Person:Gilbert de Clare (2)

Gilbert de Clare, born abt 1180, had a brother Richard/Roger and a sister Matilda. He was a Magna Charta Surety. At age 38, he became the sole heir to the Clare and Gloucester estates and title. By a remarkable series of fortuitous marriages and quick deaths, the Clares were left in 1217 in possession of an inheritance which in terms of social prestige, potential revenues, knights' fees, and a lasting position of great importance among the marcher lords of Wales. They were probably the most successful family in developing their lands and power during the 12th century and in many ways the most powerful noble family in 13th century. By 1317, however, the male line of Clares became extinct and the inheritance was partitioned. Between 1217 and 1317 there were four Clare generations.

Gilbert de CLARE assumed the title of earl of Gloucester and Hertford and was charged L350 relief for the honors of Clare, Gloucester, St. Hilary and his half of the old Giffard barony. He controlled some 456 knights fees, far more than any other, and it did not include some 50 fees in Glamorgan and Gwynllwg.

In June 1202 he was entrusted with the lands of Harfleur and Mostrevilliers. He was one of the Barons still opposing the arbitrary proceedings of the Crown. He championed Louis the Dauphin, fighting at Lincoln under the Baronial banner, and was taken prisoner by William Marshall, whose daughter he later married. He led an army against the Welsh in 1228 and captured Morgan Gam, who was released the next year. After an engagement in Brittany, he died on his return at Penrose in that Duchy, 25 October 1230. His body was conveyed by way of Plymouth and Cranbourn to Tewkesbury. He was buried there before the High Altar 10 November 1230. He married Isabella, sister of William Marshall, the Surety, and daughter of William Marshall, the Protector, on 9 October 1217. She died 17 January 1239/40.

For more information, see the EN Wikipedia article Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford.

1.   Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Hertford, in Wikipedia: The Free Encyclopedia.
2. ↑ Weis, Frederick Lewis; Walter Lee Sheppard; and David Faris. The Magna Charta sureties, 1215: The Barons Named in the Magna Charta, 1215 and Some of Their Descendants Who Settled in America During the Early Colonial Years. (Baltimore [Maryland]: Genealogical Pub. Co., c1991).
3.   Cokayne, George Edward, and Vicary Gibbs; et al. The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant [2nd ed.]. (London: St. Catherine Press, 1910-59)
   Volume 3 page 244, VI, 695.
4.   Banks, Thomas Christopher. The Dormant and Extinct Baronage of England: or, An Historical and Genealogical Account of the Lives, Public Employments, and Most Memorable Actions of the English Nobility Who Have Flourished from the Norman Conquest to the Year 1806 [1837]. (London: J. White, 1807-1837)
   X/378.
5.   Stephen, Leslie, ed, and Sidney, ed Lee. Dictionary of National Biography. (London: Smith, Elder, 1885-1900)
   X, 378.
6.   Gilbert de Clare, 4th Earl of Gloucester, in Lundy, Darryl. The Peerage: A genealogical survey of the peerage of Britain as well as the royal families of Europe.
7. ↑ GILBERT de Clare, son of RICHARD de Clare 3rd Earl of Hertford & his wife Amicie of Gloucester ([1180]-Penros, Brittany 25 Oct 1230, bur Tewkesbury), in Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families.
8.   Sir Gilbert de Clare, in Find A Grave.