General Notes

Earldom of Pembroke: Those who were created Earls of Pembroke before the rise of the Herberts from the 15th century on were predominantly close relatives of the reigning mocharch.  This was not so in the first and historically most important case, however, Gilbert Fitz Gilbert or de Clare was made Earl of Pembroke in 1138 by King Stephen, his elder brother Richard Fitz Gilbert or de Clare being father of the Alice/Adelaide who married William de Percy.  In the period of unrest and indecisive civil war known as the Anarchy, when followers of Stephen, Henry I's nephew, struggled with the Empress Maud, Henry I's daughter, Gilbert Earl of Pembroke sided with each one.  He already held Chepstow, on the Welsh-English borders.  In 1144 he pushed far into South Wales and established himself at Carmarthen.  [Burke's Peerage]