Gilbert,
10th Earl de Clare
was only 23 years old when he was killed at Bannockburn
in
1314. Gilbert did not have any children and so his death brought an
end to the male line of the Clare family. The estates should have
been immediately divided between Gilbert's three sisters, Eleanor,
Margaret and Elizabeth.
At
first, Edward
II refused
permission for the sisters to inherit this land. The king knew that
these estates would give great power to the women's husbands. It was
only when Edward was convinced that these men would support him in
his struggle with his barons, that he gave permission for the women
to inherit the estates.
In
the 14th century it was common for the king to be involved in selecting
husbands for the daughters of his most powerful barons. Eleanor, the
eldest daughter, was only 14 years old when she was forced to marry
the king's main adviser, Hugh Despenser, in 1306. As Eleanor was married
to one of his most loyal subjects, Edward was willing to allow her
to inherit her share of the Clare estates.
Margaret
was more of a problem as she was a widow when Gilbert was killed at
Bannockburn.
In 1307 Edward II had arranged for 14 year old Margaret to marry his
favourite knight, Piers Gaveston. Five years later Gaveston was murdered
by the king's opponents. Before Margaret was allowed to inherit her
share of the Clare estates in 1317 she had to agree to marry Hugh
de Audley, one of the king's loyal knights.
Elizabeth
de Clare,
the youngest daughter, was also a widow in 1314. Elizabeth married
John de Burgh, son of the Earl of Ulster, when she was 14 but he died
five years later. While Elizabeth was waiting for her inheritance,
the marcher lord, Theobald Verdun kidnapped her and took her to his
castle at Alton where he married her against her will. However, Theobald
Verdun died six months after the wedding.
Edward
II decided to keep Elizabeth in custody at Bristol Castle. The following
year, she was granted her share of the Clare inheritance when she
agreed to marry Roger Damory, another one of the king's supporters.
In
1322 Roger Damory changed sides and fought for the Earl of Lancaster
at Boroughbridge. Damory was captured during the battle and was later
executed for treason. Elizabeth had remained loyal to Edward and she
was allowed to keep her estates. The king now decided it would be
better if Elizabeth remained a widow.
In
1326 Eleanor's husband, Hugh Despenser, was captured and executed
by barons opposed to the king. The following year Eleanor was kidnapped
and raped by a knight called William la Zouche. The punishment for
rape was death but as Zouche was one of Edward's most loyal knights,
the king refused to take action against him. Eleanor was forced to
accept William la Zouche as her husband.
The
Normans: Classroom Activities
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