Person Page - 98

     William II de Braose , 10th Lord of Abergavenny was born in 1112 at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, Wales. He was the son of Philip Baron de Braose , Sir and Aenor de Totnes , Heiress of Barnstaple. William II de Braose , 10th Lord of Abergavenny married Bertha de Gloucester , Heiress of Brecon, daughter of Miles of Gloucester , 1st Earl of Hereford and Sybil de Neufmarche, circa 1150.² William II de Braose , 10th Lord of Abergavenny died before 1193 at Weobley, Herefordshire, England.^2,4
     He From c1173 to 1230 successive fathers, sons, and younger brothers calledde Briouze were feudal lords of Abergavenny. William de Briouze, thefirst of them, who derived his name from his lordship of Briouze inNormandy, married the sister and coheir of the 2nd Earl of Hereford (alsodaughter of 1st Earl) mentioned above, which seems to account for hiscoming into possession of a lordship in that part of the Welsh marches.[Burke's Peerage]

-------------------------------

OWNERS of the LORDSHIP of ABERGAVENNY (X) 1173?

William de Briouze (e), Lord of Briouze in Normandy, and of Bramber,Sussex, son and heir of Philip de Briouze, be Aenor, daughter and heir ofJuhel son of Alvred, Lord of Barnstaple and Totnes. He married, in orbefore 1150, Bertha, 2nd sister and coheir of William of Hereford beingdaughter of Miles of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Gloucester (sic. Earl ofHereford). Sheriff of Hereford, Easter 1173-75, at which earlier dateprobably he already possessed the Lordship of Over Gwent. He was livingin 1179. [Complete Peerage I:21-2, XIV:6, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

(e) Briouze-Saint-Gervais (formerly Braiose), arrond. of Argentan, dept.of Orne. His descendants spelt the name Brewes. In some 25 earlyreferences to this name, not in charter latin, it appears as Breouse,Breuse, or Brewys (the last of which still exists as a surname), butnever as Braose, the form adopted in peerages, for which it seemsdoubtful if there be any good authority.

Note: The above text '1st Earl of Gloucester', which was part of acorrection in CP XIV:6, is a mistake; Miles was Earl of Hereford.

-------------------------------

William was very fortunate in his marriage to Berta. All of her brothersdied young without heirs, so she brought a number of important lordshipsto the de Braoses in 1166. These included Brecon and Abergavenny.William became Sheriff of Hereford in 1174. His interest in Sussex wasmaintained as he confirmed the grants of his father and grandfather forthe maintenance of Sele Priory and extended St Mary's, Shoreham.

See St Mary's, Shoreham, Sussex.

William m. Berta, dau. of Milo de Gloucester, Earl of Hereford, andco-heir of her brother, William, Earl of Hereford, by whom he acquiredBrecknock, with other extensive territorial possessions. He had two sons,William and Reginald, and was s. by the elder. [Sir Bernard Burke,Dormant, Abeyant, Forfeited and Extinct Peerages, Burke's Peerage, Ltd.,London, 1883, p. 72, Braose, Baron Braose, of Gower]

     Bertha de Gloucester , Heiress of Brecon was born circa 1130 at Brecon (Aberhonddu), Powys, Wales. She was the daughter of Miles of Gloucester , 1st Earl of Hereford and Sybil de Neufmarche. Bertha de Gloucester , Heiress of Brecon married William II de Braose , 10th Lord of Abergavenny, son of Philip Baron de Braose , Sir and Aenor de Totnes , Heiress of Barnstaple, circa 1150.²
     Bertha de Gloucester , Heiress of Brecon He [William de Briouze] married, in or before 1150, Bertha, 2nd sisterand coheir of William of Hereford being daughter of Miles of Gloucester,1st Earl of Gloucester. Sheriff of Hereford, Easter 1173-75, at whichearlier date probably he already possessed the Lordship of Over Gwent. Hewas living in 1179. [Complete Peerage I:21-2, XIV:6, (transcribed by DaveUtzinger)]

Note: The above text '1st Earl of Gloucester', which was part of acorrection in CP XIV:6, is a mistake; Miles was Earl of Hereford.

     Robert II (Hugo) Count of Meulan was born circa 966 at Meulan, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France. He was the son of Waleran II (Robert) Count of Meulan. Robert II (Hugo) Count of Meulan died in 991.¹
     He The following was given in a post-em by Curt Hofemann, curt_hofemann ATyahoo.com:

ID: I00298 Robert II Count of Meulan

ES III:701A shows 'Hugo I & dau Gautier II Cte de Valois'.

died: kurz nach 25.VIII 1005 [Ref: ES III:657 & 701A] (shortly before 25Aug 1005)

ES lists his father's name as Galeran, but I've also seen Waleran. AlsoI've seen Count of Meulan or Meullant.

So is it Hugo or Robert? ES is usually more reliable than Turton, but ESis not without it's faults too.

Regards,
Curt.

     Adela (Alix) de Vexin was born circa 970 at Vexin, Seine Inferieure, Normandy, France. She was the daughter of Walter II Count of Vexin & Amiens & Valois and Adele de Senlis.

