Robert de Clifford ★

Born April 1, 1274, at Clifford Castle, Herefordshire, England. He married 1295, at Clifford Castle, to Maud de Clare. He died June 24, 1314, at Bannockburn, Stirlingshire, Scotland (killed in battle).

Inheritance and Early Life

Robert de Clifford was born April 1, 1274, at Clifford Castle, Herefordshire; his father Roger predeceased his own father, so Robert inherited the Clifford estates directly in 1286. Through his mother Isabella de Vipont, co-heiress of the barony of Appleby, he gained half the Vipont lands on her death in 1291, including Appleby and Brougham Castles, and the remaining half from his aunt Idonea de Vipont in 1308 — by which point he was one of the most powerful barons in England. He married Maud de Clare, daughter of Thomas de Clare, Lord of Thomond, in 1295.

Lord Warden of the Marches

Clifford became the first formal Lord Warden of the Marches, responsible for defending England's northern border, and was made Governor of Carlisle in 1296. Edward I personally visited Brougham Castle in 1300, and after Clifford's service at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 the king also gave him the governorship of Nottingham Castle.

Military Campaigns Against Scotland

Clifford helped negotiate Scottish surrender terms at Irvine in 1296 and fought at Falkirk in 1298 against William Wallace's forces. At the 1300 siege of Caerlaverock Castle his arms were recorded on the famous Caerlaverock Roll, whose accompanying verse praised him as one "of no praise unworthy; wiser none was with the King."

Service Under Edward II and Bannockburn

Under Edward II he briefly served as Marshal of England, organizing the king's 1308 coronation, then as captain and chief guardian of Scotland from 1308, and was granted Skipton Castle and made Lord of Skipton in 1310 — Skipton remained the Clifford family's principal seat for centuries after. In 1312 he joined the baronial movement against Piers Gaveston, besieging him at Scarborough.

Clifford was killed leading a cavalry charge against Scottish spearmen at the Battle of Bannockburn on June 24, 1314, at age forty, and was buried at Shap Abbey in Westmorland; his barony passed to his son Roger, 2nd Baron Clifford.