Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln

Who was Gilbert de Gant, Earl of Lincoln?

Gilbert de Gant, 1st Earl of Lincoln was an English nobleman who fought for King Stephen during The Anarchy.

He was the son of Walter de Gant and Maud of Brittany, a daughter of Stephen, Count of Tréguier. Gilbert was thus a nephew of Alan, 1st Earl of Richmond, one of King Stephen's commanders. Another uncle, Robert de Gant, was Lord Chancellor for King Stephen.

While still fairly young, Gilbert fought on the side of King Stephen at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141, where he was captured along with the king. He was then compelled to marry Rohese de Clare, daughter of Richard de Clare, 1st Earl of Hertford and Adeliza de Meschines, and a niece of Ranulph de Gernon, 2nd Earl of Chester.

In 1149 or 1150 the king created him Earl of Lincoln as a rival to William de Roumare, who had gone over to the side of Empress Matilda.

He and Rohese had only one child, a daughter, Alice de Gant, who married Simon III de Senlis, son of Simon II de Senlis, Earl of Huntingdon-Northampton.

He founded Rufford Abbey c. 1148 in Nottinghamshire, England.