Richard de Clare—called, like his father, Strongbow—is the son of Gilbert de Clare, first Earl of Pembroke, and Isabel de Beaumont.
Richard's father died in about 1148, when he was about eighteen years old, and Richard had inherited the title Earl of Pembroke.
It is probable that this title was not recognized in 1154 at Henry II's coronation.
As the son of the first Earl, he had succeeded to his father's estates in 1148, but had been deprived of the title by King Henry II of England in 1154 for siding with King Stephen of England against Henry’s mother, the Empress Matilda.
Richard is called by his contemporaries Earl Striguil, for his marcher lordship of Striguil where he has a fortress at a place now called Chepstow, in Monmouthshire on the River Wye.
He sees an opportunity to reverse his bad fortune in 1168 when he meets Diarmait Mac Murchada, the deposed King of Leinster.
