Living

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• Differentiator: He started out without land and wealth of his own but was closely related to very powerful men, specifically his uncles Walter de Clare and Roger de Clare.
• Relation to Me: 25 GGF
• Royalty & Nobility: 1st Earl of Pembroke
• Web Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_de_Clare,_1st_Earl_of_Pembroke
• Name: Strongbow
• _MILT: 1136; Led an expedition against Exmes and burned parts of the town, including the church of Notre Dame, but was interrupted by the forces of William III, Count of Ponthieu, and escaped the resulting melee only after suffering heavy losses.

Gilbert married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• Books About: Strongbow: The Norman Invasion of Ireland
• Books About: The Irish Princess
• Differentiator: Welsh-Norman lord notable for his leading role in the Norman invasion of Ireland.
• Misc: He is vividly described by Giraldus Cambrensis as "His complexion was somewhat ruddy and his skin freckled; he had grey eyes, feminine features, a weak voice, and short neck. For the rest, he was tall in stature, and a man of great generosity and of court
• Relation to Me: 24 GGF
• Royalty & Nobility: 2nd Earl of Pembroke
• Web Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_de_Clare,_2nd_Earl_of_Pembroke
• Web Address: https://www.castlewales.com/is_clare.html
• Name: Strongbow: known as "Strongbow" for his skill and use of the long bow of the men of Gwent.
• Wars: Between 1135 and 1154; Richard and his father supported King Stephen in the civil war between Stephen and the Empress Matilda for the throne of England
• Wars: Between 1170 and 1175; Welsh-Norman lord notable for his leading role in the Norman invasion of Ireland.

Notes:

Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke (1130 - 20 April 1176), also known as Richard FitzGilbert and commonly referred to by his nickname "Strongbow," was a notable Anglo-Norman lord with a profound impact on the history of Ireland. Born in Tonbridge, Kent, England, he was the son of Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke, and Isabel de Beaumont. His life and actions played a pivotal role in the Anglo-Norman invasion of Ireland, marking him as a key figure in both English and Irish history.

Strongbow inherited his father's title and estates in 1148 but faced challenges in maintaining his position. Initially deprived of his earldom by King Henry II for siding with King Stephen against the Empress Matilda, he later regained favor and his titles. His life took a significant turn in 1167 when he met Diarmait Mac Murchada, the deposed King of Leinster, who sought his help to recover his kingdom. In exchange for his military support, Mac Murchada offered Strongbow his daughter Aoife in marriage and the succession to Leinster.

Despite initial hesitations from King Henry II, Strongbow embarked on the Irish campaign in 1170. His forces, including Welsh archers, played a crucial role in the capture of key Irish towns such as Wexford, Waterford, and Dublin. These victories were instrumental in establishing Norman rule in Ireland. In 1171, following Mac Murchada's death, Strongbow claimed the kingship of Leinster through his marriage to Aoife, further solidifying his influence in the region.

Strongbow's relationship with King Henry II was complex. After initial tensions and Henry's intervention in Ireland, Strongbow surrendered some of his conquests to the English king but retained significant lands and power. He supported Henry II in the Revolt of 1173-74 as a reward for his reinstatement in Leinster. His military campaigns in Ireland continued, including a notable defeat in Munster and subsequent victories that re-established his dominance.

Richard de Clare's marriage to Aoife MacMurrough produced notable offspring, including Isabel de Clare, who became the 4th Countess of Pembroke. Upon Strongbow's death in 1176, his vast estates and influence passed to his daughter and her husband, William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke.

Strongbow's legacy is marked by his military prowess, strategic marriages, and significant role in the Norman conquest of Ireland. His actions had lasting impacts on the political landscape of Ireland and the relationship between England and Ireland. Buried in Christ Church Cathedral, Dublin, Strongbow remains a figure of both historical significance and legend, remembered for his role in shaping the course of Irish history.

Note that this Richard de Clare born in 1130 is not the same Richard de Clare, Magna Carta Baron, born in 1153. However, they were 1st cousins 1X removed.

Buried:
Christ Church Cathedral: the effigy there, said to be his, isn't. His was destroyed in a roof collapse in 1562. The effigy in queston is that of an unknown knight.

Died:
From some type of infection in his leg or foot.

Family/Spouse: MACMURROUGH, Aoife. Aoife (daughter of MACMURROUGH, Dermot and O'TOOLE, Mor) was born in 1145; died in 1188. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Royalty & Nobility: 2nd Earl of Hertford, 5th Lord of Clare, 5th Lord of Tonbridge, 5th Lord of Cardigan

Notes:

Birth:
Tonbridge Castle

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

Other Events and Attributes:

• Books About: Dawn of the White Rose by Mary Pershall
• Books About: Ladies of the Magna Carta
• Books About: The Scarlet Lion by Elizabeth Chadwick
• Differentiator: Cambro-Norman-Irish noblewoman and one of the wealthiest heiresses in Wales and Ireland.
• Misc: After her brother Gilbert's death, Isabel became one of the wealthiest heiresses in the kingdom, owning besides the titles of Pembroke and Striguil, much land in Wales and Ireland.
• Misc: Allegedly spoke French, Irish and Latin.
• Relation to Me: 23 GGM
• Royalty & Nobility: 4th Countess of Pembroke
• Web Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_depictions_of_William_Marshal,_1st_Earl_of_Pembroke
• Web Address: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isabel_de_Clare,_4th_Countess_of_Pembroke

Family/Spouse: MARSHAL, William. William (son of MARSHAL, John Fitz Gilbert and SALISBURY, Sybil of) was born in 1147; died in 1219 in Caversham, Reading Borough, Berkshire, England; was buried in London, London, England. [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]