Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester facts for kids

Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester (born 1104 – died 5 April 1168) was an important English nobleman. He served as the Chief Justiciar of England from 1155 to 1168. This role was like being the king's main helper in running the country and its laws.

People in his time called him "Robert son of Count Robert." Later, a writer named Henry Knighton called him Robert "Le Bossu". This French name means "Robert the Hunchback." He was also known by names like Robert Boissu and Robert Beamond.

Early Life and Learning

Robert was an English nobleman. His family came from Normandy, a region in France. His father was Robert de Beaumont, the 1st Earl of Leicester. His mother was Elizabeth de Vermandois. Robert had a twin brother named Waleran. We don't know if they were identical or fraternal twins. But people at the time noticed they were twins, which might mean they looked very much alike.

After their father died in 1118, Robert and Waleran were taken into the royal household. Robert became the Earl of Leicester at this time. Their lands in England and France were looked after by guardians. Their stepfather, William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey, was one of these guardians. In 1119, they went with King Henry I to Normandy. There, the king encouraged them to talk about philosophy with important church leaders called cardinals.

Both Robert and Waleran could read and write. This was not common for everyone back then. A monastery called Abingdon Abbey later said Robert went to school there. It's possible, but we can't be completely sure. Robert was known for being very smart. An old book about astronomy was dedicated to him. It called him "a man of affairs and profound learning, most accomplished in matters of law." When he died, Robert left his own psalter (a book of Psalms) to the abbey he started in Leicester. This shows he was a religious man who followed daily prayers.

Robert's Career in Normandy

In 1120, Robert was old enough to take control of his lands. He inherited most of his father's lands in England. His twin brother, Waleran, received the lands in France. But in 1121, King Henry I gave Robert more land in Normandy. These lands were the important areas of Breteuil and Pacy-sur-Eure. He got them when he married Amice de Gael. Her family had lost these lands, and the king gave them to Robert.

For the next ten years, Robert worked hard to control the barons in Breteuil. These nobles were often difficult and wanted to be independent. Robert did not join his brother Waleran's rebellion against King Henry I in 1123–24. Robert often visited King Henry I's court, even when his brother was in prison. After 1129, both twins were often at the king's court together.

Robert owned lands all over England. In the 1120s and 1130s, he tried to organize his lands in Leicestershire. He took control of some lands that belonged to the church and the Earl of Chester. This helped him bring together his different estates in the middle of England. These lands were near towns like Nuneaton, Loughborough, Melton Mowbray, and Market Harborough.

In 1135, Robert and Waleran were with King Henry when he died. We don't know exactly what Robert did next. But he clearly supported his brother's choice to join the new king, Stephen, in 1136. For the first two years of King Stephen's rule, Robert was in Normandy. He was fighting others who claimed his lands in Breteuil. In June 1136, he gained the castle of Pont St-Pierre. From late 1137, Robert and his brother became more involved in King Stephen's court in England. Waleran became very powerful there until 1141. Robert helped his brother in a political move against the king's chief justiciar, Roger of Salisbury.

England's Civil War

A civil war started in England in September 1139. This brought Robert into conflict with Earl Robert of Gloucester. Gloucester was the son of Henry I and supported Empress Matilda. Gloucester took Robert's port of Wareham and his lands in Dorset. During this time, King Stephen gave Robert the city and castle of Hereford. This was to make Robert his main leader in Herefordshire, which was rebelling. It's not clear if this meant Robert became an earl of a second county.

Around late 1139, Earl Robert started a new religious house. He rebuilt his father's church, St Mary de Castro, Leicester, in Leicester. He made it a large Augustinian abbey outside the town. He gave the abbey a lot of money and land.

The Battle of Lincoln happened on 2 February 1141. King Stephen was captured and put in prison. Waleran, Robert's brother, bravely continued fighting for the king in England. But he eventually gave up to the Empress Matilda and went back to Normandy. There, he made peace with the Empress's husband, Geoffrey of Anjou. Earl Robert had been in Normandy since 1140. He was trying to stop the invasion by the Angevins (Empress Matilda's family). He also helped arrange his brother's surrender. Earl Robert left Normandy soon after. His lands there were taken and given to the Empress's supporters.

