Roger De Clare

Richard married Alice (Adeliza) De Meschines before 1116. Alice (daughter of Ranulph "De Briquessart" Le Meschin, Earl Of Chester and Lucy Countess Of Chester) was born about 1094 in Hertford, Hertfordshire, England; died in 1128. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Gilbert married Adeliza De Clermont before 1076 in , , , England. Adeliza was born about 1058 in , Northamptonshire, England; died in , , , England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ranulph married Lucy Countess Of Chester about 1097 in , , , England. Lucy was born about 1070 in Spalding, Lincolnshire, England; died about 1136. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Richard fitz Gilbert (bef. 1035–c. 1090), was a Norman lord who participated in the Norman conquest of England in 1066, and was styled "de Bienfaite", "de Clare", and of "Tonbridge" from his holdings.

Biography
He was the son of Gilbert, Count of Brionne in Normandy (fitz was a variant spelling of filz > French fils, that means "son"). Gilbert was a guardian of the young duke William and when he was killed by Ralph de Wacy in 1040, his two older sons Richard and Gilbert fled to Flanders.[4] On his later return to Normandy Richard was rewarded with the lordship of Bienfaite and Orbec in Normandy. In 1066, Richard came into England with his kinsman William the Conqueror, and received from him great advancement in honour and possessions.

The Dictionary of National Biography and other sources are vague and sometimes contradictory about when the name de Clare came into common usage, but what we do know is that Richard fitz Gilbert (of Tonbridge), the earliest identifiable progenitor of the family, is once referred to as Richard of Clare in the Suffolk return of the Domesday Book.

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. 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".

He served as Joint Chief Justiciar in William's absence, and played a major part in suppressing the revolt of 1075.

Rebel baron
On the Conqueror's death, Richard and other great Norman barons, including Odo of Bayeux, Robert, Count of Mortain, 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.

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.

Marriage
Richard married Rohese Giffard, daughter of Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville and Agnes Flaitel, and they had the following children:

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.
Walter de Clare, Lord of Nether Gwent, d. 1138.
Isabel de Clare, d. 1088, m. Humphrey d'Isle.
Richard fitz Richard de Clare, Abbot of Ely.
Robert fitz Richard, Lord of Little Dunmow, Baron of Baynard, d. 1136.
Alice (or Adeliza) de Clare, d. 1138. m. Walter Tirel.
Rohese de Clare, d. 1121, m. (ca. 1088), Eudo Dapifer.

Richard married Rohese Giffard about 1054 in , , , England. Rohese was born in 1034 in Longueville, Normandy, France; died after 1133. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Ranulf married Maud D' Avranches about 1069 in , Normandy, France. Maud was born about 1054 in Avranches, Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Gilbert (or Giselbert) de Brionne, Count of Eu and of Brionne (c. 1000 – c. 1040), was an influential nobleman in the Duchy of Normandy in Northern France. He was one of the early guardians of Duke William II in his minority, and a first cousin to William's father Duke Robert. Had Lord Brionne not been murdered, the senior house of de Clare would probably have been titled de Brionne. Lord Brionne was the first to be known by the cognomen Crispin because of his hair style which stood up like the branches of a pine tree.

Gilbert de Brionne was son of Geoffrey, Count of Eu (otherwise cited as 'Godfrey'), who was an illegitimate child of Richard I of Normandy. He inherited Brionne, becoming one of the most powerful landowners in Normandy. Gilbert was a generous benefactor to Bec Abbey founded by his former knight Herluin in 1031. When Robert I died in 1035, his illegitimate son William inherited his father's title and several powerful nobles, including Gilbert of Brionne, Osbern the Seneschal and Alan of Brittany, became William's guardians.

A number of Norman barons, including Ralph de Gacé, refused to accept William as their leader. In 1040 an attempt was made to kill William but the plot failed. Gilbert however was murdered while he was peaceably riding near Eschafour. It is believed two of his killers were Ralph of Wacy and Robert de Vitot. This appears to have been an act of vengeance for the wrongs inflicted upon the orphan children of Giroie by Gilbert, and it is not clear what Ralph de Gacé had to do in the business. Fearing they might meet their father's fate, Gilbert's sons Richard and Baldwin were conveyed by their friends to the court of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders. Gilbert's children would accompany Duke William on his conquest of England and his descendants would become one of the most powerful noble families in the British isles. They would rule over vast lands in modern-day Ireland, Scotland, and England and become powerful Marcher Lords.

