Robert III de Beaumont 3rd Earl of Leicester ^{2 3 4}

   Another name for Robert was Robert "ès Blanchemains" de Beaumont.

  General Notes:

ROBERT de Beaumont "ès Blanchemains", son of ROBERT de Beaumont Earl of Leicester & his wife Amicie de Gaël (-Acre or Durazzo 31 Aug 1190). Robert of Torigny records the death in 1168 of "Robertus comes Leecestriæ" and the succession of "filium Robertum". He succeeded his father in 1168 as Earl of Leicester. He supported Henry "the Young King" in his revolt against his father King Henry II in 1173. The latter retaliated by confiscating Robert's English estates, burning Leicester 28 Jul 1173, and capturing Robert's fortress of Breteuil 25 Sep 1173. Robert was defeated by the king's forces at Fornham near Bury, Suffolk and was captured with his wife. He set out on Crusade in Dec 1190 but died on the return journey. The Annals of Margan record the death in 1190 of "Robertus comes Leicestriæ". Matthew Paris records the death at Acre in 1191 of "comes Robertus Leycestrensis". The necrology of the monastery of Ouche records the death "31 Aug" of "Robertus comes Legrecestriæ, peregrinus Jerosolimis".

m (before [1155/59]) PERNEL, daughter of GUILLAUME --- & his wife --- (-1 Apr 1212). Robert of Torigny records the death in 1168 of "Robertus comes Leecestriæ" and the succession of "filium Robertum" stating that the latter received "sua hereditatem de Gretemesnil" from his wife. "Robertus filius comitis Legrece" donated property to Notre-Dame de la Trappe for the soul of "uxoris mee Petronille" by charter dated [1153/67]. Pernel is named as great granddaughter of Hugues de Grantmesnil in the [1190/1204] charter of her son Robert FitzPernel to the abbey of St Evroul. Her father is named Hugh de Grantmesnil in an account of the foundation of Leicester Abbey, but the Complete Peerage casts doubt on the accuracy of this as the same source gives details of her inheritance from him which are clearly incorrect. Robert de Torigny records that her husband gained the Norman honour of Grantmesnil through his marriage, which suggests that Pernel, as heiress, was descended from the oldest son of Hugues de Grantmesnil senior. It is also possible that she was the daughter of Agnes, daughter of Robert de Grantmesnil. Considering that Orderic Vitalis does not name Hugues (supposed brother of Agnes) although he is so thorough in naming other members of this family, this may be the most likely possibility. Robert son of Parnel, Earl of Leicester, donated property to the abbey of Lire for the soul of Loreta his wife, by charter dated to [1190/1204]. "Petronilla comitissa Leircestrie" confirmed the exchange of land with Nuneaton priory made by "Robertus comes Leircestrie filius meus", who gave land in Belgrave in return for land in Dadlington which had been donated by "sponsus meus Robertus comes…cum filia mea pie memorie Hawis", by charter dated to after 1189. The Testa de Nevill lists knights who held land from the king in Hertfordshire, dated to [1204/12]: "comitissa de Leicestria" held "Wares". The necrology of Lyre monastery records the death "1 Apr" of "Petronilla comitissa Leicestriæ". The necrology of the monastery of Ouche records the death "1 Apr" of "Petronilla comitissa Leycestriæ".

Earl Robert & his wife had seven children: Robert, Guillaume, Roger, Amice, Margaret, Havise and Pernelle.

[FMG/Medieval Lands]

--------------------------

On Leicester, Earldom of [Burke's Peerage, p. 1671]:

The 3rd Earl of this creation, yet another Robert, rebelled against Henry II and the town of Leicester was captured and set fire to by the King in 1173, although the castle itself was not taken. The 3rd Earl was later captured by Henry II, however, and the King then pulled the castle down.

