Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford
Encyclopedia
Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford, also 1st Lord of Skipton (c. 1274–1314), was an English
soldier who became first Lord Warden of the Marches
, defending the English border with Scotland
. He was born in Clifford Castle
, Herefordshire, and was married there in 1295 to Maud de Clare, eldest daughter of Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond
and Juliana FitzGerald
. Robert de Clifford and Maud de Clare had three children.
A son of Roger de Clifford the younger (d.1282) and his wife Isabella de Vieuxpont
, he inherited the estates of his grandfather, Roger de Clifford the elder, in 1286. He then obtained through his mother (d.1291) part of the extensive land of the Vipont
s. He was summoned to parliament as a baron in 1299. In 1308 he acquired on the death of his mother's sister Idonea the remainder of the Vipont lands and thus became one of the most powerful barons of his age.
During the reigns of Edward I
and Edward II
, Clifford was a prominent soldier from an early age. In 1296 he was sent with Henry Percy to quell the Scots who asked for terms at Irvine
. He was appointed Governor of Carlisle. During the reign of the first king, he was styled Warden of the Marches and then, during the reign of the second, Lord Warden of the Marches, being the first holder of this office. In 1298 he fought with Edward I at the Battle of Falkirk
in which William Wallace
was defeated, for which he was rewarded with Gocernorship of Nottingham Castle
. He won great renown at the siege of Caerlaverock Castle
in 1300.
After the death of Edward I in 1307 and along with the Earls of Lincoln, Warwick and Pembroke he was appointed counsellor to Edward II and in the same year the new king appointed him as the Justiciar of England South of the Trent. In 1310 Edward also granted him Skipton Castle
and the Honour of Skipton in Craven.
He took part in 1312 with the Earl of Lancaster in the movement against Edward's favourite, Piers Gaveston
, besieging him at Scarborough Castle
. Clifford was killed on 24 June 1314 fighting at the Battle of Bannockburn
. and was buried at Shap Abbey
in Westmoreland. His son Roger succeeded him as the 2nd Baron de Clifford. Daughter Idonia married Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy
, 9th Baron Percy and 2nd Baron Percy of Alnwick.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
soldier who became first Lord Warden of the Marches
Lord Warden of the Marches
The Lord Warden of the Marches was an office in the governments of Scotland and England. The holders were responsible for the security of the border between the two nations, and often took part in military action....
, defending the English border with Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He was born in Clifford Castle
Clifford Castle
Clifford Castle is a castle in the village of Clifford which lies four miles to the north of Hay-on-Wye in the Wye Valley in Herefordshire, England .-Early Norman castle and planned settlement:...
, Herefordshire, and was married there in 1295 to Maud de Clare, eldest daughter of Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond
Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond
Thomas de Clare, Lord of Inchiquin and Youghal was a Hiberno-Norman peer and soldier. He was the second son of Richard de Clare, 6th Earl of Gloucester and his wife Maud de Lacy...
and Juliana FitzGerald
Juliana FitzGerald
Juliana FitzGerald, Lady of Thomond was a Norman-Irish noblewoman, the daughter of Maurice FitzGerald, 3rd Lord of Offaly, and the wife of Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond, a powerful Anglo-Norman baron in Ireland, who was a younger brother of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford. Juliana was...
. Robert de Clifford and Maud de Clare had three children.
A son of Roger de Clifford the younger (d.1282) and his wife Isabella de Vieuxpont
Vipont
Vipont may mean:*Vieuxpont, the name of a significant family in the history of Westmorland, UK, which may be spelt in several ways, including "Vipont".*Vipont , a list of people named "Vipont"....
, he inherited the estates of his grandfather, Roger de Clifford the elder, in 1286. He then obtained through his mother (d.1291) part of the extensive land of the Vipont
Vipont
Vipont may mean:*Vieuxpont, the name of a significant family in the history of Westmorland, UK, which may be spelt in several ways, including "Vipont".*Vipont , a list of people named "Vipont"....
s. He was summoned to parliament as a baron in 1299. In 1308 he acquired on the death of his mother's sister Idonea the remainder of the Vipont lands and thus became one of the most powerful barons of his age.
During the reigns of Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
and Edward II
Edward II of England
Edward II , called Edward of Caernarfon, was King of England from 1307 until he was deposed by his wife Isabella in January 1327. He was the sixth Plantagenet king, in a line that began with the reign of Henry II...
, Clifford was a prominent soldier from an early age. In 1296 he was sent with Henry Percy to quell the Scots who asked for terms at Irvine
Irvine, North Ayrshire
Irvine is a new town on the coast of the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland. According to 2007 population estimates, the town is home to 39,527 inhabitants, making it the biggest settlement in North Ayrshire....
. He was appointed Governor of Carlisle. During the reign of the first king, he was styled Warden of the Marches and then, during the reign of the second, Lord Warden of the Marches, being the first holder of this office. In 1298 he fought with Edward I at the Battle of Falkirk
Battle of Falkirk (1298)
The Battle of Falkirk, which took place on 22 July 1298, was one of the major battles in the First War of Scottish Independence...
in which William Wallace
William Wallace
Sir William Wallace was a Scottish knight and landowner who became one of the main leaders during the Wars of Scottish Independence....
was defeated, for which he was rewarded with Gocernorship of Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle
Nottingham Castle is a castle in Nottingham, England. It is located in a commanding position on a natural promontory known as "'Castle Rock'", with cliffs high to the south and west. In the Middle Ages it was a major royal fortress and occasional royal residence...
. He won great renown at the siege of Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle
Caerlaverock Castle is a moated triangular castle, built in the 13th century, in the Caerlaverock National Nature Reserve area at the Solway Firth, south of Dumfries in the southwest of Scotland. In the Middle Ages it was owned by the Maxwell family. Today, the castle is in the care of Historic...
in 1300.
After the death of Edward I in 1307 and along with the Earls of Lincoln, Warwick and Pembroke he was appointed counsellor to Edward II and in the same year the new king appointed him as the Justiciar of England South of the Trent. In 1310 Edward also granted him Skipton Castle
Skipton Castle
Skipton Castle is situated within the town of Skipton, North Yorkshire, England. The castle has been preserved for over 900 years, built in 1090 by Robert de Romille, a Norman baron.- History :...
and the Honour of Skipton in Craven.
He took part in 1312 with the Earl of Lancaster in the movement against Edward's favourite, Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston
Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall was an English nobleman of Gascon origin, and the favourite of King Edward II of England. At a young age he made a good impression on King Edward I of England, and was assigned to the household of the King's son, Edward of Carnarvon...
, besieging him at Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle
Scarborough Castle is a former medieval Royal fortress situated on a rocky promontory overlooking the North Sea and Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England...
. Clifford was killed on 24 June 1314 fighting at the Battle of Bannockburn
Battle of Bannockburn
The Battle of Bannockburn was a significant Scottish victory in the Wars of Scottish Independence...
. and was buried at Shap Abbey
Shap Abbey
Shap Abbey was a monastic religious house of the Premonstratensian order on the western bank of the River Lowther in the civil parish of Shap Rural, around from the village of Shap, in the Eden District of Cumbria, England...
in Westmoreland. His son Roger succeeded him as the 2nd Baron de Clifford. Daughter Idonia married Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy
Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy
Henry de Percy, 9th Baron Percy and 2nd Baron Percy of Alnwick was the son of Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy of Alnwick, and Eleanor Fitzalan, daughter of Richard FitzAlan, 8th Earl of Arundel....
, 9th Baron Percy and 2nd Baron Percy of Alnwick.