Gilbert de Clare

Gilbert de Clare, born at Tonbridge to Gilbert Fitz Richard de Clare and Alice de Claremont, had started out without land and wealth of his own but is closely related to very powerful men, specifically his uncles Walter de Clare and Roger de Clare.

Gilbert fitz Gilbert led an expedition against Exmes in 1136 and burned parts of the town, including the church of Notre Dame, but had been interrupted by the forces of William III, Count of Ponthieu and escaped the resulting melee only after suffering heavy losses.

Gilbert is a Baron, that is, a tenant-in-chief in England, and has inherited the estates of his paternal uncles, Roger and Walter, which include the baronies and castles of Bienfaite and Orbec in Normandy.

He holds the lordship of Nether Gwent and the castle of Striguil (later Chepstow).

King Stephen in 1138 creates him Earl of Pembroke, and gives him the rape (a county subdivision) and castle of Pevensey.

The title, which is associated with Pembroke, present Pembrokeshire in West Wales, is the first earldom created by the Norman kings within the borders of Wales.

Gilbert de Clare had been among those who had rallied to Empress Matilda when she recovered London in June after Stephen's defeat at Lincoln on February 2, 1141, but he is at Canterbury late in 1141 when Stephen is recrowned.

Gilbert de Clare had joined Geoffrey's plot against Stephen, but when that conspiracy collapsed, he had again adhered to Stephen, being with him late in 1142 at the siege of Oxford.