• Born: Between 1115 and 1120, Béthune, Artois/Pas-de-Calais, France
• Married: Before 1140
• Died: 10 Jan 1190/1, Battle of Acre, Palestine

  Research Notes:

"Guilelmus jure hereditario Betuniensis advocatus" donated property to the church of Saint-Pry, with the consent of "Clementia uxore mea filioque meo Roberto", by charter dated to [1138].

Seigneur de Béthune. "Robertus…Betuniæ advocatus" donated "villam…Monciacum" {Monchy} to "abbate Nicolao et monachis Corbeiensibus", for the souls of "…uxoris Adelisæ et filiorum", by charter dated to [1140], witnessed by "Balduinus de Atrebato, eiusdem advocati cognatus". "…Heinricus castellanus de Broborc, Robertus advocatus Bethunie, Rogerus castellanus de Curt, Eustachius de Greneri camerarius, Frumoldus de Ipre castellanus, Jordanus castellanus de Dichesmer…" signed the charter dated 1162 under which "Willelmus de Ipres…cum Leliosa consanguinea mea et cum filia sua Petronilla" donated revenue from land to the abbey of Bourbourg. "Robertum Bethunensium advocatum et matrem meam Clemenciam" confirmed donations to the priory of Saint-Pry-lez-Béthune, with the consent of "uxore mea Adelide et sorore mea Maltide et Roberto filio meo", by charter dated to [1165]. Philippe Count of Flanders donated fishing rights near Sinten to Dunes by charter dated 1 Dec 1165, witnessed by “...Robertus advocatus Betuniensis, Wido castellanus Beugensis...”. “Clementiæ dominæ de Chokes, matri Roberti advocati de Bethunia” donated “terram…Mansus” to "abbas S. Johannis de Chokes", with the consent of "filio eius Roberto Betuniensi advocato et uxore eius Adelide et filiis eius Roberto, Baldewyno, Willermo et filia eius Clementia". “Robertus de Betuna advocatus Atrebati” donated “terram meam de Messewalla”, with the consent of "filiorum meorum Roberti, Willielmi, Balduini, Johannis, Cononi", to Faversham Abbey, Kent by undated charter, dated to the reign of Henry II King of England. "Robertus de Betunia, Atrebatensis advocatus…advocatus de Warneston et Adhelis uxor mea et filii mei Robertus, Willelmus, Balduinus" confirmed the possessions of Warneton abbey by charter dated 1177. "Robberti advocati, Robberti filius eius…" signed the charter dated [24 Apr/12 Jun] 1177 under which Philippe Count of Flanders declared that his older sister renounced the inheritance of her brother. "…Roberti advocate Bethunie…" signed the charter dated [24 Apr/12 Jun] 1177 under which Philippe Count of Flanders donated revenue to the church of Notre-Dame de Capelle. "Robertus de Betunia…Atrebatensis advocatus" donated property to the abbey of Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Choques, with the consent of "filiorum meorum Roberti…Willermi, Baldevini, Cononis", for the souls of "patris et matris et uxoris meæ, et sororis meæ, et filiorum meorum", by charter dated 1182. "Robertus de Bethunia Atrebatensis advocatus" donated property to the church at Béthune by undated charter, dated to [1190], witnessed by "filiorum meorum Roberti, Willelmi, Balduini, Johannis, Cononis".

The Chronicon Hanoniense names "Robertus advocatus Betunensis" among those who died in Palestine in [1191]. The necrology of Béthune Saint-Barthélemy records the death “XV Kal Feb” of “Robertus Rufus advocatus”. ²