Individual

Go to List of Family Names Go to List of People    < Previous Next >

Birth:          ABT  980 Normandy
Death:          ABT 1040 
Cause of Death: murdered

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert,_Count_of_Brionne
Gilbert (or Giselbert) de Brionne, 2nd Count of Eu, 2nd Count of Brionne (c.?1000 – 
c.?1040), was an influential Norman Nobleman in the Duchy of Normandy in Northern 
France.[1][2] He was one of the early guardians of Duke William II in his minority.[1][3] 
If Lord Brionne would have survived his murder the senior house of de Clare would 
have probably been known as de Brionne.[1][3] Lord Brionne was the first to be 
known by the cognomen Crispin because of his hair style which stood up like the 
branches of a pine tree.[1][3]

Gilbert de Brionne was son of Geoffrey de Brionne, Count of Eu (born 962) who was 
an illegitimate child of Richard I of Normandy.[4] He inherited Brionne, becoming one 
of the most powerful landowners in Normandy. Gilbert was a generous benefactor to 
Bec Abbey founded by his former knight Herluin in 1031. When Robert I died in 1035, 
his illegitimate son William inherited his father's title and several powerful nobles, 
including Gilbert of Brionne, Osbern the Seneschal and Alan of Brittany, became 
William's guardians.[1][3]

Death[edit]

A number of Norman barons, including Ralph de Gacé, refused to accept William as 
their leader. In 1040 an attempt was made to kill William but the plot failed. Gilbert 
however was murdered while he was peaceably riding near Eschafour.[5] It is believed 
two of his killers were Ralph of Wacy and Robert de Vitot. This appears to have been 
an act of vengeance for the wrongs inflicted upon the orphan children of Giroie by 
Gilbert,[6] and it is not clear what Ralph de Gacé had to do in the business.[a] Fearing 
they might meet their father's fate, Gilbert's sons Richard and Baldwin were conveyed 
by their friends to the court of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders. His children would 
accompany Duke William on his conquest of England and his descendants would 
become one of the most powerful noble families in the British isles. They would rule 
over vast lands in modern day Ireland, Scotland, and England and become powerful 
Marcher Lords who acted independently of the crown.

Children[edit]
Sir Richard Fitz Gilbert (Richard de Clare) (bef. 1035–c.?1090), m. Rohese Giffard 
(1034-aft. 1113), daughter of Walter Giffard, Lord of Longueville[7]
Baldwin FitzGilbert (d. 1090)[4]
William (-after 29 Aug 1060)
Adela (-Aug 1092), m. Neel II, viscount of Cotentin (fr)

Through these sons Gilbert was ancestor of the English house of de Clare, of the 
Barons FitzWalter, and the Earls of Gloucester (see Earl of Gloucester) and Hertford 
(see Earl of Hertford). After Gilbert's death, his uncle William I became Count of Eu 
whereas Brionne reverted back to the duke.

Parents
DE BRIONNE Godfrey (Geoffroy) (ABT  953 - ABT 1015)
DE GUINES Hawise (ABT  958 - )

Siblings
DE BRIONNE ----- (ABT  978 - )
DE BRIONNE Gilbert ("Crispin") (ABT  980 - ABT 1040)
D'EU Adela (ABT  985 - )

Marriage To D'EU Constance (ABT 1009 - )
    m.  

Notes

Parents
DE HEIMOIS William (Guillaume) (ABT  970 - BEF 4 Jan 1039)
LE GOZ Beatrice (ABT  992 - )

Children by D'EU Constance ABT 1009 - 
DE CLARE Richard Fitzgilbert "de Tonbridge" (ABT 1024 - ABT 1090)
CRISPIN Heselia (ABT 1025 - )
FITZ GILBERT Baldwin (ABT 1028 - 1090)
DE CLARE Ann (1038 - )

Produced by Fzip 1.7 6/20/2017