Robert FITZ RICHARD

Other Events and Attributes:

• Fact: Steward of Henry II

Family/Spouse: Maud DE ST. LIZ. Maud (daughter of Simon DE SAINT LIZ and Maud Of HUNTINGDON) was born about 1096 in Tunbridge, Kent, England; died in 1140. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Walter FITZ ROBERT died in 1198.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Also Known As: "De Tonbridge" "De Clare"
• Death: Bef Apr 1088

Notes:

Richard was the founder of the House of Clare. He acompanied 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 Sufolk, and some in Wiltshire and Devonshire. One was the manor of Westley in Suffolk and another was that of Clare, on the borders and in the count of Suffolk, which subsequently became his chief seat and his descendants were known as the Earls of Clare although never so created. The manor of Westley descended to Gilbert de Clare, his grandson, 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 this manor passed to his son, Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke, the celebrated "Strongbow", famous in the conquest of Ireland, who married Eva, daugahter of Dermod McMorrough, of Leinster, one of the kings of that country. This Richard de Clare, "Strongbow", was appointed Justice of Ireland by King Henry II of England and died in 1126, leaving an only daughter and heiress, Isbel de Clare. "His only son, about 17, frightened by the numbers and cries of the Irish in battle, ran away, and when afterwards informed of his father's victory returned to congratulate him. But "Strongbow" unbraided him for his cowardice and caused him to be executed by cutting him through the middle with a sword. Such in former times was the detestation of cowardice and dastardliness."

Richard married Rohese GIFFARD. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]