Robert Clifford, 1st Baron Clifford

Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford (1 April 1274 - 24 June

1314), of Appleby Castle, Westmorland, feudal baron of Appleby and
Robert de Clifford
feudal baron of Skipton in Yorkshire, was an English soldier who Baron de Clifford
became 1st Lord Warden of the Marches, responsible for defending
the English border with Scotland.

Contents
Origins
Inheritances
Career
Marriage and children
Death and burial
References Arms of Clifford: Chequy or and
azure, a fesse gules, recorded by
the heralds as having been borne
Origins by him in the Caerlaverock Roll of
1300
He was born at Clifford Castle, Herefordshire, a son of Roger de Tenure 1299 – 24 June 1314
Clifford (d.1282) (a grandson of Walter II de Clifford (d.1221), feudal
Successor Roger de Clifford, 2nd
baron of Clifford[1][2]) by his wife Isabella de Vipont (d.1291), one of
the two daughters and co-heiresses of Robert II de Vipont (d.1264), Baron de Clifford
feudal baron of Appleby, grandson of Robert I de Vieuxpont Other Lord of Skipton
(d.1227/8). Thenceforth the Clifford family quartered the arms of titles
Vipont: Gules, six annulets or.
Born 1 April 1274
Clifford Castle,
Inheritances Herefordshire,
England.
As his father had predeceased his own father, in 1286, Robert
Died 24 June 1314 (Died at
inherited the estates of his grandfather, Roger I de Clifford (d.1286).
Following the death of his mother, Isabella de Vipont, in 1291, he the Battle of
inherited a one-half moiety of the extensive Vipont feudal barony of Bannockburn)
Appleby in Westmorland, including Appleby Castle and Brougham Bannockburn,
Castle. During the outbreak of the Wars of Scottish Independence, in Stirlingshire, Scotland.
1296, Brougham Castle became an important military base for Robert, Nationality English
and in 1300, King Edward I of England visited there. In 1308, Robert
was granted the remaining moiety of the barony of Appleby, by his Residence Appleby Castle
childless aunt Idonea de Vipont (d.1333),[3] and thus became one of Brougham Castle
the most powerful barons in England. Skipton Castle
Spouse(s) Maud de Clare
Career Issue
During the reigns of the English Kings, Edward I and Edward II, Roger de Clifford, 2nd Baron de
Clifford was a prominent soldier. In 1296, he was sent with Henry de Clifford
Percy, 1st Baron Percy to quell the Scots who asked for terms of Idonia de Clifford, Baroness Percy
surrender at Irvine. He was then appointed Governor of Carlisle. Robert de Clifford, 3rd Baron de
During the reign of King Edward I, he was styled Warden of the
Clifford
Marches, and during the reign of King Edward II, as Lord Warden of
Margaret de Clifford, Lady Mauley
the Marches, being the first holder of this office.[4] In 1298, he fought
for King Edward I at the Battle of Falkirk, in which William Wallace Parents Roger de Clifford
was defeated, for which he was rewarded with Governorship of Isabella de Vipont
Nottingham Castle. In 1299, he was created Baron de Clifford by
writ and summoned to Parliament. He won great renown at the Siege of
Caerlaverock Castle, in 1300, during which his armorials (Chequy or and
azure, a fesse gules) were recorded by the heralds on the famous
Caerlaverock Roll or Poem, which read (translated from French):[5]
"Strength from wisdom drawing, Robert Lord de Clifford's mind is bent
on his enemies' subjection. Through his mother his descent comes from
that renowned Earl Marshal at Constantinople, said to have battled with a
unicorn and struck the monster dead. All the merits of his grandsire,
Roger, still in Robert spring. Of no praise is he unworthy; wiser none was
with the King. Honoured was his banner, checky gold and blue, a scarlet
fess. Were I maiden, heart and body I would yield to such noblesse!"
Clifford was one of many who sealed the 1301 Barons' Letter to the Seal of Robert de Clifford, 1st
Pope, in the Latin text of which he is described as Robertus de Clifford, Baron de Clifford (c.1274–1314)
[6]
Castellanus de Appelby ("Constable of Appleby Castle"). After the affixed to the 1301 Barons' Letter
to the Pope, in the Latin text of
death of King Edward I, in 1307, he was appointed counsellor to his son,
which he is described as
King Edward II, together with Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln, the
Robertus de Clifford, Castellanus
Earl of Warwick, and the Earl of Pembroke. In the same year of 1307, the
de Appelby ("Constable of
new King appointed him Marshal of England, and in this capacity he Appleby Castle"). Legend:
probably organised Edward II's coronation on 25 February 1308. On 12 S(igillum) Roberti de Cliford
March 1308, he was relieved of the marshalcy, the custodianship of ("Seal of Robert de Clifford").
Nottingham Castle, and of his Forest justiceship, but on 20 August 1308, Arms: Chequy or and azure, a
he was appointed captain and chief guardian of Scotland.[7] In 1310, fesse gules
King Edward II granted him Skipton Castle, and he was created Lord of
Skipton, being given the feudal barony of Skipton in Yorkshire, held
until that date by Earl Henry de Lacy (1251-1311).[8] Henry had married Margaret Longespée, Clifford's
cousin and heiress of the feudal barony of Clifford, which had descended in the female line from Clifford's
great-great-uncle, Walter II de Clifford (d.1263), Margaret's maternal grandfather.[2] Skipton Castle would later
become the principal seat of the Clifford family until 1676.

