Geoffrey de Clinton (died c. 1134) was an Anglo-Normannoble, chamberlain and treasurer to King Henry I of England. He was foremost amongst the men king Henry "raised from the dust".[1] He married Lescelina.
Life
Clinton's family origins are a little obscure. The surname probably derives from the village of Glympton in Oxfordshire.,[2] though the family ultimately hailed from Saint-Pierre-de-Semilly (Manche, arr. St. Lô, canton St.-Clair) in western Normandy.[3]
It appears that Clinton spent some years as a minor official of the king, until the 1118 fall of the treasurer Herbert camerarius, who was accused of plotting against the king. By 1120 Clinton had taken his place.
Not too long afterwards Clinton was appointed Sheriff of Warwickshire (c. 1121), to act as counterweight to the Earl of Warwick, Roger de Beaumont, whom Henry I did not trust. The 1122 rebellion of Roger's cousin Waleran de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Worcester increased the king's suspicions still further, and he compelled Roger to grant Clinton substantial parts of his Warwickshire domain.[4]
Clinton further secured his position by starting work on the great castle of Kenilworth, only five miles from the Beaumonts' central fortress at Warwick.[5]
Clinton received other grants of land from Henry I, and he used his position of political influence to enrich himself in other ways;[6] his sum total of wealth rose to become just below the level of the greatest magnates of the kingdom.[7] He had enough to spend 2,000 pounds to insure his nephew Roger de Clinton's election as Bishop of Coventry.[8]
Around Easter 1130 Clinton was accused of treason, but was acquitted by a tribunal including King David I of Scotland, who was sitting in his capacity as Earl of Huntingdon. The substance of the accusations against Clinton are not known, although since he was Henry I's treasurer, financial malfeasance of some sort seems possible.[9] The Beaumonts were back in favor, and it may be that they were behind the proceedings.[10]
Clinton remained in the royal service, though he was never as influential as he had been. He died sometime between 1133 and 1135.[11]
It appears that Clinton's land-holding must have been primarily life tenancies since his descendants' property was not nearly so great.[12] His son and successor, also named Geoffrey, became engaged in a violent quarrel with the Earl of Warwick early in the reign of King Stephen of England. The Clintons nearly lost everything, but in the end a settlement was reached (probably in the summer of 1138) by which the younger Geoffrey de Clinton married Warwick's daughter Agnes.[13]
Crouch, David (1982). "Geoffrey de Clinton and Roger, earl of Warwick: new men and magnates in the reign of Henry I". Historical Research. 55 (132): 113–24. doi:10.1111/j.1468-2281.1982.tb01151.x.
Green, Judith (2006). Henry I: King of England. Cambridge: Cambridge Univ. Press. ISBN978-0-521-59131-7.
Hollister, C. Warren (2001). Henry I. Yale Monarchs series. Yale University Press. ISBN0-300-09829-4.
Round, J. H. (1904). "A great marriage settlement". Ancestor. 11: 153–7.
Southern, R.W. (1970). "King Henry I". Medieval Humanism and Other Studies. Oxford: Basil Blackwell. pp. 206–33. ISBN0-631-12440-3., reprinted from Southern, R.W. (1962). "The Place of Henry I in English History". Proceedings of the British Academy. 48: 127–70.
geoffrey, clinton, died, 1134, anglo, norman, noble, chamberlain, treasurer, king, henry, england, foremost, amongst, king, henry, raised, from, dust, married, lescelina, life, editclinton, family, origins, little, obscure, surname, probably, derives, from, vi. Geoffrey de Clinton died c 1134 was an Anglo Norman noble chamberlain and treasurer to King Henry I of England He was foremost amongst the men king Henry raised from the dust 1 He married Lescelina Life EditClinton s family origins are a little obscure The surname probably derives from the village of Glympton in Oxfordshire 2 though the family ultimately hailed from Saint Pierre de Semilly Manche arr St Lo canton St Clair in western Normandy 3 It appears that Clinton spent some years as a minor official of the king until the 1118 fall of the treasurer Herbert camerarius who was accused of plotting against the king By 1120 Clinton had taken his place Not too long afterwards Clinton was appointed Sheriff of Warwickshire c 1121 to act as counterweight to the Earl of Warwick Roger de Beaumont whom Henry I did not trust The 1122 rebellion of Roger s cousin Waleran de Beaumont 1st Earl of Worcester increased the king s suspicions still further and he compelled Roger to grant Clinton substantial parts of his Warwickshire domain 4 Clinton further secured his position by starting work on the great castle of Kenilworth only five miles from the Beaumonts central fortress at Warwick 5 Clinton received other grants of land from Henry I and he used his position of political influence to enrich himself in other ways 6 his sum total of wealth rose to become just below the level of the greatest magnates of the kingdom 7 He had enough to spend 2 000 pounds to insure his nephew Roger de Clinton s election as Bishop of Coventry 8 Around Easter 1130 Clinton was accused of treason but was acquitted by a tribunal including King David I of Scotland who was sitting in his capacity as Earl of Huntingdon The substance of the accusations against Clinton are not known although since he was Henry I s treasurer financial malfeasance of some sort seems possible 9 The Beaumonts were back in favor and it may be that they were behind the proceedings 10 Clinton remained in the royal service though he was never as influential as he had been He died sometime between 1133 and 1135 11 It appears that Clinton s land holding must have been primarily life tenancies since his descendants property was not nearly so great 12 His son and successor also named Geoffrey became engaged in a violent quarrel with the Earl of Warwick early in the reign of King Stephen of England The Clintons nearly lost everything but in the end a settlement was reached probably in the summer of 1138 by which the younger Geoffrey de Clinton married Warwick s daughter Agnes 13 The direct Clinton male line seems to have died out during the reign of Henry III The later Baron Clintons Earls of Lincoln and Dukes of Newcastle Under Lyne descend from the elder Geoffrey s nephew Osbert de Clinton 14 Notes Edit in Orderic Vitalis famous phrase as quoted in Archer Southern p 214 Round Crouch p 116 117 Crouch p 118 Southern p 215 Hollister p 338 Southern p 217 Green p 207 Crouch p 120 Crouch p 130 Green p 245 Crouch p 121 Round ArcherReferences EditCrouch David 1982 Geoffrey de Clinton and Roger earl of Warwick new men and magnates in the reign of Henry I Historical Research 55 132 113 24 doi 10 1111 j 1468 2281 1982 tb01151 x Green Judith 2006 Henry I King of England Cambridge Cambridge Univ Press ISBN 978 0 521 59131 7 Hollister C Warren 2001 Henry I Yale Monarchs series Yale University Press ISBN 0 300 09829 4 Round J H 1904 A great marriage settlement Ancestor 11 153 7 Southern R W 1970 King Henry I Medieval Humanism and Other Studies Oxford Basil Blackwell pp 206 33 ISBN 0 631 12440 3 reprinted from Southern R W 1962 The Place of Henry I in English History Proceedings of the British Academy 48 127 70 Clinton Geoffrey de Dictionary of National Biography London Smith Elder amp Co 1885 1900 by Thomas Andrew Archer Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Geoffrey de Clinton amp oldid 1020369611, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
