Robert de Stafford (c. 1039 – c. 1100) (alias Robert de Tosny/Toeni, etc.) was an Anglo-Norman nobleman, a member of the House of Tosny and the first feudal baron of Stafford[1] in Staffordshire in England, where he probably built a baronial castle.[2] His many landholdings are listed in the Domesday Book of 1086.
He was the son of Roger I of Tosny and the brother of Raoul II of Tosny.[2]
He seems to have been the sheriff of Staffordshire.[2][3]
He was a big landholder in England, and there is no evidence of him inheriting land in Normandy. His property concentrated in Staffordshire and Warwickshire. An analysis of his holdings also shows a strong presence of non-Norman subtenants, with a significant presence of English and Breton ones.[2]
Moreover, he patronized many religious institutions, among them Evesham and Conches, prioritizing the former, which shows the importance he assigned to his holdings in England over the ones in Normandy.[2] He founded Stone Priory in Staffordshire, which became the burial place of many of his family.[4]
The analysis of both his subtenants and his patronage point out to a strategy much less concentrated in Normandy than his brother Raoul II, and almost solely centered in England.[2]
He died c. 1082 and was buried at Evesham.[2]
Family and Descendants
Robert de Stafford married Avice de Clare,[5] daughter of Richard fitz Gilbert (de Clare),[2]by whom he had sons,
- Nicholas I de Stafford (d.circa 1138), eldest son and heir, 2nd feudal baron of Stafford.[2][3]
- Alan de Stafford[citation needed]
- Roger de Stafford[citation needed]
- Jordan de Stafford[citation needed]
- Nigel de Stafford[6]
- Robert de Stafford[6]