Robert of Ropsley
 | This article relies largely or entirely on a single source. (June 2020) |
Robert of Ropsley was an important household knight who had a close relationship with John, King of England
Origins[]
He was the leader of a minor knightly family in Lincolnshire owing fealty to .[1]
Life and career[]
He was constable of Bristol castle from August 1204 to March 1208. From July 1207 to sometime in 1210 he held the castle of Kenilworth Castle, an extremely important castle as it controlled the trade routes to Coventry and was an important administrative center in Warwickshire. In 1207 he was appointed in Warwickshire.[2] It is known that he held the Honour (Barony) of Leicester as custodian in 1205-1209 along with the archdeacon of Staffordshire.[3] He was sheriff of Warwickshire and Leicestershire between 1212 and 1215. It is likely that Robert had considerable control in Leicestershire given the fact that he was custodian between 1205 and 1209 and thus had the chance to establish himself as a powerful player within the shire.
In 1215 he was among the representatives sent to Otto of Brunswick along with Robert of Burgate. During King John's reign Robert is recorded as having witnessed 20 charters, an indication that he was at the kings side in intervals and he was an important member of John's court.[4] Shortly after June 14th 1215 he had defected to the barons side in the Second Barons War despite his close relationship with king John. This was because he held some of his lands from or near rebels: William d'Albini of Belvoir and some lands in the . Despite four letters offering safe conduct to Robert if he would rejoin the royal cause, he was a rebel through and through after 1215.[5]
Fiefs[]
From William d'Albini of Belvoir:
- Lincolnshire
From The Barons of Richmond:
- - Lincolnshire
Family[]
He married daughter of and widow of Hugh Bardulf.[6] The marriage was almost certainly arranged by the king as a reward for his services.
References[]
- ^ Church 1999, p. 37.
- ^ Church 1999, p. 60.
- ^ Church 1999, p. 57.
- ^ Church 1999, p. 70.
- ^ Church 1999, p. 105.
- ^ Church 1999, p. 88.
Bibliography[]
- Church, S. D. (1999). The Household Knights of King John. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-511-00213-0. OCLC 48139481.
- 12th-century births
- 1226 deaths
- Knights
- 12th-century English people
- 13th-century English people
- Anglo-Normans
- Norman warriors
- High Sheriffs of Warwickshire
- High Sheriffs of Leicestershire
- Medieval English knights
- People of the Barons' Wars