The marriage and children of Gilbert de Clare and Isabel Marshal
Full references for this lineage are available in My Lineage from the Roots Up, vol. 1.
Gilbert de Clare (5th Earl of Gloucester, 4th Earl of Hertford) was born about 1180 to Richard de Clare and Lady Amice Fitz William. He and his father were barons of the charter, taking part in the signing of the Magna Carta in 1215, but were excommunicated by Innocent III in 1216 and Tonbridge Castle captured.
Gilbert was taken prisoner by William Marshal in 1217 in the First Barons War – he then married his daughter, Isabel Marshal (b. ~1200), on her 17th birthday.
Gilbert inherited the Gloucester title from his mother’s older sister when her husband became King (Isabella, Countess of Gloucester and King John). He died in 1230 on an expedition to Brittany. His body was brought back and buried at the Great Alter in Tewksbury Abbey, where his widow’s heart later joined him.
Gilbert and Isabel had several children:
1. Richard (6th Earl of Gloucester, 5th Earl of Hertford) born August 4, 1222. When his father died, he was entrusted to the care of Hubert de Burgh. In 1236, he was accused of marrying (1st) Margaret de Burgh in secret, with the assistance of her father. He denied this but she died in 1237, making the matter moot. He married (2nd) Maud de Lacie (b. ~1223), daughter of the Earl of Lincoln, in 1238, to garner favor with King Henry III.
Richard was an active knight and was injured in a royal tournament in France in 1253. He was dispatched to free the young King and Queen of Scotland from Robert de Ros at Edinburgh Castle. Due to their political leanings, Richard and his brother William, a fellow knight, were poisoned about 1259, an offense for which his steward Walter de Scottiny was hung. William died, and Richard is said to have lost his nails, skin, and teeth. He died at Eschemerfield near Canterbury July 15, 1262, and was buried at Tewksbury. Maud died by 1289.
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2. William who died in 1259 from poisoning.
3. Gilbert
4. Amicia born about 1220. She was betrothed by 1226 to Baldwin de Redvers.
5. Agnes
6. Isabel born November 2, 1226. She married Robert de Bruce of Annandale. Their great-grandson would be Robert the Bruce.