     Robert de Brus , of Normandy died Deceased at Bruis Castle, Brix, Manche, Normandy, France. He married an unknown person. He was born circa 1030 at Orkney, Orkney Islands, Scotland.² He was the son of Ragnvald II Brusisson , Jarl of Orkney and Arlogia of Orkney.
     Robert de Brus , of Normandy The following information was posted by Curt Hofemann, curt_hofemann ATyahoo.com, in a post-em (Although he doesn't say it in this post-em, Curtdoesn't like it when I follow various unscourced pedigrees such asRobert's descent from Ragnvald II Brusisson, Jarl of Orkney. This onemakes some sense because of the names.):

from Bruis in Normandy, came to England with or shortly after William I[Ref: Paget p155]

Bruce family: also spelled BRUIS, BRIX, or BROASE, an old Scottishfamily of Norman French descent, to which two kings of Scotland belonged.The name is traditionally derived from Bruis or Brix, the site of aformer Norman castle between Cherbourg and Valognes in France.

The family is descended from Robert de Bruce (d. 1094?), a Normanknight who came to England with William I the Conqueror and who wasawarded by the gift of many manors, chiefly in Yorkshire, of whichSkelton was the principal. [Ref: Ency Britannica Online]

Regards,
Curt.

     Gunnora (?) was born circa 1030 at France. She died before 1050.

     Roger de Beaumont , Seigneur de Pont-Audemer was buried at Abbey of Preaux, Normandy, France. He was born circa 1022 at Beaumont-le-Roger, Eure, Normandy, France.⁴ He was the son of Humphrey de PontAudemer , Seigneur de Vieilles and Aubreye de la Haye , Heir of Forest of Brotonne. Roger de Beaumont , Seigneur de Pont-Audemer married Adeline de Meulan, daughter of Waleran III Count of Meulan and Ode (Oda) de Conteville, in 1040 at Ile-de-France, France. Roger de Beaumont , Seigneur de Pont-Audemer died circa 1094 at Abbey of Preaux, Normandy, France; (as a monk.)¹
     He Roger de Beaumont; Seigneur (feudal Lord) of Beaumont, Pontaudemer,Brionne and Vatteville, Normandy; married Adeline, sister of Hugh Countof Meulan and daughter by his 1st wife of Waleran Count of Meulan.[Burke's Peerage]

---------------------------------------

The well-known Roger de Beaumont held Sturminster Marshal, Dorset, in1086; it descended to the counts of Meulan through Roger's eldest son,Robert count of Meulan. That Roger took his name from Beaumont is a partof the general history of Normandy. It follows that Roger's descendants,the counts of Meulan, the Earls of Leicester, and the Earls of Warwick,all derive from Beaumont-le-Roger. [The Origins of Some Anglo-NormanFamilies]

---------------------------------------

ROGER DE BEAUMONT (de Bello Monte), SEIGNEUR of BEAUMONT ANDPONT-AUDEMER, was eldest son of Humphrey. He appears to have remainedfaithful to the young Duke William during the disturbances of the earlierpart of his reign, in the course of which he defeated and slew Roger deTosny. He is said to have furnished 60 ships for the invasion of England.He did not accompany the expedition, but remained in Normandy as theprincipal adviser of the Duchess Maud, to whom the government of theduchy was entrusted. In 1071 the King committed Morcar as a prisoner tohis custody. Up to the year 1082 he constantly appears as a witness tothe charters of William the Conqueror. At the -time of the DomesdaySurvey, 1086, he held land in Dorset and co. Gloucester. About 1088 hefounded the collegiate church of the Holy Trinity at Beaumont-le-Rogerfor canons of St. Frideswide of Oxford. He was a benefactor of St.Pierre-de-Préaux and of St. Wandrille.

He married Adeline, sister of Hugh and daughter of Waleran, COUNTS OFMEULAN. Shortly after 1090 Roger became a monk at the Abbey of Préaux. Hedied some years later, and was buried there with his father. [CompletePeerage VII:522-3, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

     Adeline de Meulan was born circa 1022 at Meulan, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France. She was the daughter of Waleran III Count of Meulan and Ode (Oda) de Conteville. Adeline de Meulan married Roger de Beaumont , Seigneur de Pont-Audemer, son of Humphrey de PontAudemer , Seigneur de Vieilles and Aubreye de la Haye , Heir of Forest of Brotonne, in 1040 at Ile-de-France, France. Adeline de Meulan died in 1081 at Sturminster Marshal, Dorset, England.
     She He [Roger de Beaumont] married Adeline, sister of Hugh and daughter ofWaleran, COUNTS OF MEULAN. Shortly after 1090 Roger became a monk at theAbbey of Préaux. He died some years later, and was buried there with hisfather. [Complete Peerage VII:522-3, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

     Humphrey de PontAudemer , Seigneur de Vieilles was buried at Abbey of Preaux, Normandy, France. He was born circa 980 at Pont Audemer, Eure, Normandy, France.⁴ He was the son of Turulf (Thorold) Seigneur de Pont Audemer and Duvelina (EvaDulceline) 'not' de Crepon. Humphrey de PontAudemer , Seigneur de Vieilles married Aubreye de la Haye , Heir of Forest of Brotonne circa 1005.⁴ Humphrey de PontAudemer , Seigneur de Vieilles died on 28 September 1044 at Vieilles Landes, Seine-Inferieure, Normandy, France.⁴
     He HUMPHREY DE VIEILLES (de Vetulis), SEIGNEUR OF VIEILLES AND PONT-AUDEMERin Normandy, son of Thorold, SEIGNEUR OF PONT-AUDEMER (c), was one of thefollowers of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and in ducal charters he occursas a witness among the great lords of Normandy and the adjacent lands. Hefounded at Préaux, near Pont-Audemer, two monasteries: St. Pierre formonks before 1035, and St. Leger for nuns about 1040. He married Aubreye.He is said to have become a monk at St. Pierre-de-Préaux, and, dyingshortly afterwards, was buried there. [Complete Peerage VII:521-2,(transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

(c) According to the Continuator of William of Jumieges, Thorold was theson of a certain Torf, and he married either 'Wewa' or 'Awelina', sistersof Gunnor, wife of Duke Richard I.

     Aubreye de la Haye , Heir of Forest of Brotonne was born circa 984 at Forest of Brotonne, Seine-Inferieure, Normandy, France.³ She married Humphrey de PontAudemer , Seigneur de Vieilles, son of Turulf (Thorold) Seigneur de Pont Audemer and Duvelina (EvaDulceline) 'not' de Crepon, circa 1005.³ Aubreye de la Haye , Heir of Forest of Brotonne died on 20 September 1045.³
     She The Forest of Brotonne 'located in the last loop of the Seine', is southof the Seine in Normandy, which is mostly the Department of Eure, but theDepartment of Seine-Maritime (anciently named Seine-Inferieure) crossesthe Seine to include this land south of the loop.

     Miles of Gloucester , 1st Earl of Hereford was buried at Llanthony without Gloucester Priory, Gloucestershire, England. He was born in 1092 at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. He was the son of Walter FitzRoger , Sheriff of Gloucester and Emma de Ballon. Miles of Gloucester , 1st Earl of Hereford married Sybil de Neufmarche, daughter of Bernard de Neufmarche , Lord of Brecon and Nesta verch Osborn, between April 1121 and May 1121.^2,4,3 Miles of Gloucester , 1st Earl of Hereford died on 24 December 1143 at Shot while hunting in Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England.^2,4,3
     He In 1141, during the struggle between the Empress Maud and Stephen I forthe throne the former conferred the Earldom of Hereford on Miles ofGloucester, so-called from his father being hereditary Constable of theshire. Only two years earlier the new Earl had supported Stephen, but ithas been suggested that he went over to the Empress's in part because hisoverlord, the Earl of Gloucester, was one of Henry I's many bastard sons,hence Maud's half brother. (Her generous gifts to Miles of land, houses,and castles, in addition to the Earldom, may have helped win him over.)[Burke's Peerage]

----------------------

William II 'Rufus' King of England granted the lordship of 'Over Gwent'which included a castle at the mouth of the Genny where it joins the Usk,probably some time after 1088 to one Hamelin de Ballon, so called fromhis having been born at Ballon, in Maine. Subsequent holders of OverGwent or Abergavenny included the 1st and 2nd Earls of Hereford of the1141 creation and the 2nd Earl's four younger brothers, for all of whom ashadowy family connection with Hamelin de Ballon has been claimed, thoughthis is very hard, if not impossible, to sustain. [Burke's Peerage (page12) on the history of Abergavenny:]

----------------------

OWNERS of the LORDSHIP of ABERGAVENNY (III) 1141-2

Miles of Gloucester, hereditary sheriff thereof, and the King'sConstable, son and heir of Walter fitz Roger de Pitres, who held theformer office. He was created Earl of Hereford, 25 Jul 1141. He m.1121, Sibyl, daughter and heir of Bernard de Neufmarche, Lord of Brecon,and d. 24 Dec 1143. [Complete Peerage I:20]

---------------------

EARLDOM OF HEREFORD (III, 1) 1141

MILES of GLOUCESTER, son and heir (apparently only son) of WALTER OFGLOUCESTER, hereditary Sheriff of Gloucester and probably constable,received from Henry I in 1121 Sibyl, daughter of Bernard DE NEUFMARCHÉ,in marriage, with all the lands of her father and mother after theirdeath or before if they so willed it, whence came the lordship ofBrecknock. By charter dated at Rouen he was confirmed in all his father'slands held in chief with the office of constable. He accounted forGloucestershire and Staffordshire in 1130-1. At the coming of Stephen hewas one of the great magnates of the West of England, and after joininghim received 2 charters, granting to him and his heirs his whole bonourof Gloucester and of Brecknock and all his lands and holdings inshrievalties and other things as he held them at the death of Henry I thesecond, which is more precise, mentions the constableship of GloucesterCastle. He attended the Easter Court of 1136 and witnessed Stephen'sCharter of Liberties, as constable. He was present at the siege ofShrewsbury in 1138, but joined the Empress on her arrival in I I 39,recciving her at Bristol 'ut dominam,' and taking her to Gloucester,where he did homage and received from her the castle of St. Briavell'sand the whole Forest of Dean. He accompanied her to Winchester, toReading, where he acted as her constable, and to London in 1141. At St.Albans, where she received a deputation from London, she had granted tohim a house in Westminster which had belonged to Gregory, dapifer. Heaccompanied her in her flight to Gloucester, and was with hersubsequently at Oxford, where on 25 July 1141 she created him EARL OFHEREFORD. After this creation at the request of Brien FitzCount and ofMaud de Wallingford, his wife, she granted to him and his heirs thecastle of Abergavenny and all the honour thereof to be held of the saidBrien and Maud and their heirs in fee by the service of 3 knights' fees.

