Robert de Holland 1st Baron Holland

     Robert de Holland 1st Baron Holland was the son of Sir Robert de Holland and Elizabeth de Samlesbury.¹ Robert de Holland 1st Baron Holland married Maud la Rouche before 1309 at England.¹ Robert de Holland 1st Baron Holland died in October 1328; He was killed in a wood near Henley-on-Thames. Holland had been beheaded, and his head sent to the Earl of Lancaster at Waltham Cross and his body to Preston, Lancashire.¹
     Holland was a member of the noble Holland family and a favourite official of Thomas, 2nd Earl of Lancaster and was knighted by 1305. He was appointed on 20 December 1307 in a matter concerning the Knight Templars, shortly before Edward II ordered their arrest and trials in January 1308. In October 1313 Holland was pardoned for his role in the death of Piers Gaveston. From 1314 to 1321 he was called to Parliament as a baron and was appointed as secretary to the Earl of Lancaster.

On 4 March 1322 Holland was ordered to join the king with horses and men to defend against Lancaster's rebellion. Twelve days later Holland betrayed the king and fought alongside Lancaster at the Battle of Boroughbridge.

After their defeat, Holland surrendered and was imprisoned and had his lands confiscated. He was released from prison but was accused of having joined with other rebels in raids on the estates of Hugh le Despenser, 1st Earl of Winchester over the next few years. Holland was again imprisoned in Warwick Castle before being moved in 1326 to Northampton Castle from which he escaped.¹