• Born: Leicester Castle, Leicestershire, England
• Married: Before 1155/9
• Died: 31 Aug 1190, Durazzo Provence, West Albania

  Research Notes:

Robert of Torigny records the death in 1168 of "Robertus comes Leecestriæ" and the succession of "filium Robertum".

He succeeded his father in 1168 as Earl of Leicester. He supported Henry "the Young King" in his revolt against his father King Henry II in 1173. The Annales Cestrienses record in 1173 that “Henricus tertius Rex Anglie filius Henrici Regis Anglie” captured “patrem suum” with the help of “duobus comitibus Anglie...Hugone comite Cestrensi et Roberto comite Leicestrie”. King Henry II retaliated by confiscating Robert's English estates, burning Leicester 28 Jul 1173, and capturing Robert's fortress of Breteuil 25 Sep 1173. Robert was defeated by the king's forces at Fornham near Bury, Suffolk and was captured with his wife.

He set out on Crusade in Dec 1190 but died on the return journey. The Annals of Margan record the death in 1190 of “Robertus comes Leicestriæ”. Matthew Paris records the death at Acre in 1191 of "comes Robertus Leycestrensis". The necrology of the monastery of Ouche records the death "31 Aug" of "Robertus comes Legrecestriæ, peregrinus Jerosolimis". ¹