Individual Details

Richard "2nd Earl of Pembroke, Earl of Striguil, Strongbow" Clare

(Abt 1130 - Abt 20 Apr 1176)


==Biography==

Titles of Richard FitzGilbert 'Strongbow' (Royal Ancestry)

: 2nd Earl of Pembroke (Wales)
: Earl of Striguil (Wales)
: Seigneur of Bienfaite and Orbec (Normandy)
: Justiciar of Ireland

also:

: Lord of Netherwent
: Lord of Goodrich Castle

and was known historically as the Norman Conqueror of Ireland
: Richard, 2nd Earl of PembrokeCastle Wales website; Oxford Dictionary of National Biography; [[Wikipedia: Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Pembroke]]; [http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISH%20NOBILITY%20MEDIEVAL1.htm#_Toc362862654 fmg.ac]
: b. ante late 1130
: d.1126
: raised Empress Matilda's half-sister
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=== Strongbow ===
Chronicle of Melrose:charter in ''The Chronicle of Melrose'' issued by Richard's grandson, Richard Marshal
: There has been debate about the name "Strongbow" ascribed to both Richard and his father Gilbert. Netherwent (Gwent) men were known for skill and use of an unusually long and strong bow. Both Gilbert and Richard held the lordship of Netherwent. Since Gilbert de Clare's seal shows him holding a long arrow in his right hand, historians assume the ability to use this of bow earned father and son the same nickname.

===Titles===
Richard's father when he was about eighteen, and he inherited the title Earl of Pembroke (1148 AD). But it's probable that it wasn't recognized at Henry II's coronation. Henry II stripped him of the title in 1154 for siding with Stephen I against Matilda.
Richard's contemporaries called him the Earl of Striguil. Striguil was where he had a fortress. It's now called Chepstow.Monmouthshire on the Wye River
He saw an opportunity to reverse his bad fortune in 1168 when he met Dermot MacMurrough (Irish: Diarmaid Mac Murchadha), King of Leinster.

===Physical Description and Personality===

Giraldus's:
: "somewhat florid complexion and freckled; with grey eyes, feminine fœeatures, a thin voice and short neck, good stature. Suited for council chamber," not "the field. Better to obey than command." Needed "to be urged on to enterprise by his followers; but when once in the press of the fight his resolution was as the standard or the rallying-point of his side. No disaster could shake his courage, and he showed no undue exhilaration when things went well."Oxford DNB

===Marriage, Mistress and Issue===
: m. Aoife of Leinster/Eva McMorrough.Father: Dermod McMorrough, of Leinster, one of the kings of that country (see No. 112 in the Line of Descent from the Kings of Ireland and Scotland, page 390); day after capture of Waterford, Strongbow m. MacMurrough's daughter, Aoife of Leinster. Issue:
(Royal Ancestry 2013 Vol. IV p. 339) Richard married at Waterford, Ireland about 26 August 1170 Eve of Leinster daughter of Dermot MacMurrough (also called Diarmait MacMurchada), King of Leinster, by Mor, daughter of Muirchertach Ua Tuathail.
* Gilbert de Clare (d.1185; minor: age 17)"only son, about 17, frightened by the numbers and cries of the Irish in battle, ran away, and when afterwards informed of his father's victory returned to congratulate him. But `Strongbow' upbraided him for his cowardice and caused him to be executed by cutting him through the middle with a sword. Such in former times was the detestation of cowardice and dastardliness."}
* Isabel de Clare, 4th Countess of Pembroke (d.1220)1185 - 1220: Countess of Pembroke in her own right (at the death of her brother)

: Unknown mistress. Issue:
* Aline m. 1174 William FitzMaurice, Baron of NaassFather: MAURICE FitzGerald m.1 (Expugnatio Hibernica).
* ____ or Basilia(?)m. 1171 ROBERT de Quenci Constable of Leinster, son of ____ [d. 1171 or after Battle Offaly] (Regan’s "Song of Dermot and the Earl")Wikipedia m. Robert de Quenci, Constable of Leinster

===Occupation===

* Justice of Ireland

===Property===

* manor of Westley

===Death and burial of Richard FitzGilbert (de Clare)===
(Royal Ancestry) Richard Fitz Gilbert, 2nd Earl of Pembroke died about 20 April 1176 and was buried in the Church of the Holy Trinity (Christ Church), Dublin, Ireland. His widow, Eve, was living in 1187. At her death, she was buried in Tintern Abbey, Monmouthshire, Wales where her husband's father Gilbert was buried.
Alton Rogers received an e-mail dated June 17, 2006 from Stuart Kinsella, research advisor at Christ Church Cathedral, providing detailed information about the Cathedral and of Strongbow's burial there. Strongbow helped to build this ancient Cathedral and his tomb/monument can be seen there today.
Also from the 1905 book about ancient burials in Gloucester Cathedral titled 'The Cathedral Church of Gloucester' which has a description of its fabric and a brief history of the Episcopal See, a burial related to Richard FitzGilbert (de Clare) "Strongbow" was noted. Written in Black Letters on the wall near his supposed gravestone, reads in Latin: "Ricds Strongbowe, filius Gilberti, Comitius de Pembroke" (Richard Strongbow, son of Gilbert, Lord of Pembroke). And although his body was buried at Holy Trinity Cathedral in Dublin, Ireland in 1176, it was thought that possibly his heart was buried in Gloucester Cathedral.
Link to the 1905 book 'The Cathedral Church of Gloucester' by H.J.L.J. Masse, M.A. See page 101 for The Chapter House and the (heart?) burial of Richard 'Strongbow' FitzGilbert de Clare as well as Bernard de Neufmarche (Bernardus de Novo Mercatu), Walter (Gualterus) de Lacy and others:
http://www.ajhw.co.uk/books/book350/book350k/book350k.html


==Source==
*Royal Ancestry 2013 D. Richardson Vol. IV p. 339-340

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    Events

    BirthAbt 1130Tunbridge, Kent, England
    Marriage26 Aug 1170Waterford, Ireland - Aoife "Princess of Leinster, Countess of Pembroke" MacMurrough
    DeathAbt 20 Apr 1176Dublin, Ireland
    Alt namede Clare
    Reference No8060576
    Reference No
    Reference No60

    Families