⚜️ Richard fitz Gilbert — Normandy Holdings (1066)
Richard fitz Gilbert (c.1035–1090), styled 'de Bienfaite', 'de Clare'. Son of Gilbert, Count of Brionne. Norman lands restored after exile in Flanders.1
️ 1. Core Norman lordships — granted c.1050
Seigneurie de Bienfaite et d'Orbec
- Granted c.1050: At request of Count Baldwin V, Duke William restored inheritance: Richard received Bienfaite and Orbec.1
- Bienfaite (Calvados): Saint-Martin-de-Bienfaite-la-Cressonnière. Source of surname 'de Bienfaite'.2
- Orbec (Calvados): Adjacent lordship, held jointly with Bienfaite.2
- Brionne not restored: Castle and county remained in ducal hands.1
⛪ 2. Religious patronage — Bec Abbey
✝️ Abbey of Notre-Dame du Bec (Le Bec-Hellouin): Major benefactor. Endowed Bec with numerous landed estates in Normandy, founded dependent priories, granted tithes.3
Family connection: Son Richard fitz Richard de Clare became monk at Bec before 1100; later Abbot of Ely.4
3. Succession
Roger fitz Richard de Clare: Norman lands — Bienfaite, Orbec — passed to eldest son Roger. Died c.1131 without issue.5
Gilbert fitz Richard: Received English estates. Normandy to eldest, England to younger — characteristic division.5
REFERENCES
1. Mortimer, R. 'Clare, Richard de', ODNB (2004).
2. German Wikipedia: 'Richard FitzGilbert'.
3. Porée, A.A. Histoire de l'abbaye du Bec, vol. I (1901), pp. 104–108.
4. Knowles, D. The Monastic Order in England (1963), p. 114.
5. Complete Peerage, vol. III, pp. 242–244.
⏺️ FOOTNOTES: English estates (Clare, Tonbridge, 176 lordships) excluded. No Domesday entries for Normandy.
![Norman Crossbow](javascript:launch_resize("/images/1066AD/norman_crossbow_lft.png", 900, 1000);)
