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DE LACY Gilbert
Birth: ABT 1100
Death: AFT 1163
Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gilbert_de_Lacy
Gilbert de Lacy (died after 1163) was a medieval Anglo-Norman baron in England, the
grandson of Walter de Lacy who died in 1085. Gilbert's father forfeited his English
lands in 1096, and Gilbert initially only inherited the lands in Normandy. The younger
de Lacy spent much of his life trying to recover his father's English lands, and
eventually succeeded. Around 1158, de Lacy became a Templar and went to the Holy
Land, where he was one of the commanders against Nur ad-Din in the early 1160s. He
died after 1163.
Background and family[edit]
Gilbert de Lacy was the son of Roger de Lacy, who in turn was the son of Walter de
Lacy who died in 1085.[a] Roger de Lacy was banished from England in 1096, and his
estates were confiscated. These lands, which included substantial holdings along the
border with Wales, were given to Pain fitzJohn, Josce de Dinan and Miles of
Gloucester.[4] Roger de Lacy's lands in Normandy, however, were not confiscated, as
they were held of the Bishop of Bayeux in feudal tenure.[5]
Stephen's reign[edit]
Gilbert de Lacy had inherited his father's lands in Normandy by 1133, and by 1136 was
in England with King Stephen of England. Although de Lacy recovered some of his
father's lands, the border lands near Wales were not recovered.[4] Among the lands
Gilbert recovered were lands about Weobley.[5] He also was granted some lands in
Yorkshire that had been in dispute.[6]
Although de Lacy had spent time at Stephen's court, during the civil war that occurred
during Stephen's reign, he switched sides and served Stephen's rival, Matilda the
Empress.[7] In 1138, he was besieged by the king at Weobley along with his cousin
Geoffrey Talbot, but both men escaped when the king took the castle in June.[8] De
Lacy also led an army in an attack against Bath in the service of the Empress, along
with Geoffrey Talbot,[7] which also occurred in 1138 and which some historians have
seen as the opening act of the civil war.[9]
De Lacy witnessed charters of the Empress in 1141. During the later 1140s, de Lacy
was able to recover many of his father's Welsh marcher lands, and one of his efforts
at Ludlow was later embroidered in the medieval romance Fouke le Fitz Waryn.[4] He
and Miles of Gloucester were claimants to many of the same lands, and during
Stephen's reign were generally on opposite sides of the succession dispute.[7] In June
1153, de Lacy was in the company of Matilda's son, Henry fitzEmpress,[10] who
became King Henry II of England in 1154.[11]
De Lacy gave land to the cathedral chapter of Hereford Cathedral. He also gave a
manor at Guiting to the Knights Templar and two churches, at Weobley and Clodock
to Llanthony Priory, which was a monastery founded by his family.[4]
Later years and death[edit]
Around 1158 de Lacy surrendered his lands to his eldest son Robert when the elder de
Lacy became a member of the Knights Templar. He then travelled through France to
Jerusalem, where de Lacy became precentor of the Templars in the County of Tripoli.
In 1163, de Lacy was one of the crusader army commanders fighting against Nur ad-
Din.[4] William of Tyre records that Gilbert successfully undertook a surprise attack on
Nur al-Din in c.1164, when the latter was encamped near Tripoli. Nur al-Din fled,
leaving his entire camp and possessions, including his sword, to be captured by
Gilbert.[12][non-primary source needed]
De Lacy's year of death is unknown, but he was commemorated on 20 November at
Hereford Cathedral.[4] Robert died without children sometime before 1162, when
Gilbert's younger son Hugh de Lacy inherited the lands.[5]
The Gesta Stephani called de Lacy "a man of judgement and shrewd and painstaking
in every operation of war".[13]
Parents
DE LACY Roger (ABT 1060 - AFT 1106)
----- ----- ()
Siblings
DE LACY Gilbert (ABT 1100 - AFT 1163)
Marriage To ----- ----- ()
m.
Notes
Children by ----- -----
DE LACY Hugh (BEF 1135 - 25 Jul 1186)
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