He married, as aforesaid, about April or May 1121, Sibyl, daughter ofBernard DE NEUFMARCHE, lord of Brecknock. He died 24 December 1143, andwas buried in the chapter house of Llanthony Priory outside Gloucester,which he had founded. His widow, who is stated to have entered intoreligion after his death, was also buried at Llanthony. [CompletePeerage VI:452-4, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

     Sybil de Neufmarche was buried at Llanthony without Gloucester Priory, Gloucestershire, England. She was born before 1093 at Aberhonwy, Breconshire, Wales. She was the daughter of Bernard de Neufmarche , Lord of Brecon and Nesta verch Osborn. Sybil de Neufmarche married Miles of Gloucester , 1st Earl of Hereford, son of Walter FitzRoger , Sheriff of Gloucester and Emma de Ballon, between April 1121 and May 1121.^1,2,3 Sybil de Neufmarche died after 1143; (as a nun.)³
     She He [Miles of Gloucester] married, as aforesaid, about April or May 1121,Sibyl, daughter of Bernard DE NEUFMARCHE, lord of Brecknock. He died 24December 1143, and was buried in the chapter house of Llanthony Prioryoutside Gloucester, which he had founded. His widow, who is stated tohave entered into religion after his death, was also buried atLlanthony. [Complete Peerage VI:452-4, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

     Walter FitzRoger , Sheriff of Gloucester was born circa 1070 at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. He was the son of Roger de Pitres and Eunice de Baalun. Walter FitzRoger , Sheriff of Gloucester married an unknown person in 1087. He married Emma de Ballon, daughter of Dru de Ballon, in 1091. Walter FitzRoger , Sheriff of Gloucester died in 1129.

     Emma de Ballon was born circa 1070 at Ballon, Mayenne, Maine/Pays-de-la-Loire, France. She was the daughter of Dru de Ballon. Emma de Ballon married Walter FitzRoger , Sheriff of Gloucester, son of Roger de Pitres and Eunice de Baalun, in 1091.

     Roger de Pitres was born in 1047 at Bal de Pitres, France. He was the son of Robert de Brus , of Normandy and Gunnora (?) Roger de Pitres died in 1089 at Gloucestershire, England.

     Eunice de Baalun was born in 1050 at Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. She was the daughter of Drew de Baalun , of Gloucester.

     Isabel (Elizabeth) de Vermandois was born circa 1081 at Valois now Oise, Picardy, France. She was the daughter of Hugh de Crepi Magnus , Duke of Burgundy and Adelaide de Vermandois. Isabel (Elizabeth) de Vermandois married Robert I de Beaumont , 1st Earl of Leicester, son of Roger de Beaumont , Seigneur de Pont-Audemer and Adeline de Meulan, in 1096.^2,5 Isabel (Elizabeth) de Vermandois married an unknown person circa 1118.^2,6 She died between 13 February 1130 and 1131 at Priory of Lewes, Sussex, England.²
     She Isabel (or Elizabeth), widow of Robert (DE BEAUMONT), COUNT OF MEULAN and1st EARL OF LEICESTER (died 5 June 1118), daughter of Hugh DE CRÉPI(styled 'the Great'), COUNT OF VERMANDOIS (younger son of HENRY I, KINGOF FRANCE), by Adelaide, daughter and heir of Herbert, COUNT OFVERMANDOIS and VALOIS. Isabel survived him and with the consent of herson the 3rd Earl gave the church of Dorking to Lewes priory. She diedprobably before July 1147. [Complete Peerage XII/1:495-6, (transcribedby Dave Utzinger)]

Note: According to Ancestral Roots, Isabel preceeded William in death in13 Feb 1130/31--not July 1147.

     Hugh de Crepi Magnus , Duke of Burgundy was buried at Cathedral of St. Paul de Tarse, Turkey. He was born in 1057 at Reims, Marne, Champagne, France.³ He was the son of Henry I King of France and Anna (Agnesa) Yaroslavna of Kiev. Hugh de Crepi Magnus , Duke of Burgundy married Adelaide de Vermandois, daughter of Herbert IV Count of Vermandois and Adela de Vexin, in 1067.⁴ Hugh de Crepi Magnus , Duke of Burgundy died on 18 October 1101 at Tarsus, Cilicie (from wounds at Battle of Heraclea).^1,5
     He Hugh DE CRÉPI (styled 'the Great'), COUNT OF VERMANDOIS (younger son ofHENRY I, KING OF FRANCE), m. Adelaide, daughter and heir of Herbert,COUNT OF VERMANDOIS and VALOIS. [Complete Peerage]

-----------------

Marquis Orleans, Count Amiens, Paris, Valois, & Vermandois

-----------------

Leo van de Pas' data base has Hugh d. 1102, but Chris Phillips seems tohave the better source, which he gives below in response to a requestfrom Leo, on SGM, 22 Jan 2004:

From: Chris Phillips (cgp AT medievalgenealogy.org.uk)
Subject: Re: When DID he die?
Newsgroups: soc.genealogy.medieval
Date: 2004-01-22 00:38:39 PST

Runciman on that page, in a chapter on 'The Crusades of 1101', describesthe Battle of Heraclea, early September 1101, and says this of Hugh:'Hugh of Vermandois was badly wounded in the battle; but some of his menrescued him and he too reached Tarsus. But he was a dying man. His deathtook place on 18 October and they buried him there in the Cathedral of StPaul. He never fulfilled his vow to go to Jerusalem.'

