The Annals of Tewkesbury record the birth “in crastino Sancti Egidii apud Christi ecclesiam in Dorsetia” in 1243 of “filius…G.” to “R. de Clara”. The Chronica de Fundatoribus et Fundatione of Tewkesbury Abbey names “Gilbertum secundum…dictus…Rubeus Comes” as son of “Ricardus de Clare secundus filius et hæres…Gilberti et Isabellæ” and his wife “Matildem…filiam comitis Lincolniæ”.
He succeeded his father in 1262 as Earl of Hertford and Earl of Gloucester "the Red Earl". He was one of the leaders of the Barons' party in support of Simon de Montfort, taking the king prisoner at the battle of Lewes 14 May 1264. However, he changed sides and largely contributed to the king's victory at Evesham, commanding a division and receiving a pardon for his previous conduct. After the death of King Henry III, he was Joint Guardian of England until the return from Crusade of the new King Edward I.
The Continuator of Florence of Worcester records the death "ante Natale domini" of "Gilebertus de Clare comes Gloverniæ" and his burial "apud Theukesbury". The Chronica de Fundatoribus et Fundatione of Tewkesbury Abbey records the death “in castello de Monmouth VII Id Dec 1295” of “Gilbertus secundus” and his burial “apud Theokes, in sinistra Gilberti primi”. The Annals of Dunstable record that “Bono de Clare…pauper…[et] germanus dicti Bonus, comes Gloucestriæ” died in 1295. Inquisitions after a writ dated 14 Dec "24 Edw I", following the death of "Gilbert de Clare earl of Gloucester and Hertford" name “Gilbert his son aged 5 at the feast of St Mark last [...aged 4 at the feast of St George 23 Edw I] is his next heir”. 1
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EARLDOM OF GLOUCESTER (VI) 1262
GILBERT DE CLARE, Earl of Gloucester and Hertford, "the Red Earl", son and heir, b. 2 Sep 1243, at Christchurch, Hants, being under age at his fat her's death, was a ward of Humphrey de Bohun, Earl of Hereford. On 22 Mar 1262/3 he refused to take the oath of allegiance to Prince Edward, and in May acted with Montfort in the Oxford Parliament, and became recognised as one of the leaders in the Baron's party. The fruits of the honour of Clare were granted to him 8 Jul 1263, and on 3 Aug, though yet under age, the King having taken his homage, he had livery of his lands in Wales, livery of the rest of his lands being given 24 Sep 1264, he being then of age. . . .
The Earl m. 1stly, in the spring of 1253, Alice (cont. dated 2 Feb 1252/3 ), daughter of Hugh de Lusignan (le Brun), Count of la Marche and Angoule me (uterine brother of Henry III), by Yolande, daughter of Pierre Maucler k, Duke of Brittany. She, who is said to have become hypochondriacal, proc ured a divorce from her husband, judgement being given at Norwich 18 Jul 1271. He m. 2ndly, in 1290, Joan of Acre, daughter of Edward I, by Eleanor of Castile. On this marriage the Earl surrendered the greater part of his estates to the King, who regranted them to Gilbert and Joan and their issue, with other remainders. He d. at Monmouth Castle, 7, and was buried 22 Dec 1295, at Tewkesbury, on the left side of his grandfather Gilbert. On 20 Jan 1295/6 his widow was given livery of all her lands. 2
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Gilbert de Clare, surnamed the Red, 7th Earl of Hertford and 3rd Earl of G loucester, who, by the king's procurement, m. in 1257, Alice, dau. of Guy, Earl of Angoulême, and niece of the king of France, which monarch bestowed upon the lady a marriage portion of 5,000 marks. This nobleman, who, like his predecessors, was zealous in the cause of the barons, proceeded to London immediately after the defeat sustained by the insurrectionary lords at Northampton (48th Henry III) [1264], in order to rouse the citizens, which, having effected, he received the honour of knighthood from Montfort, Earl of Leicester, at the head of the army at Lewes; of which army, his lordship, with John Fitz-John and William de Montchensi, command ed the second brigade, and having mainly contributed to the victory in which the king and prince became prisoners, while the whole power of the realm fell into the hands of the victors, the earl procured a grant under the great seal of all the lands and possessions lying in England of John de Warren, Earl of Surrey, one of the most faithful adherents of the king, excepting the castles of Riegate and Lewes, to hold during the pleasure of the crown, and he soon after, with some of the principal barons, extorted from the captive monarch a commission authorizing Stephen, then bishop of Chichester, Simon Montford, Earl of Leicester, and himself, to nominate nine persons of "the most faithful, prudent, and most studious of the public weal," as well prelates as others, to manage all things according to the laws and customs of the realm until the consultations at Lewes should terminate. Being jealous, however, of the power of Leicester, the earl soon after abandoned the baronial cause and, having assisted in procuring the liberty of the king and prince, commanded the second brigade of the royal arm at the battle of Evesham, which restored the kingly power to its former lustre. In reward of these eminent services he received a full pardon for himself and his brother Thomas of all prior treasons, and the custody of the castle of Bergavenny during the minority of Maud, wife of Humphrey de Bohun. His lordship veered again though in his allegiance and he does not appear to have been sincerely reconciled to the royal cause until 1270, in which year, demanding from Prince Edward repayment of the expenses he had incurred at the battle of Evesham, with livery of all the castles and lands which his ancestors had possessed and, those demands having been complied with, he thenceforward became a good and loyal subject of the crown. Upon the death of King Henry, the Earl of Hertford and Gloucester was one of the lords who met at the New Temple in Lond on to proclaim Prince Edward, then in the Holy Land, successor to the crown, and so soon as the new monarch returned to England, his lordship was the first to entertain him and his whole retinue with great magnificence for several days at his castle of Tonebruge. In the 13th Edward I [1285], his lordship divorced his wife Alice, the French princess, and in consideration of her illustrious birth, granted for her support during her life, six extensive manors and parks, and he m. in 1289, Joan of Acre, dau. of King Edward I, upon which occasion he gave up the inheritance of his castles and manors, as well in England as in Wales, to his royal father-in-law, to dispose of as he might think proper; which manors, &c., were entailed by the king upon the earl's issue by the said Joane, and in default, up on her heirs and assigns, should she survive the lordship. By this lady he had issue, Gilbert, his successor, Alianore, Margaret, and Elizabeth. His lordship d. in 1295, and the Countess Joan surviving, m. a "plain esquire," called Ralph de Monthermer, clandestinely, without the king, her father's, knowledge, but to which alliance he was reconciled through the intercession of Anthony Beke, the celebrated bishop of Durham, and became eventually much attached to his now son-in-law. 3
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Inquisition Post Mortem
371. GILBERT DE CLARE, EARL OF GLOUCESTER AND HERTFORD, viewable here. 4
Research Notes: