Robert FitzWalter, 1st Baron FitzWalter

Robert FitzWalter, 1st Baron FitzWalter
Arms of Robert FitzWalter, 1st Baron Fitzwalter: Or, a fess gules between two chevrons of the last
Spouse(s)	Devorguille de Burgh Eleanor de Ferrers Alice de Montfort
Issue Walter FitzRobert Sir Robert FitzWalter Christiana de Burgh Blanche Fitzwalter Ida Fitzwalter Denise Fitzwalter Mary Fitzwalter
Father	Sir Walter FitzRobert
Mother	Ida Longespée
Born	1247 Henham, Essex
Died	18 January 1326

Robert FitzWalter, 1st Baron FitzWalter (1247 – 18 January 1326) was an English peer.

Life

Robert Fitzwalter was the only son of Sir Walter FitzRobert of Woodham Walter, Essex, son of Robert Fitzwalter, and Ida II Longespée, daughter or granddaughter^[1] of William Longespée, 3rd Earl of Salisbury, illegitimate son of Henry II.^[2][3] In 1258 his wardship was granted to his uncle, Sir Stephen Longespée.^[3]

Drawing (1611) of seal of Robert FitzWalter appended to the Barons' Letter, 1301

He came of age in 1268, and was knighted in 1274.^[2] In 1275 he had licence to sell Baynard's Castle in London to Robert Kilwardby, Archbishop of Canterbury.^[4][5] In 1277 and again in 1282 he took part in the wars in Wales.^[4][5] in February 1281 he was preparing to make a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.^[4] In May 1286 he accompanied Edward I to France.^[4][5] On 28 June 1293 he was appointed Constable of Castell y Bere in Merionethshire, and in July of that year of Hadleigh Castle in Essex.^[4]

In August 1294 he was preparing to go to Gascony on the King's service, and was in Gascony in 1296-7. On 22 July 1298 he fought at the Battle of Falkirk.^[4] In 1298 he was granted a weekly fair and market at his manor in Roydon, Essex,^[6] and on 12 April 1299 was appointed Captain and Keeper of the Peace in that county. In 1300 he was at the siege of Caerlaverock Castle, and in 1303 and 1306 saw service in Scotland.^[4]

He was summoned to military service, to the coronation of Edward II, to various councils, and to Parliament by writs directed Roberto filio Walteri, 'whereby he is held to have become Lord FitzWalter'.^[4] On 12 February 1301 he was among the barons who signed a letter intended to be sent to Pope Boniface VIII, repudiating his claim of feudal overlordship of Scotland. On 9 October 1306 he was pardoned of all debts owed to the King. In April 1310 he and his third wife, Alice, intended a pilgrimage to Jerusalem.^[4] In February 1317 he was again preparing for a pilgrimage,^[4] and in November of that year was granted custody of the town of Colchester, Essex.^[6] In June 1320 he was preparing to travel beyond the seas with Edward II. On 6 August 1320 he was exempted from future military service.^[4]

On 17 January 1326, immediately prior to his death, he had licence to enfeoff his son, Robert, with two manors.^[7]

He died 19 January 1326,^[8] and was succeeded in the barony by Sir Robert FitzWalter, his son by his second marriage, his son Walter FitzRobert by his first marriage having predeceased him in 1293.^[8]

Marriages and issue

FitzWalter married firstly, in 1259, Devorguille de Burgh (c.1256 – 1284), elder daughter and coheiress of Sir John de Burgh (d. before 3 March 1280) of Wakerley, Northamptonshire, and Cecily Balliol, sister of John de Balliol, King of Scots, and daughter of Sir John de Balliol of Barnard Castle, Durham,^[9][10] by whom he had a son and two daughters:^[8]

• Walter FitzRobert (1275–1293), son and heir apparent, who married, in 1286, Joan d'Engaine (d. 1 June 1315), daughter of Sir John d'Engaine of Colne Engaine, Essex, by whom he had a son, Robert, who died young, predeceasing him. He died without issue in 1293 at Dunmow Priory, and was buried there.^[11][12] His widow married, in or before 1296, Adam Welles, 1st Baron Welles (d. 1 September 1311), by whom she had three sons, Robert Welles, 2nd Baron Welles, Adam Welles, 3rd Baron Welles, and Sir John Welles, and three daughters, Margaret and Cecily, both of whom became nuns, and a third daughter who married a husband surnamed Mablethorpe.^[12]
• Christiana de Burgh, who married William Marshal, 1st Baron Marshal (d. 24 June 1314).^[12][13]
• Blanche Fitzwalter, a nun at Barking Abbey.^[12]

