Robert de Stafford facts for kids
Robert de Stafford (born around 1039 – died about 1100) was an important nobleman from the time of the Norman Conquest. He was the very first feudal baron of Stafford in Staffordshire, England. He built his main home, Stafford Castle, there. A record of all his many landholdings can be found in the Domesday Book from 1086.
Contents
Who Was Robert de Stafford?
Robert de Stafford is believed to have been a son of Roger I of Tosny. His family, the de Tosny family, came from a place called Tosny in France.
What He Did
Robert de Stafford started Stone Priory in Staffordshire. A priory is a type of monastery. Many members of his family were later buried there.
His Family
Robert de Stafford married Avice de Clare. They had several sons, including:
- Nicholas I de Stafford (died around 1138), who was his oldest son and took over as the second feudal baron of Stafford. You can find more about his family line in the article about the feudal barony of Stafford.
His Lands
Robert de Stafford owned a lot of land! The Domesday Book of 1086 lists him as holding 131 different estates, called manors. Many of these were in Staffordshire. Some of the places he owned included Barlaston and Bradley in Staffordshire, and part of Duns Tew in Oxfordshire.
His Death
Robert de Stafford was buried at Evesham Abbey.
The Stafford Family Over Time
The Stafford family became very powerful over the centuries. However, the main line of the family eventually ended. The last important figure was Edward Stafford, 3rd Duke of Buckingham (1477–1521). After his death, the family's power greatly decreased.
However, some branches of the family continued. The Gresley family of Drakelow, who became baronets, were descendants of the de Tosny family, which included Robert de Stafford. This means that even though the main Stafford line ended, some of his family's bloodline continued through other noble families.
