Robert of Belleme, Earl of Shrewsbury

Robert of Belleme, Earl of Shrewsbury was a Norman magnate, soldier, and outstanding military architect, who for a time was the most powerful vassal of the English crown under the second and third Norman kings, William II Rufus (r. 1087-1100) and Henry I (r. 1100-1135)

Robert was a son of Roger de Montgomerie, beneficiary and follower of William the Conqueror. Before his father’s death (in 1094) Robert had acquired, probably by force of arms, extensive lands in Normandy and Maine in France. In 1098 Robert’s brother died and he inherited his father’s Earldom and even more land in Normandy as well as land in Sussex. He also bought the fief of Tickhill in the English Midlands and acquired the county of Ponthieu by marriage.

Robert was probably the mightiest Baron of his time. He supported Robert Curthose, an opponent of Henry I, who rebelled and was defeated in 1106, but Robert maintained his opposition to Henry. In 1112 Robert was arrested and imprisoned until his death in 1130. Robert’s wealth is estimated around £10,000 what would be equivalent of £17.759 billion in 2010.