Also known as Robert de Caen, Robert Rufus, Robert Fitzroy, and Robert Consul.
Events
Date of Birth: before 1100.
The date is given by Crouch (ODNB). Crouch also states that Robert was probably in his late fifties when he died.
Date of Death: 31 October 1147.
Place of Death: Bristol.
The place and date are given by Crouch (ODNB) and by Keats-Rohan (p. 232).
Place of Burial: the priory church of St James, Bristol.
The place is given by Crouch (ODNB) and by Keats-Rohan (p. 232).
Relationships
Father: Henry I, king of England.
This relationship is given by Crouch (ODNB) and by Keats-Rohan (p. 231).
Mother: a member of the Gay family of Hampton and Northbrook, Oxfordshire.
This relationship is given by Crouch (ODNB).
Spouse: Mabel (died 1156), the daughter of Robert fitz Haimon.
This relationship is given by Crouch (ODNB) and by Keats-Rohan (p. 231).
Mistress: unknown.
Children (by Mabel):
(Complete source citations for facts about the children on this page are currently outside of the scope of this project. Most information below comes from Cawley.)
William (died 23 November 1183), earl of Gloucester, married Havise de Beaumont.
Philip (died 1147).
Richard (died 1175), lord of Creully, married a daughter of Hugues van Gent, lord of Monfort-en-Risle.
Roger (died 9 August 1179). Bishop of Worcester.
Hamon (died 1159).
Robert (died 1170) married Hawise, daughter of Baldwin de Reviers, earl of Devon. [Cawley has him as illegitimate.
Matilda (died 29 July 1189) married Ranulf de Gernon, earl of Chester.
Children (illegitimate):
Richard (died 3 April 1142).
Mabel married Gruffudd ab Ivor Bach.
References
Cawley, Charles. “Robert de Caen” in Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families.
Cokayne, George Edward, and Vicary Gibbs; et al. The complete peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, extant, extinct, or dormant [2nd ed.]. (London: St. Catherine Press, 1910-59).
Crouch, David. “Robert, first earl of Gloucester (b. before 1100, d. 1147)” in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2006).
Johns, Susan M. “Matilda, countess of Chester (d. 1189)”, in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 2007).
Keats-Rohan, Katharine S. B. Domesday Descendants: A Prosopography of Persons Occurring in English Documents 1106 - 1166. (Woodbridge: 2002).