The name of the wife of Gilbert de Brionne is not known; however, they were known to have the following children:
Sir Richard fitz Gilbert (Richard de Clare) (bef. 1035 – c. 1090), m. Rohese Giffard (1034 – aft. 1113), daughter of Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville[9]
Baldwin FitzGilbert (d. 1090)[5]
William (died after 29 August 1060)
Adela (died August 1092), m. Neel II, Viscount of Cotentin (fr)
Emma, m. Hugh de Waft[10]
Hesilia, m. William Malet, Honour of Eye[11]
Through his eldest son, Gilbert was ancestor of the English house of de Clare, of the Barons FitzWalter, and the Earls of Gloucester and Hertford. After Gilbert's death, his uncle William I became Count of Eu whereas Brionne reverted to duke.

Gilbert and an unknown woman had the following children:
Osbern of Cailly (c. 1020 – c. 1090), m. Hildeburge of Beaudemont[b]

Gilbert married Gunnora D'aunou, , , England. Gunnora was born about 984 in , , , France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

The Battle of Val-ès-Dunes was fought in 1047 by the combined forces of William, Duke of Normandy and King Henry I of France against the forces of several rebel Norman barons, led by Gui of Burgundy (Gui of Brionne), the son of Reginald I, Count of Burgundy. As a result of winning the battle, William (later William the Conqueror) was able to retain his title and maintain control over the western half of his duchy.

Ranulf, killed in battle Val-es-Dunes 1047, son of Anschitil. Guillaume II Duke of Normandy donated "nostras insulas Serc et Aurrene, propter medietatem Grenere" to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, supported by "Rannulfo filio Anschitilli", by charter dated to 1042. Vicomte du Bessin (Bayeux). Guillaume de Poitou records that "Randulfum Baiocensium vicecomitem" supported "Guido filius Burgundionum comitis" in his rebellion, dated to 1047. "…Rannulfi filii Ascelini" witnessed the charter dated to [1047 or before] under which Guillaume II Duke of Normandy confirmed the donation by "Adelelmi…Beatricis uxor eius…Rotberti filius eius" to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel. Orderic Vitalis records that "Ranulfum Bajocensem ac Haymonem Dentatum et Nigellum de Constantino" rebelled against Guillaume II Duke of Normandy at the battle "apud Vallesdunas".

m ALIX de Normandie, illegitimate daughter of Richard III Duke of Normandy & his mistress. Robert of Torigny names "Nicolaum…duas filias Papiam…uxorem Walterii de Sancto Walerico et Aeliz uxorem Ranulfi vicecomitis de Baiocis" as the children of "Ricardo secundo duce Normannum filio primi Ricardi". Vicomte Ranulf & his wife had one child.

Uncertain date of death. Above states he died in the battle Val-es-Dunes 10 Aug 1047. But his children are shown being born after that.

Ranulf married Alix De Normandy, , , France. Alix (daughter of Richard III De Normandie and Mrs. Richard-Iii, Concubine Of Normandie) was born about 1021 in , Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Geoffrey of Brionne (mid-10th century – 1015), also called Godfrey was Count of Eu and Brionne in the late tenth and early eleventh centuries.

He was a son of Duke Richard I of Normandy, by an unnamed wife or concubine. The county of Eu was an appanage created for Geoffrey by his half-brother Richard II of Normandy in 996 as part of Richard's policy of granting honors and titles for cadet members of his family. The citadel of Eu played a critical part of the defense of Normandy; the castle and walled town were on the river Bresle, just two miles from the English Channel. It had long been an embarkation point for England and in time of war was often one of the first places attacked.

The castle of Brionne had been held by the Dukes of Normandy as one of their own homes but Richard II also made a gift of Brionne to his half-brother Geoffrey, who held it for life passing it to his son Gilbert and was only returned to the demesne of the Duke after his murder.

Both Geoffrey and his son Gilbert are styled counts in a diploma to Lisieux given by Duke Richard II, but without territorial designations. Geoffrey died c. 1010.

Geoffrey was married but the name of his wife is unknown. He was the father of:
Gilbert, Count of Eu and Brionne
Upon his death, Geoffrey was succeeded as Count of Eu and Count of Brionne by his son Gilbert.

While there is little doubt Geoffrey (Godfrey) was Count of Eu, there is an open question as to whether Geoffrey was ever "Count" of Brionne. See: Douglas, Earliest Norman Counts, EHS 61, No. 240 (1946), p.134.

The early Normans followed the Viking custom of marriage called mos danicus that they considered a legitimate form of marriage. It was the Church that considered this the same as concubinage. Legitimacy would not have been an issue at this time.

Orderic in a speech attributed to Roger, Count of Mullent to Robert II, Duke of Normandy, in asking for the castle of Brionne stated that it was Duke Richard the elder (I) who gave Brionne to his son Geoffrey (Godfrey). See Ordericus Vitalis, Ecclesiastical History, Trans. Forester, Vol. II (1854),

Count married Geoffrey Countess Brionne. Geoffrey was born in 958 in , Normandy, France; and died. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Richard married Mrs. Richard-Iii, Concubine Of Normandie. Mrs. was born about 1000 in , Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]