Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester
Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester (d. 1190) was an English nobleman, one of the principal followers of Henry the Young King in his revolt against his father Henry II. He is also called Robert Blanchemains.
He was the son of Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, and inherited from his father a large estate in England and Normandy.
When the revolt of the younger Henry broke out in April 1173, Robert went to his castle at Breteuil in Normandy. The rebels aim was to take control of the duchy, but Henry II himself led an army to besiege the castle, Robert fled, and the Breteuil was taken on September 25 or 26.
Robert apparently went to Flanders, where he raised large force of mercenaries, and landed at Walton, Suffolk, on September 29, 1173. He joined forces with the earl of Norfolk, Hugh Bigod, and the two marched west, aiming to cut England in two across the Midlands and to relieve the king's siege of Robert's castle at Leicester. They were intercepted by the king's supporters, and defeated in battle at Fornham, near Bury St. Edmunds, on October 17. Robert, along with his wife and many others, was taken prisoner. Henry II took away the earl's lands and titles as well.
He was to remain in prison until January 1177, well after most of the other prisoners had been released. The king was in a strong position and could afford to be merciful; not long after his release Robert's lands and titles were restored, but not his castles. All but two of these had been destroyed, and those two (Montsorrel in Leicestershire and Pacy in Normandy) remained in the king's hands.
Robert had little influence in the remaining years of Henry II's reign, but was restored to favor by Richard I. He carried one of the swords of state at Richard's coronation in 1189.
In 1190 Robert went on pilgrimage to Palestine, and died in Greece on his return journey.
Robert married Petronilla, who was either a granddaughter or great-granddaughter of Hugh de Grandmesnil. They had 5 children:
- Robert, who succeeded his father as earl of Leicester;
- Roger, who became bishop of St. Andrews in 1189;
- William, who was a leper;
- Amicia, who married Simon de Montfort, and whose son Simon subsequently became earl of Leicester;
- Margaret, who married Saer de Quincy, later 1st Earl of Winchester.
