Robert fitzRoger, 1st Baron Clavering ★

1240s–1280s

Born in 1247, son of Roger FitzJohn of Warkworth and Isabel de Dunbar; his father died in 1249. Married Margery de la Zouche; they had about ten children. Fought in the Welsh wars of 1277 and 1282–1283.

1290s–1310s

Served in Gascony in 1294, was summoned to Parliament in 1295 as Lord FitzRoger, and from 1297 was joint Captain of the Scottish Marches. Captured at Stirling Bridge in 1297, he fought at Falkirk in 1298, at Caerlaverock in 1300 and at Methven in 1306. Died between 25 March and 29 April 1310.

Family Background

Robert fitzRoger was born in 1247, son of Roger FitzJohn, who held Warkworth Castle and the lordships of Warkworth, Clavering, and Eure, and Isabel de Dunbar. His father died in 1249, leaving Robert a ward under the guardianship of William de Valence, 1st Earl of Pembroke, though his grandmother Ada de Baliol attempted to buy the wardship for herself. Through his mother's line he also inherited the barony of Blythburgh in Suffolk.

Marriage and Children

Robert married Margery de la Zouche, daughter of Alan de la Zouche and Ellen de Quincy, and the couple had roughly ten children, including John de Clavering, who became his heir, and Euphemia, who married Ranulph Neville, 1st Baron Neville.

Military Career and the Barony of Clavering

A career soldier, Robert fought in the Welsh wars of 1277 and 1282–1283 and in Gascony in 1294, and was summoned to the 1295 Parliament as Lord FitzRoger, effectively creating the barony of Clavering. From November 1297 he served as joint Captain of the Scottish Marches.

The Anglo-Scottish Wars

Robert was captured at the Battle of Stirling Bridge in 1297, then fought at the Battle of Falkirk in 1298 and the siege of Caerlaverock Castle in 1300 alongside his son John. He signed the Barons' Letter of 1301, led a foray from Berwick in 1302, and fought at the Battle of Methven in 1306.

Death

Robert fitzRoger died between March 25 and April 29, 1310.