Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby
Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby | |
|---|---|
| Born | c. 1100 |
| Died | 1162 |
Margaret Peverel | |
| Issue |
|
| Father | Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby |
| Mother | Hawise |
Robert II de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby (c. 1100 – 1162) was a younger, but eldest surviving son of Robert de Ferrers, 1st Earl of Derby and his wife Hawise. He succeeded his father as Earl of Derby in 1139 (William, his elder brother, having been murdered in London sometime before). He was head of a family which controlled a large part of Derbyshire including an area later known as Duffield Frith.
Life
Little is known of Robert's life, other than his generosity to the church. In 1148, he established
He founded the Priory of Derby, which later moved to Darley Abbey, and its Abbot was granted many privileges in Duffield Forest and Chase.[1]
He continued his father's attempts to play a role in the civil war commonly called
He finally threw in his lot with the future Henry II after Tutbury Castle was besieged in 1153.[3] However, when Henry came to the throne in 1154, he withdrew de Ferrers' right to use the title of Earl or to receive the "third penny" on the profits of the county.
Family and death
Around 1135, he married Margaret Peverell, and had at least one son and one daughter.
He died in 1162 and was succeeded by his son William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby.
References
- ^ Bland, W., 1887 Duffield Castle: A lecture at the Temperance Hall, Wirksworth Derbyshire Advertiser
- ^ Turbutt, G., (1999) A History of Derbyshire. Volume 2: Medieval Derbyshire, Cardiff: Merton Priory Press
- ^ Michael Jones, 'Ferrers, Robert de, first Earl Ferrers (d. 1139)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [ accessed 28 Oct 2007]