Runciman's sources for this section are 'Albert of Aix, VIII, 34-40, pp.579-82 (the only full source); Ekkehard, XXIV-XXVI, pp. 30-2'. If you'dlike to follow this to source, both these are available on the gallicawebsite, in the 'Recueil des historiens des croisades series' - put thesenumbers into the 'Recherche libre' field on the search page: N051574 forAlbert; N051575 for Ekkehard.

Chris Phillips

------------------

The following post from Nathaniel Taylor, 22 Jan 2004, gives the storybehind the battle which caused Hugh's death:

Well, it was I who first first posted the death date & circumstances onHugh of Vermandois when I started this whole messy thread. But the 1101date is clearly correct, because Hugh died of wounds after the battle inwhich a Crusader force was annihilated at Heraklea (Asia Minor) in lateSeptember of 1101. There is no mistaking the year, in the chronology ofthe first Crusade's aftermath. Runciman (2:28-29) does not provide aprecise date for that battle, but it was one of three major failures ofWestern forces the Summer and Fall of 1101. See generally his _Historyof the Crusades_, vol. 2, chapter 2, 'The Crusades of 1101.' On thebattle at Heraklea, he says:

'Early in September they [see below] entered Heraclea, which they founddeserted as Konya had been. Just beyond the town flowed the river, oneof the few Anatolian streams to flow abundantly throughout the summer.The Christian warriors, half-mad from thirst, broke their ranks to rushto the welcoming water. But the Turkish army lay concealed in thethickets on the river banks. As the crusaders surged on in disorder, theTurks sprang out on them and surrounded them. There was no time toreform ranks. Panic spread through the Christian army. Horsemen andinfantry were mixed in a dreadful stampede; and as they stumbled in theirattempt to flee they were slaughtered by the enemy. The duke ofAquitaine, followed by one of his grooms, cut his way out and rode intothe mountains. After many days of wandering through the passes he foundhis way to Tarsus. Hugh of Vermandois was badly wounded in the battle;but some of his men rescued him and he too reached Tarsus. But he was adying man. His death took place on 18 October and they buried him therein the Cathedral of St Paul. He never fulfilled his vow to go toJerusalem. Welf of Bavaria only escaped by throwing away all his armer.After several weeks he arrived with two or three attendants at Antioch.Archbishop Thiemo [of Salzburg] was taken prisoner and martyred for hisfaith. The fate of the Margravine of Austria is unknown. Later legendssaid that she ended her days ia captive in a far-off harem, where shegave birth to the Moslem hero Zengi. More probably she was thrown fromher litter in the panic and trampled to death.'

Runciman cites Albert of Aachen, 8.34-40 (pp. 579-82 in the edition hecites); and Ekkehard, 24-26 (pp. 30-32), among other material on thelegend of the the Margravine of Austria, etc.

Nat Taylor.

     Adelaide de Vermandois was born circa 1057 at Valois now Oise, Picardy, France. She was the daughter of Herbert IV Count of Vermandois and Adela de Vexin. Adelaide de Vermandois married Hugh de Crepi Magnus , Duke of Burgundy, son of Henry I King of France and Anna (Agnesa) Yaroslavna of Kiev, in 1067.³ Adelaide de Vermandois married an unknown person in 1103.^1,3 She died on 28 September 1120 at Vermandois, Aisne, Picardy, France.^1,3
     She Adelaide, daughter and heir of Herbert, COUNT OF VERMANDOIS and VALOIS.[Complete Peerage]

     Herbert IV Count of Vermandois was born circa 1032 at Vermandois, Aisne, Picardy, France.¹ He was the son of Otho Count of Vermandois and Parvie (?) Herbert IV Count of Vermandois died in 1080.¹

     Adela de Vexin was born circa 1041 at Valois now Oise, Picardy, France. She was the daughter of Raoul III 'The Great' Count of Valois & Vexin and Aelis (Adele) Comtesse de Bar-sur-Aube. Adela de Vexin died in 1080.

     Bernard de Neufmarche , Lord of Brecon was born circa 1050 at Neufmarche, Seine-Inferiere, Normandy, France. He was the son of Geoffrey Sire de Neufmarche and Ada de Hugleville. Bernard de Neufmarche , Lord of Brecon died in 1093 at Aberhonwy, Breconshire, Wales.¹

     Nesta verch Osborn was born circa 1077 at Richard's Castle, Ludlow (Shrops), Herefordshire, England. She was the daughter of Osbern FitzRichard , of Richard's Castle and Nesta verch Gruffudd.

