Margaret de Clare

     Margaret de Clare was born on 1 April 1287 at Bunratty, County Clare, Ireland.¹ She married Bartholomew de Badlesmere, son of Guncelin de Badlesmere and Joan ZitzBernard, before 30 June 1308.¹ Margaret de Clare died on 3 January 1333 at Aldgate, Greater London, England, at age 45.¹ She was buried at Badlesmere Church, Badlesmere, Kent, England.¹
     Lord Badlesmere was appointed castellan of the Royal Castle of Leeds in Kent, by Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster, Regent of King Edward II. In October 1321, the queen consort Isabella of France went on a pilgrimage to the shrine of St. Thomas at Canterbury. She decided to break her journey by stopping at Leeds Castle, which was given to her as part of her dowry Bartholomew was away at the time leaving Margaret in charge of the castle. Due to her dislike of Isabella as well as her own belligerent character, she refused the Queen admittance, and subsequently ordered her archers to fire upon Queen Isabella when she approached the outer barbican. When King Edward heard of the treatment to his consort by Margaret, he sent an expeditionary force to the castle. After a successful assault of the castle, with the King's troops using ballistas, the defenders surrendered, and Margaret was seized and sent to the Tower of London.
As a result of Margaret's arrest, Lord Badlesmere joined Lancaster's rebellion and fought in the Battle of Boroughbridge on 16 March 1322. He was arrested and afterward hanged for treason on 14 April 1322. Margaret remained imprisoned in the Tower until 3 November 1322. She was released from the Tower, due to the successful mediation, on her behalf, of her son-in-law William de Ros. She retired to the convent house of the Minorite Sisters, outside Aldgate.¹