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DE CAEN, Robert

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[E_Cole5H17.GED]

[Cole5H17.GED]

DC0058
He was an illigitimate son of King HENRY I. According to "The
Dictionary of National Biography", his mother was probably an unknown
French woman. This birth was before HENRY became king. On
insufficient grounds some claim his mother to be Nesta, dau. of RHYS AP
TEWDR, King of Dehubarth. In his "Complete Peerage", Cockayne is of the
opinion that his mother was most likely SIBYL CORBET.
He fought at the Battle of Bremule in 1119, where his father defeated
King LOUIS VI of France (RIN 1531). In 1122 he was created Earl of
Gloucester. In 1123, he led a force to assist in the capture of the castle
of Brionne, which was held by rebel Norman barons. In 1126 he had
custody of the imprisoned rebel, Robert, Duke of Normandy. In 1127 he
did homage to the EMPRESS MATILDA, recognizng her as his father's
successor to the throne.
When Stephen was chosen as king over the EMPRESS MATILDA, Robert
did homage to him for his English lands. In 1137 he accompanied King
Stephen to Normandy where a quarrel ensued. He then threw his support
to MATILDA, who was in Normandy, and obtained the surrender of Caen
and Bayeux to her husband, GEOFFREY PLANTAGENET, Count of Anjou (RIN 787).
In Sep. 1139 he landed in England with MATILDA and took her to
Arundel Castle. He became her commander-in-chief in the civil war
which followed.
Robert was captured by Stephen's forces, but Stephen had also been
previously captured by MATILDA's. The two were returned to their
respective camps in an even exchange. MATILDA sent Robert to Anjou to
attempt to convince her husband, GEOFFREY, to come to her aid. GEOFFREY
declined to help until he had conquered Normandy, so Robert joined in his
campaign. However, hearing that MATILDA was besieged at Oxford, he
hurried back to her assistance. He took MATILDA's and GEOFFREY's son,
HENRY (the future King HENRY II) with him. In 1143 Robert defeated
Stephen at Wilton and in 1144 he blockaded Malmesbury, Stephen
refusing battle. MATILDA's support had gradually dwindled, so Robert
was unable to continue to press her cause. In 1147 Robert sent HENRY
back to Anjou. Later that year Robert died of fever at Bristol.
/DC0058

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