The case of Maud Clifford

The (alleged) rape of Maud Clifford.

Maud was the daughter of Margaret Clifford, herself the daughter of Llywelyn ab Iorwerth. She lived most of her life in or near Wales, and tried (without success) to arrange a Christian burial for Llywelyn ap Gruffudd. Her father was Walter Clifford of Llandovery, who allied with his father-in-law and Richard de Clare against Henry III. Famously, Walter is said to have forced one of Henry’s envoys to eat his letters, wax seal and all.

Henry III

Maud was married to William Longespée and widowed young when her husband died in 1257, from injuries received in a tournament. As her father’s sole heir, Maud received the whole of the Clifford inheritance. She was now extremely rich and thus a desirable commodity.

In September 1270 Maud was forcibly abducted from her manor of Canford in Dorset by John Giffard of Brimpsfield. On 5 October King Henry ordered Giffard to respond to the charge of abduction, and also informed Maud she could also appear in court if she wished. Henry’s outrage at the incident is a bit rich: he had himself connived in the abduction of Joan of Bayeux and Margaret of Bromfield, Llywelyn ap Gruffudd’s sister.

Giffard repeatedly ignored the summons and held Maud in custody until she agreed to marry him. When Henry sent two of his officers to check on her condition, it was reported she was ‘too infirm’ to make the journey to appear before the king. Two more officials were sent in March 1271, to discover her wishes concerning the marriage. There was no longer any talk of punishing Giffard: he had successfully defied the king whilst abusing the woman in his power. Henry had threatened Giffard in the strongest possible terms, but in the end did nothing.

The question of Maud’s rape depends on interpretation. Henry used the terms ‘rapuistis’ and ‘rapuerat’ on the two occasions he wrote to her. The word ‘rapta’ or ‘raptus’ could mean seizure/abduction as well as rape, and it is often difficult to tell if the offence involved a sexual element. However, Maud’s eldest daughter by Giffard, Katherine, was born in 1272. She was not married until some time after March 1271, and it is entirely possible that Giffard raped Maud to get her pregnant and secure the marriage. The sinister references to her infirmity may (or may not) support this.