Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby
Encyclopedia
Robert II de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby, a younger, but eldest surviving, son of Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby
and his wife Hawise, succeeded his father as Earl of Derby
in 1139. (William the older brother had been murdered in London
some time before) He was head of a family which controlled a large part of Derbyshire
including an area later known as Duffield Frith
.
Little is known of Robert's life, other than his generosity to the church. In 1148, he established Merevale Abbey in Warwickshire
, England
, where he requested to be buried in an ox hide. The stone effigies of Robert and his wife, Margaret Peverel
, lie in the gatehouse chapel of Merevale Abbey, near the village of Atherstone.http://cistercians.shef.ac.uk/abbeys/merevale.php
He founded the Priory of Derby, which later moved to Darley Abbey
, and its Abbot was granted many privileges in Duffield Forest
and Chase.
He continued his father's attempts to play a role in the civil war commonly called The Anarchy
that arose because of the contesting claims of Empress Matilda
and Stephen of England
. The family's support for Stephen led to him being awarded the revenues of the Borough of Derby in 1139, though in 1149 Stephen then granted the Borough to the Earl of Chester
He finally threw in his lot with the future Henry II
after Tutbury Castle
was besieged in 1153. However when Henry came to the throne in 1154, he withdrew de Ferrers' right to use the title of Earl or to receive the "third penny" on the profits of the county.
He died in 1162 and was succeeded by his son William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby
.
Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby
Robert I de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby was born in Derbyshire, England, a younger son of Henry de Ferrières and his wife Bertha Roberts . His father, born in Ferrières, Normandy, France accompanied William the Conqueror during his invasion of England...
and his wife Hawise, succeeded his father as Earl of Derby
Earl of Derby
Earl of Derby is a title in the Peerage of England. The title was first adopted by Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby under a creation of 1139. It continued with the Ferrers family until the 6th Earl forfeited his property toward the end of the reign of Henry III and died in 1279...
in 1139. (William the older brother had been murdered in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
some time before) He was head of a family which controlled a large part of Derbyshire
Derbyshire
Derbyshire is a county in the East Midlands of England. A substantial portion of the Peak District National Park lies within Derbyshire. The northern part of Derbyshire overlaps with the Pennines, a famous chain of hills and mountains. The county contains within its boundary of approx...
including an area later known as Duffield Frith
Duffield Frith
Duffield Frith was, in medieval times, an area of Derbyshire in England, part of that bestowed upon Henry de Ferrers by King William, controlled from his seat at Duffield Castle. From 1266 it became part of the Duchy of Lancaster and from 1285 it was a Royal Forest with its own Forest Courts.It...
.
Little is known of Robert's life, other than his generosity to the church. In 1148, he established Merevale Abbey in Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, England
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...
, where he requested to be buried in an ox hide. The stone effigies of Robert and his wife, Margaret Peverel
Margaret Peverel
Margaret Peverell, Countess of Derby , was an English noblewoman who lived at Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire, England.-Family and marriage:...
, lie in the gatehouse chapel of Merevale Abbey, near the village of Atherstone.http://cistercians.shef.ac.uk/abbeys/merevale.php
He founded the Priory of Derby, which later moved to Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey
Darley Abbey is a village on the outskirts of Derby, England. The village is located on the River Derwent and is associated with the world heritage site of Derwent Valley Mills.- History :...
, and its Abbot was granted many privileges in Duffield Forest
Duffield Frith
Duffield Frith was, in medieval times, an area of Derbyshire in England, part of that bestowed upon Henry de Ferrers by King William, controlled from his seat at Duffield Castle. From 1266 it became part of the Duchy of Lancaster and from 1285 it was a Royal Forest with its own Forest Courts.It...
and Chase.
He continued his father's attempts to play a role in the civil war commonly called The Anarchy
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
that arose because of the contesting claims of Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
and Stephen of England
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
. The family's support for Stephen led to him being awarded the revenues of the Borough of Derby in 1139, though in 1149 Stephen then granted the Borough to the Earl of Chester
Ranulph de Gernon, 2nd Earl of Chester
Ranulf II was an Anglo-Norman potentate who inherited the honour of the palatine county of Chester upon the death of his father Ranulf le Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester...
He finally threw in his lot with the future Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
after Tutbury Castle
Tutbury Castle
Tutbury Castle is a largely ruinous medieval castle at Tutbury, Staffordshire, England, in the ownership of the Duchy of Lancaster. It is a Grade I listed building...
was besieged in 1153. However when Henry came to the throne in 1154, he withdrew de Ferrers' right to use the title of Earl or to receive the "third penny" on the profits of the county.
He died in 1162 and was succeeded by his son William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby
William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby
William I de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby was a 12th century English Earl who resided in Tutbury Castle in Staffordshire and was head of a family which controlled a large part of Derbyshire known as Duffield Frith. He was also a Knight Templar....
.