1. Robert Fitzwalter was one of the leaders of the baronial opposition against King John, and one of the twenty-five sureties of Magna Carta.
34 Facts About Robert Fitzwalter
1. 2.
Robert Fitzwalter was feudal baron of Little Dunmow, Essex and constable of Baynard's Castle, in London, to which was annexed the hereditary office of castellan and chief knight banneret of the City of London.
3.
Robert Fitzwalter was outlawed, but returned under a special amnesty after John's reconciliation with the pope.
4.
Robert Fitzwalter continued to take the lead in the baronial agitation against the king, and upon the outbreak of hostilities in 1215 was elected "Marshal of the Army of God and Holy Church".
5.
Robert Fitzwalter was one of the twenty-five barons appointed to enforce the promises of Magna Carta, and his aggressive attitude was one of the causes which contributed to the revival of civil war later in 1215.
6.
Robert Fitzwalter was one of the envoys who invited Prince Louis to England, and was the first of the barons to do homage when Louis entered London.
7.
Robert Fitzwalter was the father of three children: Matilda, Robert, and Christina.
8.
Robert Fitzwalter is remembered as a champion of English liberty, and has become associated with various legends, including that of Robin Hood.
9.
Robert Fitzwalter was the son of Walter Fitz Robert of Woodham Walter and his wife Maud, the daughter of Richard de Lucy of Diss.
10.
Robert Fitzwalter was himself engaged in trade, and owned wine ships which received special privileges from King John.
11.
Robert Fitzwalter had a daughter, Christina, who married William FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex.
12.
When Baron Walter died in 1198, Robert Fitzwalter succeeded to his estates, being already more than of full age and married to his first wife, Gunnor.
13.
Robert Fitzwalter acquired two knight's fees through Gunnor's uncle Geoffrey of Valognes, and about 1204 obtained livery of seisin of the lands of his own uncle, Godfrey de Luci, bishop of Winchester.
14.
Francisque Xavier Michel said that Robert Fitzwalter came to be "one of the greatest men in England, and one of the most powerful".
15.
Robert Fitzwalter's lands were mainly situated in the north, so that his interests now became close to those of a faction called the "Aquilonares", whom he would later lead in the struggle against King John.
16.
In 1200 Robert Fitzwalter was surety for half the fine incurred by his brother, Simon Robert Fitzwalter, for marrying without royal licence.
17.
Robert Fitzwalter was made joint-governor of the castle of Le Vaudreuil with Saer de Quincy, later Earl of Winchester, his half-first cousin.
18.
Robert Fitzwalter demanded that each baron send a relative to him as a hostage.
19.
Robert Fitzwalter demolished Robert's castle of Benington and his woods in Essex.
20.
Robert Fitzwalter remained in exile until John's submission to the pope.
21.
Robert Fitzwalter remained a vigorous opponent of John's later measures.
22.
In 1215 Robert Fitzwalter was the first mentioned in the list of barons who assembled on Easter week at Stamford.
23.
Robert Fitzwalter was one of the twenty-five executors appointed to see that its provisions were really carried out.
24.
Robert Fitzwalter went over to France with the Earl of Winchester and offered the throne to Louis, the son of King Philip, putting into his hands twenty-four hostages and assuring him of the support of their party.
25.
Robert Fitzwalter naturally asked for the custody of a stronghold that had already been so long under his care.
26.
Robert Fitzwalter was too deeply pledged to Louis to join the deserters.
27.
Robert Fitzwalter raised the siege of Mountsorrel and advanced to Lincoln.
28.
Robert Fitzwalter was met by the regent, William Marshall, whose forces were now joined by the Earl of Chester with the army that had besieged Mountsorrel.
29.
Robert Fitzwalter himself was taken prisoner along with his son and most of the leaders of his party.
30.
Later in the year 1218 Robert Fitzwalter witnessed the undertaking that the Great Seal of England was to be affixed to no letters patent or charters until the king came of age.
31.
Robert Fitzwalter spent the rest of his life peaceably in England, thoroughly reconciled to the government of Henry III.
32.
Robert Fitzwalter must have by this time become well advanced in years.
33.
Robert Fitzwalter was described by Paris as a "noble baron, illustrious by his birth, and renowned for his martial deeds".
34.
At last, as the maiden proved obdurate, John caused her to be poisoned, so that the bitterest sense of personal wrong drove Robert Fitzwalter to take up the part of a constitutional leader.