Introduction
Robert fitzRoger (died 1214), Lord of Warkworth, Clavering and Eure, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman and Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk and Northumberland. He was a son of Roger fitzRichard and Adelisa de Vere. FitzRoger founded the monastery of Langley, Norfolk in 1195.
Life
FitzRoger was the son of Roger fitzRichard, who held Warkworth. FitzRoger was sheriff of Norfolk from Michaelmas in 1190 to Easter 1194 and then again from Michaelmas 1197 to Easter 1200. FitzRoger's first appointment as sheriff was due to the influence of William de Longchamp, who was Lord Chancellor. Longchamp's influence also secured custody of Orford Castle for fitzRoger. FitzRoger founded the Premonstratensian canons monastery of Langley, Norfolk in 1195. Longchamp also arranged for fitzRoger to have custody of Eye Castle in Suffolk. When Longchamp fell from royal favour and was replaced by Walter of Coutances, fitzRoger was one of the few of Longchamp's appointments to retain his office of sheriff.
FitzRoger had confirmation of his ownership of Warkworth in 1199 and in 1205 was granted Newburn and the barony of Whalton in Northumberland. Warkworth and Newburn occasionally were considered baronies, but not consistently. FitzRoger also held Clavering from Henry of Essex for one knight's fee. FitzRoger's holdings were extensive enough that he was considered a baron during the reigns of King Richard I and King John of England.
FitzRoger married Margaret, one of the daughters and heiresses of William de Chesney, the founder of Sibton Abbey. Margaret was one of three daughters, but she inherited the bulk of her father's estates. Margaret was the widow of Hugh de Cressy. Through Margaret, Roger gained the barony of Blythburgh in Suffolk. He also acquired lands at Rottingdean in Sussex from Margaret.
FitzRoger died in 1214, and his heir was his son by his wife Margaret, John fitzRobert. Margaret survived fitzRoger and paid a fine of a thousand pounds to the king for the right to administer her lands and dower properties herself. His daughter Alice married Peter FitzHerbert of Blewleveny.
Citations
- ^ Round "Early Sheriffs of Norfolk" English Historical Review pp. 491–494
- ^ Turner and Heiser Reign of Richard Lionheart p. 116
- ^ Olivia Convent and the Community in Late Medieval England p. 16
- ^ Heiser "Castles, Constables, and Politics" Albion p. 34
- ^ Turner and Heiser Reign of Richard Lionheart p. 132
- ^ Sanders English Baronies p. 150
- ^ Keats-Rohan Domesday Descendants p. 953
- ^ Turner and Heiser Reign of Richard Lionheart p. 103
- ^ Russell "Social Status" Speculum p. 324
- ^ Keats-Rohan Domesday Descendants p. 416
- ^ Keats-Rohan Domesday Descendants p. 370
- ^ Green Aristocracy of Norman England p. 380
- ^ Waugh "Women's Inheritance" Nottingham Medieval Studies p. 82
- ^ Sanders English Baronies p. 16
- ^ Loyd Origins of Some Anglo-Norman Families p. 35
- ^ Cokayne Complete Peerage Vol. 5 p. 465