**DEFINITION:**
Roger Corbet (died 1395) was an English landowner and politician who served as a Member of Parliament for Shropshire during the late 14th century. He was a member of the prominent Corbet family, influential in the Welsh Marches.
—
# Roger Corbet (died 1395)
Roger Corbet (died 1395) was a notable English landowner and politician from Shropshire, active during the latter half of the 14th century. As a member of the influential Corbet family, he played a role in local governance and represented Shropshire in the Parliament of England. His life and career illustrate the responsibilities and challenges faced by the landed gentry in the Welsh Marches during the medieval period.
## Early Life and Family Background
Roger Corbet was born into the Corbet family, a prominent and longstanding noble lineage in Shropshire, a county bordering Wales. The Corbets had established themselves as significant landowners and political figures since the Norman Conquest, often serving as Marcher Lords tasked with defending the English borderlands against Welsh incursions.
Details about Roger Corbet’s early life, including his exact birth date and upbringing, are scarce. However, it is known that he inherited substantial estates in Shropshire, which provided the economic foundation for his political and social activities. The Corbet family’s holdings included manors and lands that were strategically important in the volatile border region.
## Political Career
### Parliamentary Service
Roger Corbet’s most notable public role was as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Shropshire. He served in the Parliament of England during the late 14th century, a period marked by political unrest and the ongoing Hundred Years’ War with France. His election to Parliament reflected both his status within the local gentry and the trust placed in him by his peers to represent their interests at the national level.
The exact dates of his parliamentary service are not comprehensively documented, but records indicate that he was active in the 1380s and early 1390s. During this time, Parliament dealt with issues such as taxation, military funding, and domestic law and order, all of which would have been of concern to a landowner in a border county.
### Local Governance and Responsibilities
Beyond his parliamentary duties, Roger Corbet held various local offices typical of a man of his standing. These likely included roles such as justice of the peace and sheriff, positions that involved maintaining law and order, overseeing the administration of justice, and managing the collection of royal revenues.
As a member of the Marcher gentry, Corbet would have been involved in the defense and administration of the border region. The Welsh Marches were known for their relative autonomy and frequent conflicts, requiring local lords to exercise military and judicial authority.
## Landholdings and Economic Influence
Roger Corbet’s wealth and influence derived primarily from his extensive landholdings in Shropshire. The Corbet estates included agricultural lands, villages, and manorial rights, which generated income through rents, agricultural production, and feudal dues.
The management of these estates was a significant aspect of Corbet’s responsibilities. Effective stewardship was essential not only for maintaining his family’s wealth but also for supporting his political role and fulfilling obligations to the Crown.
## Family and Legacy
Roger Corbet married and had children, ensuring the continuation of the Corbet lineage. His descendants continued to play important roles in Shropshire and the Welsh Marches, maintaining the family’s status as influential landowners and political figures.
The Corbet family’s legacy extended beyond Roger’s lifetime, with subsequent generations participating in English politics and local governance. Their enduring presence in the region contributed to the stability and development of the borderlands during a turbulent period in English history.
## Death and Historical Significance
Roger Corbet died in 1395. While not a nationally prominent figure, his life exemplifies the role of the medieval English gentry in local and national affairs. As a landowner, politician, and local official, Corbet’s activities reflect the interconnected nature of landholding, governance, and military responsibility in the late 14th century.
His service in Parliament and local offices illustrates the participation of regional elites in the evolving English political system. Moreover, his position in the Welsh Marches highlights the unique challenges faced by borderland nobility during a period of intermittent conflict and political change.
—
**META_DESCRIPTION:**
Roger Corbet (died 1395) was an English landowner and politician from Shropshire who served as a Member of Parliament in the late 14th century. He was a member of the influential Corbet family, known for their role in the Welsh Marches.