Robert of Thornham

Robert de Turnham or Robert of Thornham (d.1214), Robert was an English knight and native of Kent, he and his older brother, Stephen de Turnham were of Touraingaux extraction. Both Robert and his brother served as household knights of Richard I and John of England.

Robert served King Richard during the Third Crusade. He commanded half of the galley fleet during the Conquest of Cyprus in 1191. Robert, along with Richard de Camville were appointed co-justiciars of the island after its successful capture by King Richard and Guy de Lusignan. Robert held the island until its transfer to the Templars in 1192, also in that year he had put down a civil revolt against the Cypriots.

Robert was appointed Seneschal of Anjou in 1196, a post he held until 1199. In 1197, Robert married the rich Yorkshire heiress, Joanne Fossard. He became the lord of Mulgres (the castle, honor and lordship of Mulgrave) "jure uxoris", presumably as a reward for his service to the Angevins.

After Richard's death at Chalus in 1199, it was Robert who permitted John access to the great treasury of Chinon. Incidentally, Robert's nephew Thomas de Furnes was responsible for admitting John's opponent, Arthur of Brittany into Angers. Robert was relieved of his seneschalship by John for Amauri VII of Thouars. Later, Robert would serve for a time as John's Seneschal of Poitou.

References

*Sidney Painter "The Reign of King John"
*John Gillingham "Richard I"