     Osbern FitzRichard , of Richard's Castle was born in 1055 at Arwystle, Herefordshire, England. He was the son of Richard FitzScrob , of Richard's Castle and Miss de Essex. Osbern FitzRichard , of Richard's Castle married Nesta verch Gruffudd, daughter of Gruffudd ap Llewelyn , Prince of Wales and Edith (Aldgyth) of Mercia, before 1076. Osbern FitzRichard , of Richard's Castle died after 1100 at Richard's Castle, Ludlow (Shrops), Herefordshire, England.^1,2
     He Sheriff of Hereford 1060 [Ancestral Roots]

------------------

OSBERN FITZRICHARD, son of the above, was a Domesday tenant, and livedtill the time of Henry I, when he made a grant of land to WorcesterPriory, which was confirmed and added to by his son Hugh. He probablymarried Nest, daughter of Gruffyd ap Llewellyn, King of Wales. [CompletePeerage IX:257, XIV:488, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

     Nesta verch Gruffudd was born circa 1057 at Rhuddlan, Flintshire, Wales.¹ She was the daughter of Gruffudd ap Llewelyn , Prince of Wales and Edith (Aldgyth) of Mercia. Nesta verch Gruffudd married an unknown person before 1070; Very Doubtful Marriage.¹ She married Osbern FitzRichard , of Richard's Castle, son of Richard FitzScrob , of Richard's Castle and Miss de Essex, before 1076. Nesta verch Gruffudd died in 1153.

     Waleran III Count of Meulan was born circa 990 at Meulan, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France. He was the son of Robert II (Hugo) Count of Meulan and Adela (Alix) de Vexin. Waleran III Count of Meulan married Ode (Oda) de Conteville, daughter of Jean de Conteville , Vicomte de Comyn, before 1015.^4,5 Waleran III Count of Meulan married an unknown person after 1022.⁵ He died on 8 October 1069.³

     Ode (Oda) de Conteville was born circa 990 at Conteville, Eure, Normandy, France. She was the daughter of Jean de Conteville , Vicomte de Comyn. Ode (Oda) de Conteville married Waleran III Count of Meulan, son of Robert II (Hugo) Count of Meulan and Adela (Alix) de Vexin, before 1015.^3,2 Ode (Oda) de Conteville died after 1022.

     Regnier IV Count of Hainault was born circa 950 at Hainault, Belgium.¹ He married Hedwig (Edith) Princess of France, daughter of Hugh Capet King of France and Adelaide of Poitou, circa 997.³ Regnier IV Count of Hainault died in 1013.^1,2
     He On page 13, Turton places a '1' by the marriage to Edith, indicating his1st marriage, and implying another marriage to a 2nd wife. I have seenno other indication by Turton or anyone else that there was a 2ndmarriage; therefore I am ignoring it until such time as a 2nd marriageappears.

     Hedwig (Edith) Princess of France was born circa 965 at France. She was the daughter of Hugh Capet King of France and Adelaide of Poitou. Hedwig (Edith) Princess of France married Regnier IV Count of Hainault circa 997.² Hedwig (Edith) Princess of France died circa 1013.¹

     William I 'The Conqueror' King of England was buried at Abbey of St Step, Caen, Calvados, France. He was born on 14 October 1027 at Falaise, Calvados, Normandy, France.^3,5 He was the son of Robert I 'The Magnificent' Duke of Normandy and Herleve (Arlette) de Falaise. William I 'The Conqueror' King of England married an unknown person circa 1048; Possible Affair Producing William 'Elder' Peverel.⁶ He married Maud (Matilda) of Flanders, daughter of Baudouin V Count of Flanders and Adele (AdelaAelisAlais) Princess of France, circa 1053 at Eu, Seine-Inferieure, France. William I 'The Conqueror' King of England died on 9 September 1087 at Hermenbraville, Seine-Inferieure, Normandy, France, at age 59.³
     He William I, byname WILLIAM The CONQUEROR, or The BASTARD, or WILLIAM ofNORMANDY, French GUILLAUME le CONQUÉRANT, or le BÂTARD, or GUILLAUME deNORMANDIE (b. c. 1028, Falaise, Normandy--d. Sept. 9, 1087, Rouen), dukeof Normandy (as William II) from 1035 and king of England from 1066, oneof the greatest soldiers and rulers of the Middle Ages. He made himselfthe mightiest feudal lord in France and then changed the course ofEngland's history by his conquest of that country.

Early years

William was the elder of two children of Robert I of Normandy and hisconcubine Herleva, or Arlette, the daughter of a burgher from the town ofFalaise. In 1035 Robert died when returning from a pilgrimage toJerusalem, and William, his only son, whom he had nominated as his heirbefore his departure, was accepted as duke by the Norman magnates and hisfeudal overlord, King Henry I of France. William and his friends had toovercome enormous obstacles. His illegitimacy (he was generally known asthe Bastard) was a handicap, and he had to survive the collapse of lawand order that accompanied his accession as a child.

Three of William's guardians died violent deaths before he grew up, andhis tutor was murdered. His father's kin were of little help; most ofthem thought that they stood to gain by the boy's death. But his mothermanaged to protect William through the most dangerous period. These earlydifficulties probably contributed to his strength of purpose and hisdislike of lawlessness and misrule.

