baɪ wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn ɹˈɑːbɚt hæd ɪnhˈɛɹɪɾᵻd hɪz fˈɑːðɚz pəzˈɪʃən ʌv lˈɔːɹd ʌv ˈɑːksfɚd kˈæsəl ænd bˈæɹən hˈɑːknɔːɹtən ænd ɪt wʌz hiː ðæt dᵻklˈɛɹd hɪz səpˈoːɹt fɔːɹ ˈɛmpɹɛs mɐtˈɪldə ɐɡˈɛnst kˈɪŋ stˈiːvən, ɡˈɪvɪŋ hɜː pɹətˈɛkʃən ɪn ˈɑːksfɚd bᵻtwˌiːn wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi wˈʌn ænd ðə wˈɪntɚɹ ʌv wˈʌn θˈaʊzənd wˈʌnhˈʌndɹɪd fˈoːɹɾi tˈuː.
By 1141 Robert had inherited his father's position of Lord of Oxford Castle and Baron Hocknorton and it was he that declared his support for Empress Matilda against King Stephen, giving her protection in Oxford between 1141 and the winter of 1142.