Robert FitzWalter is a rising baron whose power straddles Essex and the city of London.
In the city he holds Baynard's Castle on the Thames at the western end of the wall, with its soke (a ward of the city under his own jurisdiction) and the hereditary right to lead the citizens in war under their banner. In Essex he holds Little Dunmow, where the family priory is, and Woodham Walter; through his wife he has the Valognes barony with Benington in Hertfordshire. He is ambitious and wants Hertford castle.
Who he is
- Name
- Robert FitzWalter
- Title
- Lord of Little Dunmow; castellan of Baynard's Castle and chief banneret of London
- Since
- 1198, on the death of his father Walter FitzRobert
- Born
- Not pinned (of full age and married by 1198)
- Family
- Son of Walter FitzRobert of Woodham Walter and Maud de Lucy, daughter of the justiciar Richard de Lucy; a cadet of the Clare family. Wife: Gunnor, daughter and heiress of Robert de Valognes, through whom he gained the Valognes barony (30 and a half knights' fees, with two more from her uncle Geoffrey de Valognes). His brother Simon married without royal licence and was fined in 1200 (Robert stood surety).
- Confidence
- high
In 1200-01 he is busy at law (surety for Simon; an agreement with St Albans abbey over Northaw wood in 1201). He claims the custody of Hertford castle as of ancient right and gets it in August 1202. In 1203 he and Saer de Quincy surrender Le Vaudreuil to Philip. Later the leader of the barons against John (1215): far ahead.
Overlord
King John
What it holds
- Baynard's Castle and its soke in London, with the hereditary castellanship and chief bannerership of the city
- Little Dunmow with Dunmow priory (Essex)
- Woodham Walter (Essex)
- The Valognes barony through his wife, with Benington castle (Hertfordshire)
- A claim to the custody of Hertford castle
How it was acquired
Baynard's Castle and Dunmow by inheritance from his grandfather Robert FitzRichard, who had them from Henry I after the Baynard forfeiture; the Valognes lands by marriage before 1198.
Allies and rivals
Kin to the Clares and the Lucys; the citizens of London, who will follow him in 1215; St Albans abbey, with which he disputes Northaw wood.
How things stand that morning
Holds his lands in peace; not yet keeper of Hertford.
Wealth
Essex manors, the Valognes fees, the London soke. No figures.
Military
Baynard's Castle in London; Benington castle; the knights of Dunmow and Valognes.
Threats
- Debts to Jewish lenders (John releases his family from them in 1202)
What the year holds
What happened next, if nothing in play changes it. Each event carries what it depends on and what would stop it.
- August 1202 (beyond 1200)John makes him warden of Hertford castle.Depends on: Royal favour Stopped by: A quarrel with John
Places of note
- Baynard's Castle: FitzWalter's castle and soke in London
- Little Dunmow priory: Family priory
- Benington castle: Valognes castle
Where the sources disagree
Evidence: Well known because of 1215; his 1199-1200 activities are thin.
On the map: Only the caput and the main manors are drawn.
Primary sources for England
Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.
- Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond, Jocelin of Brakelond (about 1198 to 1203). An inside account of Bury St Edmunds under Abbot Samson, written while the events were fresh. Read online
- Chronicle of Melrose, Anonymous (monks of Melrose abbey) (about 1173 to 1270, in many hands; the 1200 entries are near contemporary). The main Scottish annal for the year, kept at a Cistercian house on the Tweed. Read online
- Chronicle of Roger of Howden, Roger of Howden (about 1192 to 1201). The fullest single narrative for the year. Read online
- Chronicle of the Princes, Anonymous (Welsh translation of a lost Latin chronicle kept at Strata Florida) (Latin original to about 1282, compiled from contemporary annals; Welsh versions about 1300 and later). The native Welsh record of the year. Read online
- Chronicle; Deeds of the Kings, Gervase of Canterbury (Chronica about 1188 to 1199; Gesta Regum about 1199 to 1210). The Chronica stops in 1199, so for 1200 the witness is the briefer Gesta Regum, which notes John's peace with Philip, the coronation of Isabella at Westminster on 8 October 1200, and matters touching Canterbury: the archbishop Hubert Walter as chancellor, the cathedral priory's quarrel with him, and the Lambeth college dispute lately settled by the pope. Read online
- English Chronicle of Ralph of Coggeshall, Ralph of Coggeshall (about 1200 to 1224, in stages). Short but independent entries for 1200 from a Cistercian house in Essex: John's levy on the Cistercians and the carucage, the peace with Philip, the king's new marriage and the queen's coronation, and the death of Hugh of Lincoln. Read online
- Flowers of History, Roger of Wendover (about 1220 to 1235 at St Albans). For 1200 Wendover is mostly Howden rewritten, so he is a second witness only where he adds St Albans material: a long account of Hugh of Lincoln's last months, death and funeral, and anecdotes about John's conduct toward the Cistercians and his new queen. Read online
- Images of History, Ralph de Diceto (about 1188 to 1202). A London view of the year from the dean of St Paul's, who knew the justiciar and the bishops personally. Read online
22 more in the sources library for The British Isles.
Sources and studies
Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.