--------------------------

EARLDOM OF LEICESTER (III) 1168

ROBERT, EARL OF LEICESTER, and Steward of England and of Normandy, styled ès Blanchemains, only son and heir. He first appears in 1153, when he received a charter from Henry, son of the Empress, "restoring" to him the lands then held by Robert's father, with all the lands which William de Paci held in England and in Normandy, and granting him the Dapifership of England and of Normandy. The charter is similar to one given at the same time to his father the Earl. About five years after his succession he appears to have refused to accept the old composition for the third penny of the pleas of the county, claiming that he ought to have the increased sum now paid for it. Unlike his predecessors, who had augmented their fortunes by adherence to the Crown, Robert took a rebellious course soon after he succeeded his father, by espousing the cause of the "young King" Henry, son of Henry II, when he revolted in 1173. The King at once confiscated Robert's English estates and attacked the town of Leicester, which was taken and burnt (28 July), while the castle held out. At that time Robert was in Normandy, having crossed in the spring and shut himself in his fortress of Bréteuil. On 8 August the King appeared before Bréteuil and captured and burnt it on 25 and 26 September, Robert having fled before the siege began. Robert landed at Walton in Suffolk on 29 September 1173 with a force of Flemish mercenaries, and was at once joined by Hugh Bigod, Earl of Norfolk, and their combined forces plundered Norwich, and took the castle of Hagenet on 13 October. Thence he started for Leicester, where his castle still held out, but on 17 October he encountered the King's forces under Richard de Luci ("the loyal") at Fornham, near Bury (Suffolk), and in the fight that ensued was completely defeated, and captured with his Countess. They were sent to the King in Normandy, who imprisoned them at Falaise, and on his return to England, 8 July 1174, took them with him. The seneschal of Leicester Castle having begun to ravage the neighbouring country, Henry extorted from Robert the surrender, 31 July, of his strongholds of Leicester, Mount Sorrel and Groby. The Earl and Countess were taken back to Normandy on 8 August, but the treaty of peace between the King and his sons, 30 September 1174, stipulated for their release. Henry, however, demolished Leicester Castle. The rebellion having been crushed, Robert was no longer a menace, and in January 1176/7, at the Council of Northampton, had restored to him all his castles except Mount Sorrel. He crossed to Normandy that summer, and is said to have gone on pilgrimage in 1179, but no more is heard of him until the spring of 1183, when he was once more under suspicion, for he was arrested and imprisoned, together with his brother-in-law, the Earl of Gloucester. He was, however, in favour again and with the Court at Christmas 1186 at Guildford. At the Coronation of Richard I, 3 September 1189, he carried one of the Swords of State. On 1 December following he witnessed a charter to the monks at Canterbury, and then set out on Crusade to Jerusalem, and died on the way back.

He married, before 1155-1159 (e), Pernel (Petronilla), heiress of the Norman honour of Grandmesnil, great-granddaughter of Hugh de Grandmesnil, the Domesday tenant, but her parentage has not been discovered. Robert died on his return journey from Jerusalem, 31 August 1190, at sea near Brindisi, or in Romania on his way to Jerusalem. His widow had a grant of the market and bridge at Ware for life, 10 March 1207/8. She died 1 April 1212.

[Complete Peerage VII:530-3, XIV:429, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

(e) She witnessed a charter of Robert, 2nd Earl of Leicester, to the Abbey of Fontevrault, circa 1155-1159, as Petronilla uxore Roberti filii mei.

NOTE: Some Correction & Additions to CP, concerning the above note (e), states: Ray Phair, in July 2002, pointed out that David Crouch has suggested a revised date of 1160-1163 for this charter [citing The Beaumont twins, p. 204 (1986)], and that it may in fact date from 1162 or 1163 (see Tony, volume 12, part 1, page 765). ¹

  Death Notes:

Went on crusade Dec 1189.

Robert married someone Pernel de Grantmesnil, daughter of Guillaume de Grantmesnil and Unknown, before 1155.¹ (Pernel de Grantmesnil died on 1 Apr 1212 ¹ and was buried in Leicester Abbey, Abbey Park Road, Leicester, Leicestershire, LE4 5AQ, GB.)