Ruler of Normandy.

By 1042, when William reached his 15th year, was knighted, and began toplay a personal part in the affairs of his duchy, the worst was over. Buthis attempts to recover rights lost during the anarchy and to bringdisobedient vassals and servants to heel inevitably led to trouble. From1046 until 1055 he dealt with a series of baronial rebellions, mostly ledby kinsmen. Occasionally he was in great danger and had to rely on Henryof France for help. In 1047 Henry and William defeated a coalition ofNorman rebels at Val-ès-Dunes, southeast of Caen. It was in these yearsthat William learned to fight and rule.

William soon learned to control his youthful recklessness. He was alwaysready to take calculated risks on campaign and, most important, to fighta battle. But he was not a chivalrous or flamboyant commander. His planswere simple, his methods direct, and he exploited ruthlessly anyadvantage gained. If he found himself at a disadvantage, he withdrewimmediately. He showed the same
qualities in his government. He never lost sight of his aim to recoverlost ducal rights and revenues, and, although he developed no theory ofgovernment or great interest in administrative techniques, he was alwaysprepared to improvise and experiment. He seems to have lived a moral lifeby the standards of the time, and he acquired an interest in the welfareof the Norman church. He made his half brother, Odo, bishop of Bayeux in1049 at the age of about 16, and Odo managed to combine the roles ofnobleman and prelate in a way that did not greatly shock contemporaries.But William also welcomed foreign monks and scholars to Normandy.Lanfranc of Pavia, a famous master of the liberal arts, who entered themonastery of Bec about 1042, was made abbot of Caen in 1063.

According to a brief description of William's person by an anonymousauthor, who borrowed extensively from Einhard's Life of Charlemagne, hewas just above average height and had a robust, thick-set body. Though hewas always sparing of food and drink, he became fat in later life. He hada rough bass voice and was a good and ready speaker. Writers of the nextgeneration agree that he was exceptionally strong and vigorous. Williamwas an out-of-doors man, a hunter and soldier, fierce and despotic,generally feared; uneducated, he had few graces but was intelligent andshrewd and soon obtained the respect of his rivals.

New alliances.

After 1047 William began to take part in events outside his duchy. Insupport of his lord, King Henry, and in pursuit of an ambition tostrengthen his southern frontier and expand into Maine, he fought aseries of campaigns against Geoffrey Martel, count of Anjou. But in 1052Henry and Geoffrey made peace, there was a serious rebellion in easternNormandy, and, until 1054 William was again in serious danger. Duringthis period he conducted important negotiations with his cousin Edwardthe Confessor, king of England, and took a wife.

Norman interest in Anglo-Saxon England derived from an alliance made in1002, when King Ethelred II of England married Emma, the sister of CountRichard II, William's grandfather. Two of her sons, William's cousinsonce removed, had reigned in turn in England, Hardecanute (1040-42) andEdward the Confessor (1042-66). William had met Edward during thatprince's exile on the Continent and may well have given him some supportwhen he returned to England in 1041. In that year Edward was about 36 andWilliam 14. It is clear that William expected some sort of reward fromEdward and, when Edward's marriage proved unfruitful, began to develop anambition to become his kinsman's heir. Edward probably at timesencouraged William's hopes. His childlessness was a diplomatic asset.

In 1049 William negotiated with Baldwin V of Flanders for the hand of hisdaughter, Matilda. Baldwin, an imperial vassal with a distinguishedlineage, was in rebellion against the Western emperor, Henry III, and indesperate need of allies. The proposed marriage was condemned asincestuous (William and Matilda were evidently related in some way) bythe Emperor's friend, Pope Leo IX, at the Council of Reims in October1049; but so anxious were the parties for the alliance that before theend of 1053, possibly in 1052, the wedding took place. In 1059 Williamwas reconciled to the papacy, and as penance the disobedient pair builttwo monasteries at Caen. Four sons were born to William and Matilda:Robert (the future duke of Normandy), Richard (who died young), WilliamRufus (the Conqueror's successor in England), and Henry (Rufus'successor). Among the daughters was Adela, who was the mother of Stephen,king of England.

Edward the Confessor was supporting the Emperor, and it is possible thatWilliam used his new alliance with Flanders to put pressure on Edward andextort an acknowledgment that he was the English king's heir. At allevents, Edward seems to have made some sort of promise to William in1051, while Tostig, son of the greatest nobleman in England, EarlGodwine, married Baldwin's half sister. The immediate purpose of thistripartite alliance was to improve the security of each of the parties.If William secured a declaration that he was Edward's heir, he was alsolooking very far ahead.

Between 1054 and 1060 William held his own against an alliance betweenKing Henry I and Geoffrey Martel of Anjou. Both men died in 1060 and weresucceeded by weaker rulers. As a result, in 1063 William was able toconquer Maine. In 1064 or 1065 Edward sent his brother-in-law, Harold,earl of Wessex, Godwine's son and successor, on an embassy to Normandy.William took him on a campaign into Brittany, and in connection with thisHarold swore an oath in which, according to Norman writers, he renewedEdward's bequest of the throne to William and promised to support it.

