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Birth:          1 Apr 1274 Clifford Castle, Herefordshire, England
Death:          24 Jun 1314 Bannockburn, Stirlingshire, Scotland
Cause of Death: killed in battle
Burial:         Shap Abbey, Shap, Westmoreland, England

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_de_Clifford,_1st_Baron_de_Clifford
Robert de Clifford, 1st Baron de Clifford (c. 1274–1314), of Appleby Castle, 
Westmorland, feudal baron of Appleby and feudal baron of Skipton in Yorkshire, was 
an English soldier who became 1st Lord Warden of the Marches, responsible for 
defending the English border with Scotland.
Origins[edit]

He was born in Clifford Castle,[citation needed] Herefordshire, a son of Roger II de 
Clifford (d.1282) (a grandson of Walter II de Clifford (d.1221), feudal 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), feudal baron of Appleby, grandson of Robert 
I de Vieuxpont (d.1227/8). Thenceforth the Clifford family quartered the arms of 
Vipont: Gules, six annulets or.

The ancient Norman family which later took the name de Clifford arrived in England 
during the Norman Conquest of 1066, and became feudal barons of Clifford, first 
seated in England at Clifford Castle in Herefordshire.

Inheritances[edit]

As his father had predeceased his own father, in 1286 Robert inherited the estates of 
his grandfather, Roger I de Clifford (d.1286). Following the death of his mother 
Isabella de Vipont in 1291 he inherited a one-half moiety of the extensive Vipont 
feudal baron of Appleby in Westmorland. In 1308 he was granted the remaining moiety 
by his childless aunt Idonea de Vipont (d.1333)[3] and thus became one of the most 
powerful barons in England.

Career[edit]

During the reigns of Kings Edward I and Edward II, Clifford was a prominent soldier. In 
1296 he was sent with Henry de Percy, 1st Baron Percy to quell the Scots who asked 
for terms of surrender at Irvine. He was appointed Governor of Carlisle. During the 
reign of Edward I he was styled Warden of the Marches and during the reign of 
Edward II, as Lord Warden of 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 was 
defeated, for which he was rewarded with Governorship of Nottingham Castle. He was 
summoned to Parliament by writ as a baron in 1299. 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, 
thus (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!"
He was one of many who sealed the 1301 Barons' Letter to the Pope, in the Latin text 
of which he is described as Robertus de Clifford, Castellanus de Appelby ("Constable 
of Appleby Castle").[6] After the death of King Edward I in 1307, he was appointed 
counsellor to Edward II, together with the Earl of Lincoln, Earl of Warwick and Earl of 
Pembroke. In the same year of 1307 the new king Edward II appointed him Marshal of 
England, and in this capacity he probably organised Edward II's coronation on 25 
February 1308. On 12 March 1308 he was relieved of the marshalcy, the 
custodianship of Nottingham Castle and of his Forest justiceship, but on 20 August 
1308 he was appointed captain and chief guardian of Scotland.[7] In 1310 Edward II 
also granted him Skipton Castle and the Honour of Skipton in Yorkshire, held until that 
date by Henry de Lacy, 3rd Earl of Lincoln (1251-1311).[8] Henry de Lacy had married 
Margaret Longespée, Robert de Clifford's cousin and heiress of the feudal barony of 
Clifford, which had descended in a female line from Robert de Clifford's great-great 
uncle, Walter II de Clifford (d.1263), Margaret Longespée's maternal grandfather.[2]

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

Marriage & progeny[edit]

In 1295 in Clifford Castle he married Maud de Clare, eldest daughter of Thomas de 
Clare, Lord of Thomond by his wife Juliana FitzGerald. By Maud he had three 
children:[9]
Roger de Clifford, 2nd Baron de Clifford.
Robert de Clifford, 3rd Baron de Clifford.
Idonia de Clifford, wife of Henry de Percy, 2nd Baron Percy.

Death & burial[edit]

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

Parents
DE CLIFFORD Roger II (ABT 1242 - 6 Nov 1282)
DE VIPONT Isabel (1254 - 14 May 1292)

Siblings
DE CLIFFORD Robert (1 Apr 1274 - 24 Jun 1314)

Marriage To DE CLARE Maud (ABT 1282 - 1 Feb 1327)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
DE CLARE Thomas (ABT 1245 - Feb 1288)
FITZ GERALD Juliana (12 Apr 1266 - 29 Sep 1300)

Children by DE CLARE Maud ABT 1282 - 1 Feb 1327
DE CLIFFORD Idonea (ABT 1300 - 24 Aug 1365)
DE CLIFFORD Margaret (ABT 1303 - 8 Aug 1382)
DE CLIFFORD Robert (5 Nov 1305 - 20 May 1344)

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