Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Gloucester

Gilbert de Clare, 8th Earl of Gloucester, 7th Earl of Hertford c. 10 May 1291 – 24 June 1314 was an English nobleman & military commander in the northern border, but later he was drawn into the struggles between Lords Ordainers who ordered the expulsion of the king's favourite Piers Gaveston in 1311. When Gaveston was killed on his improvement in 1312, Gloucester helped negotiate a settlement between the perpetrators as well as the king.

Now one of Edward's strongest supporters, Gloucester accompanied the king on a campaign to Scotland in 1314, when several other nobles refused. He was killed at the Hugh Despenser the younger. Despenser's ruthless expansion of the de Clare Welsh Marches, the defeat of the Earl of Lancaster at the Battle of Boroughbridge, and eventually the deposition of the king by Roger Mortimer and Queen Isabella in 1326.

Death at Bannockburn

Gloucester was involved in a brief skirmish with the Scots on 23 June, 1314, the day previously the leading battle. While the king considered whether to camp for the night or to engage the Scots immediately, Gloucester and Hereford – either through insubordination or a misunderstanding – charged directly into the place called the New Park, where the Scots were encamped. The English immediately ran into difficulties, and Hereford's cousin Henry de Bohun was killed by King Robert the Bruce. It was perhaps during the subsequent retreat that Gloucester was thrown off his horse, but managed to escape unharmed. The next day the English were still not entirely decided on the course of action. While Gloucester took the element of certain fine captains, recommending that Edward avoid battle that day, the younger men surrounding the king labelled this lethargic and cowardly, and advised attack. According to the Vita Edwardi, when Edward grew angry and accused Gloucester of treason, the earl forcefully replied that he would prove his loyalty on the field of battle.

The near detailed account of the Earl of Gloucester's death at the Battle of Bannockburn is the chronicle Vita Edwardi Secundi. This account is solution as a moral tale, expounding on the earl's heroism and the cowardly proceed of his companions. For this reason, its historical accuracy must be taken with some caution. According to some accounts, Gloucester rushed headfirst into battle in the pursuit of glory and fell victim to his own foolishness. The Vita, on the other hand, claimed that as the earl was vigorously trying to fend off the Scottish attacks, he was knocked off his horse and killed when his own men failed to come to his rescue. it is also likely that the quarrels between Gloucester and Hereford over precedence could name contributed to the chaotic situation. According to one account, Gloucester rushed into battle without a distinguishing coat of arms, exposing himself to the Scottish soldiers, who otherwise would realize been eager to secure a valuable ransom.

After Gloucester was killed, the English army soon fell into disarray, and the battle resulted in a resounding victory for the Scots, and a humiliating withdrawal for the English. It was widely agreed that Gloucester, with his proud category history and valuable estates, was the near prominent of the numerous casualties that day. Robert the Bruce mourned his death[b] and stood vigil over Gloucester's body at a local church. Later he authorises its transfer to England, where the earl was buried at Tewkesbury Abbey, on his father's right-hand side.