FitzWalter's first wife, Cecily, died in 1284, and was buried at Dunmow Priory.^[11]

He married secondly, before 11 March 1290, in the King's chapel at Westminster, Eleanor de Ferrers, daughter of Robert de Ferrers, 6th Earl of Derby, and his second wife, Eleanor de Bohun, daughter of Sir Humphrey de Bohun (d. 27 October 1265) and Eleanor de Brewes,^[14][15] by whom he had a son and three daughters:^[16]

• Sir Robert Fitzwalter (1300 – 6 May 1328), who married firstly Joan Botetourt, daughter of John Botetourt, 1st Baron Botetourt, and secondly Joan de Multon (d. 16 June 1363), eldest daughter of Thomas de Multon, 1st Baron Multon.^[17]
• Ida Fitzwalter, who married firstly Sir Robert de la Warde, and secondly Hugh de Neville, 1st Baron Neville.^[18]
• Denise Fitzwalter.^[6]
• Mary Fitzwalter.^[6]

Fitzwalter's second wife, Eleanor, was buried at Dunmow Priory.^[11]

He married thirdly, after 10 May 1308, Alice de Montfort, widow of Sir Warin de Lisle (d. before 7 December 1296) (by whom she was the mother of Robert de Lisle, 1st Baron Lisle (d. 4 January 1343), owner of the Lisle Psalter), and daughter of Sir Peter de Montfort (d.1287) of Beaudesert Castle, Warwickshire, by Maud de la Mare,^[19] daughter of Sir Henry de la Mare.^[8][20]

Notes

1. Ida II Longespée, who married Sir Walter FitzRobert of Woodham Walter, Essex, by whom she had issue including Ela FitzWalter, wife of William de Odyngsells. Ida II Longespée has been given different parents by different genealogists; G. Andrews Moriarty suggested the two Idas were sisters; Gerald Paget suggests Ida II who married Walter FitzRobert may have been the daughter of William Longespée II, Earl of Salisbury, by his wife, Idoine de Camville.
2. Cokayne 1926, p. 472.
3. Richardson II 2011, pp. 205-6.
4. Cokayne 1926, p. 473.
5. Richardson II 2011, pp. 206-7.
6. Richardson II 2011, p. 207.
7. Cokayne 1926, pp. 473-4.
8. Richardson II 2011, pp. 206-8.
9. Richardson II 2011, pp. 206-8, 577.
10. Cokayne 1932, pp. 528-9.
11. Cokayne 1926, p. 474.
12. Richardson II 2011, pp. 208-9.
13. Richardson III 2011, p. 500.
14. Cokayne 1926, pp. 474-5.
15. Richardson I 2011, p. 234.
16. Richardson II 2011, pp. 154-5, 207-9.
17. Richardson II 2011, pp. 154, 207-10.
18. Richardson II 2011, pp. 207-9.
19. Cokayne 1998, p. 443.
20. Richardson III 2011, pp. 27-8.

References

• Cokayne, George Edward (1926). The Complete Peerage, edited by Vicary Gibbs and H.A. Doubleday V. London: St. Catherine Press.
• Cokayne, George Edward (1932). The Complete Peerage, edited by Vicary Gibbs VIII. London: St. Catherine Press.
• Cokayne, George Edward (1998). The Complete Peerage, edited by Peter W. Hammond XIV. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Sutton Publishing.
• Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G., ed. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families I (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City. ISBN 1449966373.
• Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G., ed. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families II (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City. ISBN 1449966381.
• Richardson, Douglas (2011). Everingham, Kimball G., ed. Magna Carta Ancestry: A Study in Colonial and Medieval Families III (2nd ed.). Salt Lake City. ISBN 144996639X. Retrieved 25 October 2013.

External links

• Psalter and Book of Hours, Arundel 83, British Library Retrieved 25 October 2013

Further reading

• Kidd, Charles, Williamson, David (editors). Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage (1990 edition). New York: St Martin's Press, 1990.