Baldwin of Clare
Encyclopedia
Baldwin of Clare was the youngest son of Gilbert Fitz-Richard, of the elder branch of the line of Gilbert, count of Eu, grandson of Richard the Fearless.
His mother was perhaps Adeliza, daughter of the count of Claremont, though William of Jumièges
does not mention him among her sons. The manor of Clare, from which Baldwin and others of his family took their name, was one of the estates held by his grandfather Richard in Suffolk. Baldwin's father, Gilbert, received the grant of Ceredigion
(Cardiganshire) from Henry I
in 1107. On the death of Henry, Richard, the eldest brother of Baldwin, was slain, and his lands were harried by Morgan ap Owen. Stephen
gave Baldwin a large sum of money to enable him to hire troops for the relief of the lands of his house. Baldwin, however, retreated without, as it seems, striking a single blow. When, in 1141, Stephen's army was drawn up before the battle of Lincoln
, the king, because his own voice was weak, deputed Baldwin to make a speech to the host. The Arundel MS. of the 'History of Henry of Huntingdon' (twelfth or thirteenth century) contains an outline drawing of Baldwin addressing the royal army in the presence of the king. In this speech he set forth the goodness of the cause of Stephen and the evil character of his enemies, reviling Robert, Earl of Gloucester, as having the heart of a hare. In this battle, however, Baldwin fought bravely and received many wounds. He stood by the king to the last, and was taken prisoner with him. He was a benefactor of the abbey of Bec. Richard, Earl of Striguil, the invader of Ireland, was his nephew.
His mother was perhaps Adeliza, daughter of the count of Claremont, though William of Jumièges
William of Jumièges
William of Jumièges was a contemporary of the events of 1066, and one of our earliest writers on the subject of the Norman Conquest. He is himself a "shadowy figure", only known by his dedicatory letter to King William as a monk of Jumièges...
does not mention him among her sons. The manor of Clare, from which Baldwin and others of his family took their name, was one of the estates held by his grandfather Richard in Suffolk. Baldwin's father, Gilbert, received the grant of Ceredigion
Ceredigion
Ceredigion is a county and former kingdom in mid-west Wales. As Cardiganshire , it was created in 1282, and was reconstituted as a county under that name in 1996, reverting to Ceredigion a day later...
(Cardiganshire) from Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
in 1107. On the death of Henry, Richard, the eldest brother of Baldwin, was slain, and his lands were harried by Morgan ap Owen. Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
gave Baldwin a large sum of money to enable him to hire troops for the relief of the lands of his house. Baldwin, however, retreated without, as it seems, striking a single blow. When, in 1141, Stephen's army was drawn up before the battle of Lincoln
Battle of Lincoln (1141)
The Battle of Lincoln or First Battle of Lincoln occurred on 2 February 1141. In it Stephen of England was captured, imprisoned and effectively deposed while Empress Matilda ruled for a short time.-Account:...
, the king, because his own voice was weak, deputed Baldwin to make a speech to the host. The Arundel MS. of the 'History of Henry of Huntingdon' (twelfth or thirteenth century) contains an outline drawing of Baldwin addressing the royal army in the presence of the king. In this speech he set forth the goodness of the cause of Stephen and the evil character of his enemies, reviling Robert, Earl of Gloucester, as having the heart of a hare. In this battle, however, Baldwin fought bravely and received many wounds. He stood by the king to the last, and was taken prisoner with him. He was a benefactor of the abbey of Bec. Richard, Earl of Striguil, the invader of Ireland, was his nephew.