Gilbert De Brionne

• General Notes
  • 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.[1]
    
    Richard fitz Gilbert, is once referred to as Richard of Clare in the Suffolk return of the Domesday Survey. He was the ninth richest baron of the Kingdom in 1086 according to the Domesday Book.[2]
    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.[3] 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". See: Style (manner of address)
    
    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 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.[4]
    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.
    Family
    
    He was the son of Gilbert "Crispin", Count of Brionne, grandson of Richard I of Normandy. In spite of this, 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", father of William the Conqueror.
    
    Richard married Rohese Giffard, daughter of Sir Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville and Agnes Flaitel, and had the following children:
    
    Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent, d. 1138
    Richard fitz Richard de Clare, Abbot of Ely, d. 1107
    Roger fitz Richard de Clare, received Norman lands and d. 1131, apparently without issue
    Gilbert fitz Richard, d. 1115, succeeded his father as Earl of Clare
    Robert fitz Richard, Lord of Little Dunmow, Baron of Baynard, d. 1136
    Rohese de Clare, d. 1121, m. (ca. 1088), Eudo de Rie.
    Adelize de Clare, d. 1138. m. Walter Tirel