Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester
Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, called Le Bossu ( the Hunchback ) (* 1104, † April 5, 1168 ) was an English nobleman of French origin. He was the son of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester and Elizabeth of Vermandois; his twin brother was Waleran de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Worcester.
The two brothers, Robert and Waleran, were shortly after her father's death ( 1118) - Robert inherited by its title, especially the county of Leicester - taken in the royal household. They accompanied the English king Henry I on his travels, first to Normandy, then ( in 1119 ) to meet with Pope Calixtus II.
In 1135 they were present at Henry's death. In June 1139, the brothers initiated the action against Bishop Roger of Salisbury and Bishop Alexander of Durham.
King Stephen, Robert and Waleran brought in as personal consultant to him, they remained loyal to him, and transferred their loyalty on his successor, Henry II, the son of Stephen rival Matilda, and under the Treaty of Wallingford its successor. Robert de Beaumont was the Chief Justiciar of the new king. Finally he bought Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk from the office of Steward ( Steward ) and became the first Lord High Steward of England. Thus, Robert took a high place in Henry's court, acted even temporarily as regent. His name appears at the top of the Constitutions of Clarendon, and he took part in the Council of Northampton.
He founded, in addition to St. Mary de Pré, the Abbey of Garendon, the monastery of Nuneaton, the Priory of Lusfield and the Hospital of Brackley.
Family and children
He married Amice de Montfort, daughter of Rudolf ( Raoul ), Lord of Gael and Montfort (House Montfort- Laval ), with whom he had four children:
- Hawise, ∞ FitzRobert William, 2nd Earl of Gloucester;
- Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester, Pétronille de Grandmesnil;
- Isabel,
- Margaret, ∞ Ralph V. de Tosny.