In 1312, together with Thomas Crouchback, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, he took part in the movement against Piers
Gaveston, King Edward II's favourite, whom he besieged at Scarborough Castle.

Robert de Clifford died fighting at the Battle of Bannockburn on 24 June 1314. He was killed in a cavalry
charge against Scottish spearmen on the second and main day of battle. [9]

Marriage and children

In 1295, at Clifford Castle, he married Maud de Clare, eldest daughter of Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond
and Juliana FitzGerald. By Maud, he had four children:[10]

Roger de Clifford, 2nd Baron de Clifford (b. 21 January 1300)

Idonia (or Idonea) de Clifford (b. c.1303), married Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy.
 Robert de Clifford, 3rd Baron de Clifford (b. 5 November 1305)
Margaret de Clifford (b.1307), married as her second husband,
Piers de Mauley, 5th Lord Mauley (1300-1355).

Death and burial

Clifford was killed on 24 June 1314 fighting at the Battle of
Bannockburn[4] and was buried at Shap Abbey in Westmoreland.

References
1. Sanders, I.J., English Baronies: A Study of their Origin and
Descent 1086-1327, Oxford, 1960, pp. 35-6, '"Clifford"
2. Vivian, Lt.Col. J.L., (Ed.) The Visitations of the County of Caesar's Tower, 12th century
Devon: Comprising the Heralds' Visitations of 1531, 1564 & keep of Appleby Castle, seat of
1620, Exeter, 1895, p.194 Robert de Clifford
3. Sanders, p. 104, Appleby
4. Notes and Queries (https://books.google.com/books?id=DUw
AAAAAYAAJ), Oxford University Press, 15 March 1862, p. 220
5. http://www.theheraldrysociety.com/articles/early_history_of_heraldry/siege_of_caerlaverock.htm
6. Howard de Walden, Lord, Some Feudal Lords and their Seals 1301, published 1903 reprinted
1984, image of seal p.31
7. Henry Summerson, Robert Clifford, first Lord Clifford, Oxford Online Dictionary of National
Biography, 2004 (http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/5658)
8. Sanders, I.J. English Baronies: A Study of their Origin and Descent 1086-1327, Oxford, 1960,
p.143
9. Barrow, Geoffrey W.S. (1988). Robert Bruce and the Community of the Realm of Scotland.
Edinburgh University Press. p. 226.
10. "Clifford, Robert de" (https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Clifford,_Robert_de_(DNB00)). Dictionary of
National Biography. London: Smith, Elder & Co. 1885–1900.

This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh,
ed. (1911). "Clifford". Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Peerage of England
Preceded by Baron de Clifford Succeeded by
New Creation 1299–1314 Roger de Clifford

Political offices
Preceded by Lord Marshal Succeeded by
Roger Bigod 1307–1308 Nicholas Seagrave

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