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Birth:          12 Oct 1293 Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, England
Death:          9 Apr 1342 France

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Margaret_de_Clare
Margaret de Clare, Countess of Gloucester, Countess of Cornwall (12 October 1293 – 9 
April 1342), was an English noblewoman, heiress, and the second eldest of the three 
daughters of Gilbert de Clare, 6th Earl of Hertford and his wife, Joan of Acre, making 
her a granddaughter of King Edward I of England.[2][3][1] Her two husbands were 
Piers Gaveston and Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester.[4]
Marriage to Piers Gaveston[edit]

She was married to Piers Gaveston, the favourite of her uncle Edward II on 7 
November 1307.[3][2][4] At the time of her marriage she was 14 years of age. 
According to the Vita Edwardi Secundi, this marriage was arranged by the King "to 
strengthen Piers and surround him with friends". Lord Gaveston celebrated the 
marriage with a lavish tournament at Wallingford Castle. The marriage of such a high-
born heiress to a foreigner did not please the English nobility and engendered a great 
deal of unpopularity. Their daughter, Amy de Gaveston, was born on 6 January 1312 
in Tonbridge Castle, Kent, England.[3][2] It is alleged that they had another child 
named Joan de Gaveston born around 1310, but there is little evidence outside of 
hearsay to validate this claim. There are also claims that Amy was born to a mistress 
of Piers Gaveston.[5] However, the evidence is circumstantial and the official records 
list Amy de Gaveston as born to Lord de Gaveston and Lady de Clare thus, it is fancy 
speculation.[4]

King Edward arranged a lavish celebration after the birth of this little girl, complete 
with minstrels. However, Piers Gaveston was executed only six months later, leaving 
Margaret a widow with a small child. Her dower rights as Countess of Cornwall were 
disputed, and so King Edward instead assigned her Oakham Castle and other lands. 
She joined the Royal household and in 1316 accompanied the King in his journey from 
London to York.

Inheritance and second marriage[edit]

Following the death of their brother, Gilbert de Clare, 7th Earl of Hertford, at the Battle 
of Bannockburn in 1314, Margaret and her sisters, Elizabeth and Eleanor de Clare 
received a share of the inheritance. Margaret was now one of the co-heiresses to the 
vast Gloucester estate, and King Edward arranged a second marriage for her to 
another favourite, Hugh de Audley, 1st Earl of Gloucester. She was High Sheriff of 
Rutland from 1313 to 1319.[6] On 28 April 1317 Margaret de Clare wed Hugh de 
Margaret de Audley, born between January 1318 and November 1320.[3][2][4]

Despenser War[edit]

Hugh and Margaret were among the victims of their brother-in-law, Hugh the younger 
Despenser. In his rashness and greed for the Clare lands, he robbed Margaret of much 
of her rightful inheritance. In 1321, Hugh de Audley joined the other Marcher Barons 
in looting, burning, and causing general devastation to Despenser's lands which 
subsequently became the Despenser War. Hugh was captured at the Battle of 
Boroughbridge in 1322, and was saved from a hanging thanks to the pleas of his wife. 
He was imprisoned, and two months later Margaret was sent to Sempringham Priory in 
Lincolnshire. She remained there until 1326, when Hugh escaped prison and she was 
released from Sempringham.

Countess of Gloucester[edit]

Hugh and Margaret were reunited sometime in 1326. In summer 1336, their only 
daughter, Margaret Audley, was abducted by Ralph Stafford, 1st Earl of Stafford. Her 
parents filed a complaint, but King Edward III of England supported Stafford. He 
appeased Hugh and Margaret by creating Hugh Earl of Gloucester. Margaret was 
henceforth styled Countess of Gloucester.

Death[edit]

Margaret died on 9 April 1342 and her sister Lady Elizabeth de Clare paid for prayers 
to be said for her soul at Tonbridge Priory located in Kent, England, where she was 
buried.[1][2][3][5]

Parents
DE CLARE Gilbert "the Red Earl" (2 Sep 1243 - 7 Dec 1295)
____ Joan of Acre (Apr 1272 - 23 Apr 1307)

Siblings
DE CLARE Eleanor (Alianor) (3 Oct 1292 - 30 Jun 1337)
DE CLARE Margaret (12 Oct 1293 - 9 Apr 1342)
DE CLARE Elizabeth (16 Sep 1295 - 4 Nov 1360)

Marriage To DE GAVESTON Piers (ABT 1284 - 19 Jun 1312)
    m. 7 Nov 1307 

Notes

Parents
DE GAVESTON Ernaud (1250 - )
DE LOUVIGNY Clarmunda (ABT 1255 - BEF 4 Feb 1287)

Children by DE GAVESTON Piers ABT 1284 - 19 Jun 1312
DE GAVESTON Amy (6 Jan 1312 - AFT 1340)

Marriage To DE AUDLEY Hugh (ABT 1291 - 10 Nov 1347)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
AUDLEY Hugh (ABT 1267 - ABT 1326)
DE MORTIMER Isolde (Iseude) (Iswolde) (ABT 1260 - AFT 1335)

Children by DE AUDLEY Hugh ABT 1291 - 10 Nov 1347
DE AUDLEY Margaret (ABT 1318 - 7 Sep 1347)

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