William in 1206. William (son of DE BRAOSE, Justice Itinerant for Staffordshire William III and Living, son of DE BRAOSE, Justice Itinerant for Staffordshire William III and DE SAINT VALERY, Maud) was born in 1175 in Bramber, Sussex, England; died in 1210 in Windsor, Berkshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Books About: Three Chevrons Red
• Differentiator: Magna Carta Baron
• Royalty & Nobility: 4th Earl of Hertford, 5th Earl of Gloucester, 1st Lord of Glamorgan, 7th Lord of Clare
• Web Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_de_Clare,_5th_Earl_of_Gloucester
• Web Address: https://frontlinestates.ltd.uk/richard-and-gilbert-de-clare/
• Web Address: https://magnacarta800th.com/schools/biographies/the-25-barons-of-magna-carta/richard-de-clare-and-gilbert-de-clare/
• Web Address: https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Clare-673
• Residence: Clare, Suffolk, England; Primary family property
• Magna Carta: 1215; Gilbert and his father joined the Barons who compelled King John to sign the Magna Carta, and he was named as one of the Surety Barons.
• _MILT: 1223; Accompanied his brother-in-law, Earl Marshal, in an expedition into Wales
• _MILT: 1228; Led an army against the Welsh, capturing Morgan Gam, who was released the next year.

Notes:

Gilbert de Clare, born in 1180, was a notable figure in medieval England, remembered as the 4th Earl of Hertford and 5th Earl of Gloucester. He was the son of Richard de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford, and Amice Fitz William, Countess of Gloucester. Gilbert's life was marked by his involvement in significant historical events, including the Magna Carta and the First Barons' War.

Inheriting his father's titles and estates in 1217, Gilbert became one of the most influential and wealthiest nobles of his time. His mother's heritage also brought him the estates of Gloucester and the honor of St. Hilary, along with a portion of the Giffard estates from his ancestor, Rohese Giffard. His holdings and influence were further expanded through his marriage to Isabel Marshal, daughter of William Marshal, one of the most powerful men in England.

Gilbert's role in the Magna Carta was significant. In 1215, he and his father were among the barons who became sureties of the charter, a document that sought to limit the powers of the king and establish certain legal protections. His involvement in this pivotal moment in history highlights his status and influence in the political landscape of the time.

During the First Barons' War, Gilbert initially supported Louis le Dauphin of France against King John of England. He fought at the Battle of Lincoln under the baronial banner but was captured in 1217 by William Marshal. This capture led to a change in allegiance, and he later married Marshal's daughter, Isabel, on her 17th birthday.

Gilbert's military prowess was not limited to the English shores. In 1223, he joined an expedition into Wales and, two years later, was present at the confirmation of the Magna Carta by King Henry III. His leadership and martial skills were again on display in 1228 when he led an army against the Welsh, capturing the notable Welsh leader Morgan Gam.

Gilbert's life, however, was not solely defined by warfare and politics. He was also a patron of religious and charitable institutions, a role typical of the nobility of his time. His contributions to the social and religious fabric of his estates were significant, reflecting the responsibilities and interests of a medieval lord.

Gilbert de Clare's death in 1230, while on an expedition to Brittany, marked the end of an influential career. His body was returned to England and buried in Tewkesbury Abbey, a testament to his status and the respect he commanded. His legacy continued through his children, who maintained the de Clare family's prominence in English history.

Gilbert de Clare's life exemplifies the complex interplay of power, loyalty, and warfare in medieval England. His involvement in key historical events like the Magna Carta and the First Barons' War, combined with his vast estates and influential marriage, cements his place as a significant figure in the history of medieval England.

Died:
Penros, Bretagne, France

Gilbert married MARSHAL, Isabel on 9 Oct 1217. Isabel (daughter of MARSHAL, William and DE CLARE, Isabel) was born on 9 Oct 1200 in Pembroke Castle, Pembrokeshire, Wales; died on 17 Jan 1240 in Berkhampstead Castle, Hertfordshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]