Robert de Vere, 3rd Earl of Oxford
Encyclopedia
Robert de Vere was the second surviving son of Aubrey de Vere III
, first earl of Oxford
, and Agnes of Essex
. Almost nothing of his life is known until he married in 1207 the widow Isabel de Bolebec
, the aunt and co-heiress of his deceased sister-in-law. The couple had one child, a son, Hugh, later 4th earl of Oxford. When Robert's brother Aubrey de Vere IV, 2nd earl of Oxford
died in Oct. 1214, Robert succeeded to his brother's title, estates, castles, and hereditary office of master chamberlain of England (later Lord Great Chamberlain
). He swiftly joined the disaffected barons in opposition to King John
; many among the rebels were his kinsmen. He was elected one of the twenty-five barons who were to ensure the king's adherence to the terms of Magna Carta
, and as such was excommunicated by Pope Innocent III
in 1215.
King John besieged and took Castle Hedingham
, Essex, from Robert in March 1216 and gave his lands to a loyal baron. While this prompted Robert to swear loyalty to the king soon thereafter, he nonetheless did homage to Prince Louis when the French prince arrived in Rochester later that year. He remained in the rebel camp until Oct. 1217, when he did homage to the boy-king Henry III
, but he was not fully restored in his offices and lands until Feb. 1218.
At this time, aristocratic marriages were routinely contracted after negotiations over dowry
and dower
. In most cases, dower lands were assigned from the estates held by the groom at the time of the marriage. If specific dower lands were not named, on the death of the husband the widow was entitled to one-third of his estate. When Robert's brother Earl Aubrey married a second time, he did not name a dower for his wife Alice, so after the Earl's death Robert determined the division of his estate by having lots drawn. For each manor his sister-in-law drew, he drew two. This is the sole known case of assigning dower lands in this manner.
Robert served as a king's justice in 1220-21, and died in Oct. 1221. He was buried at Hatfield Regis Priory
, where his son Earl Hugh or grandson Earl Robert later had an effigy erected. Earl Robert is depicted in chain mail, cross-legged, pulling his sword from its scabbard and holding a shield with the arms of the Veres.
Aubrey de Vere III
Aubrey de Vere III was created Earl of Oxford by the empress Matilda in July 1141. He had inherited the barony of Hedingham on the death of his father Aubrey de Vere II in May 1141, when he was already Count of Guînes by right of his wife Beatrice. In 1139 and 1154 he was appointed High Sheriff...
, first earl of Oxford
Earl of Oxford
Earl of Oxford is a dormant title in the Peerage of England, held for several centuries by the de Vere family from 1141 until the death of the 20th earl in 1703. The Veres were also hereditary holders of the office of master or Lord Great Chamberlain from 1133 until the death of the 18th Earl in 1625...
, and Agnes of Essex
Agnes of Essex
Agnes of Essex, countess of Oxford was the daughter of Henry of Essex and his second wife. She was betrothed at age three to Geoffrey de Vere, brother of the first earl of Oxford, and turned over to the Veres soon thereafter...
. Almost nothing of his life is known until he married in 1207 the widow Isabel de Bolebec
Isabel de Bolebec
Isabel de Bolebec, Countess of Oxford was eldest daughter and co-heiress of Hugh II de Bolebec, lord of Whitchurch, Buckinghamshire, England and his wife Margaret de Montfichet. Isabel was a patroness of the Order of Friars Preacher in England...
, the aunt and co-heiress of his deceased sister-in-law. The couple had one child, a son, Hugh, later 4th earl of Oxford. When Robert's brother Aubrey de Vere IV, 2nd earl of Oxford
Earl of Oxford
Earl of Oxford is a dormant title in the Peerage of England, held for several centuries by the de Vere family from 1141 until the death of the 20th earl in 1703. The Veres were also hereditary holders of the office of master or Lord Great Chamberlain from 1133 until the death of the 18th Earl in 1625...
died in Oct. 1214, Robert succeeded to his brother's title, estates, castles, and hereditary office of master chamberlain of England (later Lord Great Chamberlain
Lord Great Chamberlain
The Lord Great Chamberlain of England is the sixth of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Privy Seal and above the Lord High Constable...
). He swiftly joined the disaffected barons in opposition to King John
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
; many among the rebels were his kinsmen. He was elected one of the twenty-five barons who were to ensure the king's adherence to the terms of Magna Carta
Magna Carta
Magna Carta is an English charter, originally issued in the year 1215 and reissued later in the 13th century in modified versions, which included the most direct challenges to the monarch's authority to date. The charter first passed into law in 1225...
, and as such was excommunicated by Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III
Pope Innocent III was Pope from 8 January 1198 until his death. His birth name was Lotario dei Conti di Segni, sometimes anglicised to Lothar of Segni....
in 1215.
King John besieged and took Castle Hedingham
Castle Hedingham
Castle Hedingham is a small village in northeast Essex, England, located four miles west of Halstead and is situated in the Colne Valley on the ancient road from Colchester, Essex, to Cambridge....
, Essex, from Robert in March 1216 and gave his lands to a loyal baron. While this prompted Robert to swear loyalty to the king soon thereafter, he nonetheless did homage to Prince Louis when the French prince arrived in Rochester later that year. He remained in the rebel camp until Oct. 1217, when he did homage to the boy-king Henry III
Henry III of England
Henry III was the son and successor of John as King of England, reigning for 56 years from 1216 until his death. His contemporaries knew him as Henry of Winchester. He was the first child king in England since the reign of Æthelred the Unready...
, but he was not fully restored in his offices and lands until Feb. 1218.
At this time, aristocratic marriages were routinely contracted after negotiations over dowry
Dowry
A dowry is the money, goods, or estate that a woman brings forth to the marriage. It contrasts with bride price, which is paid to the bride's parents, and dower, which is property settled on the bride herself by the groom at the time of marriage. The same culture may simultaneously practice both...
and dower
Dower
Dower or morning gift was a provision accorded by law to a wife for her support in the event that she should survive her husband...
. In most cases, dower lands were assigned from the estates held by the groom at the time of the marriage. If specific dower lands were not named, on the death of the husband the widow was entitled to one-third of his estate. When Robert's brother Earl Aubrey married a second time, he did not name a dower for his wife Alice, so after the Earl's death Robert determined the division of his estate by having lots drawn. For each manor his sister-in-law drew, he drew two. This is the sole known case of assigning dower lands in this manner.
Robert served as a king's justice in 1220-21, and died in Oct. 1221. He was buried at Hatfield Regis Priory
Hatfield Regis Priory
Hatfield Regis Priory is a former Benedictine priory in Hatfield Regis, in Essex, England. Founded in 1135, it was dissolved in around 1536.-History:...
, where his son Earl Hugh or grandson Earl Robert later had an effigy erected. Earl Robert is depicted in chain mail, cross-legged, pulling his sword from its scabbard and holding a shield with the arms of the Veres.
Sources
- G. E. Cokayne, Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Page: X:210-3