Earl Robert stayed on his lands in England for the rest of King Stephen's rule. He supported the king, but they didn't seem to have much contact. King Stephen did not even confirm the founding of Leicester Abbey until 1153.

Between 1141 and 1149, Earl Robert was mainly busy with his own private war. He fought against Ranulf II, Earl of Chester. We don't know all the details, but Robert fought hard. In the end, he gained control of northern Leicestershire. He also took the important Chester castle of Mountsorrel. When Earl Robert of Gloucester died in 1147, Robert of Leicester led a group of powerful earls. They made private agreements to bring peace to their areas. This process became faster when the Empress left for Normandy. It was finished by 1149. During this time, Robert also looked after his twin brother's earldom of Worcester. In 1151, he stopped the king from trying to take the city of Worcester.

Robert and King Henry II

When Duke Henry, the son of Empress Matilda, arrived in England in January 1153, it was a big chance for Earl Robert. He likely talked with Henry that spring. They made an agreement, and Robert joined Henry by May 1153. Henry gave Robert back his lands in Normandy. Duke Henry held his court at Leicester in June 1153. He and Robert were together constantly. This continued until Henry and King Stephen made a peace agreement in Winchester in November 1153. Earl Robert went with Henry to Normandy in January 1154. He got back his Norman castles and honors. As part of the peace, Henry recognized Robert's claim to be the chief steward of England and Normandy.

Earl Robert likely became the chief justiciar of England when Duke Henry became King Henry II in October 1154. This job meant Robert oversaw the government and legal system in England. He did this whether the king was in England or away. He is mentioned in many official documents in this role. He had a junior partner, Richard de Luci, who also worked for King Stephen before. Robert held this important job for almost fourteen years until he died. He earned the respect of the new government officials. Educated churchmen quoted his opinions, and his own learning was highly praised.

Robert died on 5 April 1168. He probably died at his castle of Brackley in Northamptonshire. His internal organs were buried at the hospital in the town. Before he died, he became a canon (a type of priest) of Leicester. He was buried north of the main altar in the great abbey he had founded. He left a will, and his son, the third earl, was in charge of carrying out his wishes.

Supporting the Church

Robert founded and supported many religious places. He started Leicester Abbey (1144) and Garendon Abbey (1133) in Leicestershire. He also founded the Fontevraldine Nuneaton Priory in Warwickshire and Luffield Priory in Northamptonshire. He gave money to the hospital of Brackley, Northamptonshire. Around 1164, he rebuilt the church of St Mary de Castro, Leicester. He made it part of Leicester Abbey, after closing it in 1139. Around 1139, he also rebuilt the church of Wareham. He made it a priory (a small monastery) of his Abbey of Lyre in Normandy.

His main religious foundations in Normandy were the priory of Nôtre-Dame du Désert and a large hospital in Breteuil. He was also very generous to the Benedictine Abbey of Lyre. This was the oldest monastery in the area of Breteuil. He also gave land in Old Dalby, Leicestershire to the Knights Hospitallers. They used this land to build Dalby Preceptory.

Around the year 1150, Robert le Bossu, Earl of Leicester, gave an acre of land in Brackley to a clerk named Solomon. This land was for building a house to help the poor. It also had a free chapel and a graveyard.

Family and Children

After 1120, Robert married Amice de Montfort. Her father was Raoul II de Montfort. Both of their families had lost their English lands because of a rebellion in 1075. Robert and Amice had four children:

• Hawise de Beaumont, who married William Fitz Robert, 2nd Earl of Gloucester. They had children.
• Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester, who married Petronilla de Grandmesnil. They had children.
• Isabel, who married Simon de St. Liz, Earl of Huntingdon. They had children.
• Margaret, who married Ralph IV de Toeni. They had children through their daughter, Ida de Tosny.