Gervase of Tilbury (; 1150–1220) was an English canon lawyer, statesman and cleric. He enjoyed the favour of Henry II of England and later of Henry's grandson, Emperor Otto IV, for whom he wrote his best known work, the Otia Imperialia.
Life and works
Gervase was of the son of a knight of the Honor of Rayleigh. He was born around 1150 in West Tilbury, in Essex, a manor in the hands of Henry of Essex, although some say that he was brought up in Rome, this is highly improbable
Details of his latter years are uncertain. It has been suggested that, after the resounding defeat of Otto and his English ally John at the Battle of Bouvines (1214), Gervase was forced to retire to the duchy of Braunschweig, where he became provost of Ebstorf. He later died there. It is apparent that his work was known to the authors of the Ebstorf world map ( 1234–40). It is recorded by Ralph of Coggeshall that he became a canon in later life, and other evidence suggests that he may have been a member of the Premonstratensians of l'Huveaune.