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Robert Blanchemans de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester, Lord High Steward of England, was born 1130 to Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester (1104-1168) and Amice de Gael de Montfort and died 31 August 1190 Durazzo, Albania of unspecified causes. He married Pernelle de Grandmesnil (1135-1212) 1155 JL .

Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester (died 1190) was an English nobleman, one of the principal followers of Henry the Young King in the Revolt of 1173–1174 against his father Henry II. He is also called Robert Blanchemains (French for "White Hands").

He was the son of Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, a staunch supporter of Henry II, and he inherited from his father large estates in England and Normandy.

When the revolt of the younger Henry broke out in April 1173, Robert went to his castle at Breteuil in Normandy. The rebels' aim was to take control of the duchy, but Henry II himself led an army to besiege the castle; Robert fled, and the Breteuil was taken on September 25 or 26.

Robert apparently went to Flanders, where he raised a large force of mercenaries, and landed at Walton, Suffolk, on 29 September 1173. He joined forces with Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk, and the two marched west, aiming to cut England in two across the Midlands and to relieve the king's siege of Robert's castle at Leicester. However, they were intercepted by the king's supporters and defeated at the Battle of Fornham near Fornham, near Bury St Edmunds, on 17 October. Robert, along with his wife and many others, were taken prisoner. Henry II took away the earl's lands and titles as well.

He remained in captivity until January 1177, well after most of the other prisoners had been released. The king was in a strong position and could afford to be merciful; not long after his release Robert's lands and titles were restored, but not his castles. All but two of his castles had been destroyed, and those two (Montsorrel in Leicestershire and Pacy in Normandy) remained in the king's hands.

Third Crusade death

Robert had little influence in the remaining years of Henry II's reign, but was restored to favour by Richard I. He carried one of the swords of state at Richard's coronation in 1189. In 1190 Robert went on the third crusade to Palestine, but he died at Dyrrachium on his return journey. During the return journey his earldom was invested in his son.

Since his son Robert, the Fourth Earl, died childless, his estates were divided to his two daughters, Amicia and Margaret.

Family

Robert married Petronilla, who was a daughter of William de Grandmesnil and great-granddaughter and eventual heiress to the English lands of Domesday baron, Hugh de Grandmesnil. They had five children:




Children


Offspring of Robert de Beaumont and Pernelle de Grandmesnil (1135-1212)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Robert de Beaumont, 4th Earl of Leicester (c1156-1204) 1156 21 October 1204 Loretta de Braose
Roger de Beaumont (c1158-1202)
Amicia Beaumont (c1155-1215) 1155 September 1215 Simon IV de Montfort (c1156-1187)
Guillaume II des Barres
Margaret Beaumont (1180-1236) 1180 Hampshire, England 12 January 1236 Northamptonshire, England Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester (c1170-1219)


Residences



See Also


References

  1. ^ Cowan,Vol I,p80
  2. ^ Balfour Paul Vol IV, p339



Footnotes (including sources)

‡ General
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