Christine FITZROBERT, Countess Of Essex

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• FamilySearch ID: G8TV-DFB

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• FamilySearch ID: MN3Q-HQY
• TitleOfNobility: Essex, England; Lord of Dunlow Castle
• Name: Robert FitzWalter DE CLARE
• TitleOfNobility: 1215, Runnymede, Surrey, England; Magna Carta Surety

Notes:

Biography
Origins
Robert was the son of Walter FitzRobert and Mathilde de Lucy.[1][2] Hs birth date in not known, nor has any firm information survived about his earlier life.[2] Professor Saul suggests a birth date of about 1180.[3]

Lands
The death of his father in 1198 made Robert one of the wealthiest and most powerful English Barons. He inherited the Barony of Little Dunmow, based in Essex.[4] His lands - spread across a number of counties[1] - comprised 66 knights' fees.[2]

Through his marriage Robert also held the Barony of Benington, based in Hertfordshire[5] and held a further 32 knights' fees.[2]

In 1204 Robert was co-heir to Kentish lands of his uncle Godfrey de Lucy.[1][2] In 1207 his wife inherited lands in Yorkshire from the widow of her uncle Geoffrey de Valoines.[1]

By 1213 he also held 11 knights' fees in Cornwall, inherited from another de Lucy uncle, Richard de Lucy.[6]

Besides estates in England, Robert held knights' fees in Poitou.[2]

1200-1210
Robert appears in records from 1200. That year he confirmed a gift by his father[1] and was surety for half the fine imposed on his brother Simon for marrying without royal permission.[2]

In 1203 Robert and Saher de Quincy were entrusted with the castle of Vaudreuil in Normandy. Even though this was a strong fortification, they surrendered to Philippe Auguste of France without a blow being fought. He and Saher de Quincy were held captive:[1][2] he agreed to a ransom of 5000 marks.[1]

Robert was with King John on his 1206 expedition to Poitou,[2] and, in October 1206, was a witness to a truce between King John and Philippe Auguste.[1][2] Four years later, in 1210, he served with King John in Ireland.[1][2]

1212 Plot
In 1212 Robert, along with Eustace de Vescy and Llyweyn ap Iorwerth, was a leading figure in a plot to assassinate King John. The conspiracy never prospered, and Robert fled to France. He was outlawed, his estates were seized several of his castles were demolished.[1][2] A reconciliation with King John was patched up the next year, as part of a wide-ranging agreement between King John the Pope, and his lands were restored.[2]

Magna Carta and Rebellion
In 1215 Robert was one of the group of Barons who compelled King John to sign the Magna Carta, and became a main leader, being termed "Marshal of the Army of God and Holy Church".[1][2]

That summer the Barons entrusted Northamptonshire to Robert. Soon afterwards open rebellion broke out. In October 1215, Robert was defending the bridge at Rochester, Kent against royal forces, but was forced to retreat to London.[2] In December 1215 he and other rebel Barons were excommunicated.[1]

Robert and Saher de Quincy went to France to enlist the support of Prince Louis, returning with French troops in January 1216.[1] Robert continued in rebellion the rebels' defeat at the second Battle of Lincoln in 1217, when he was taken prisoner. He was released in October 1217, and his lands were restored.[1][2]

Later Life
In 1219 Robert went on crusade, taking part in the siege of Damietta during the 5th Crusade. He returned home sick.[2] In 1223 he fought in Wales with the forces of the government of Henry III.[2]

In 1225 he was a witness to Henry III's confirmation of Magna Carta rights.[1][2]

In 1230 Robert was among those appointed to hold an assize of arms in Essex and Hertfordshire.[1][2]

Marriages and Children
Robert married twice. Before 13 October 1199 he married Gunnora de Valoines as her second husband.[1][7] They had at least two children:

Maud[1][7]
Christian or Christina[1]
Gunner was still alive in 1208.[1][7] The Histoire des ducs de Normandie et des rois d'Angleterre mentions also an unnamed son,[7] who, assuming he existed, must have died in his father's lifetime as it was Robert's son by his second marriage who inherited.[2][4][7]

Robert's second wife was Rohese, whose family origins are uncertain.[1][7] They had one son:

Walter,[1] who was born in about 1219 as he came of age in 1240,[4] and who was Robert's main heir[2][4][7]
Death and Burial
Robert died on 9 December 1235 and was buried at Dunmow Priory, Essex.[1][2] He was survived by his second wife Rohese, who may have lived on to 1256.[1]

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/FitzWalter-101

Robert married Gunnora DE VALOGNES. Gunnora was born about 1160 in Benington, Hertford, Hertfordshire, England; died after 1207. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: GM5J-515

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Walter married Mathilde LUCY. Mathilde was born about 1136 in Norfolk, England; died in 1243 in Little Dunmow, Uttlesford District, Essex, England; was buried between 1170 and 1181 in Little Dunmow, Uttlesford District, Essex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

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• FamilySearch ID: MF3C-MR1