When Edward died childless on Jan. 5, 1066, Harold was accepted as kingby the English magnates, and William decided on war. Others, however,moved more quickly. In May Tostig, Harold's exiled brother, raidedEngland, and in September he joined the invasion forces of Harald IIIHardraade, king of Norway, off the Northumbrian coast. William assembleda fleet, recruited an army, and gathered his forces in August at themouth of the Dives River. It is likely that he originally intended tosail due north and invade England by way of the Isle of Wight andSouthampton Water. Such a plan would give him an offshore base andinterior lines. But adverse winds detained his fleet in harbour for amonth, and in September a westerly gale drove his ships up-Channel.

The Battle of Hastings.

William regrouped his forces at Saint-Valéry on the Somme. He hadsuffered a costly delay, some naval losses, and a drop in the morale ofhis troops. On September 27, after cold and rainy weather, the windbacked south. William embarked his army and set sail for the southeastcoast of England. The following morning he landed, took the unresistingtowns of Pevensey and Hastings, and began to organize a bridgehead withbetween 4,000 and 7,000 cavalry and infantry.

William's forces were in a narrow coastal strip, hemmed in by the greatforest of Andred, and, although this corridor was easily defensible, itwas not much of a base for the conquest of England. The campaigningseason was almost past, and when William received news of his opponent itwas not reassuring. On September 25 Harold had defeated and slain Tostigand Harald Hardraade at Stamford Bridge, near York, and was retracing hissteps to meet the new invader. On October 13, when Harold emerged fromthe forest, William was taken by surprise. But the hour was too late forHarold to push on to Hastings, and he took up a defensive position. Earlythe next day William went out to give battle. He attacked the Englishphalanx with archers and cavalry but saw his army almost driven from thefield. He rallied the fugitives, however, and brought them back into thefight and in the end wore down his opponents. Harold's brothers werekilled early in the battle. Toward nightfall the King himself fell andthe English gave up. William's coolness and tenacity secured him victoryin this fateful battle, and he then moved against possible centres ofresistance so quickly that he prevented a new leader from emerging. OnChristmas Day 1066 he was crowned king in Westminster Abbey. In a formalsense the Norman Conquest of England had taken place.

King of England

William was already an experienced ruler. In Normandy he had replaceddisloyal nobles and ducal servants with his own friends, limited privatewarfare, and recovered usurped ducal rights, defining the feudal dutiesof his vassals. The Norman church flourished under his rule. He wanted achurch free of corruption but subordinate to him. He would not tolerateopposition from bishops and abbots or interference from the papacy. Hepresided over church synods and reinforced ecclesiastical discipline withhis own. In supporting Lanfranc, prior of Bec, against Berengar of Toursin their dispute over the doctrine of the Eucharist, he found himself onthe side of orthodoxy. He was never guilty of the selling of churchoffice (simony). He disapproved of clerical marriage. At the same time hewas a stern and sometimes rough master, swayed by political necessities,and he was not generous to the church with his own property. The reformerLanfranc was one of his advisers; but perhaps even more to his taste werethe worldly and soldierly bishops Odo of Bayeux and Geoffrey of Coutances.

William left England early in 1067 but had to return in December becauseof English unrest. The English rebellions that began in 1067 reachedtheir peak in 1069 and were finally quelled in 1071. They completed theruin of the highest English aristocracy and gave William a distaste forhis newly conquered kingdom. Since his position on the Continent wasdeteriorating, he wanted to solve English problems as cheaply aspossible. To secure England's frontiers, he invaded Scotland in 1072 andWales in 1081 and created special defensive 'marcher' counties along theScottish and Welsh borders.

In the last 15 years of his life he was more often in Normandy than inEngland, and there were five years, possibly seven, in which he did notvisit the kingdom at all. He retained most of the greatest Anglo-Normanbarons with him in Normandy and confided the government of England tobishops, trusting especially his old friend Lanfranc, whom he madearchbishop of Canterbury. Much concerned that the natives should not beunnecessarily disturbed, he allowed them to retain their own laws andcourts.

William returned to England only when it was absolutely necessary: in1075 to deal with the aftermath of a rebellion by Roger, earl ofHereford, and Ralf, earl of Norfolk, which was made more dangerous by theintervention of a Danish fleet; and in 1082 to arrest and imprison hishalf brother Odo, bishop of Bayeux and earl of Kent, who was planning totake an army to Italy, perhaps to make himself pope. In the spring of1082 William had his son Henry knighted, and in August at Salisbury hetook oaths of fealty from all the important landowners in England,whosoever's vassals they might be. In 1085 he returned with a large armyto meet the threat of an invasion by Canute IV (Canute the Holy) ofDenmark. When this came to nothing owing to Canute's death in 1086,William ordered an economic and tenurial survey to be made of thekingdom, the results of which are summarized in the two volumes ofDomesday Book.

William was preoccupied with the frontiers of Normandy. The danger spotswere in Maine and the Vexin on the Seine, where Normandy bordered on theFrench royal demesne. After 1066 William's continental neighbours becamemore powerful and even more hostile. In 1068 Fulk the Surly succeeded toAnjou and in 1071 Robert the Frisian to Flanders. Philip I of Franceallied with Robert and Robert with the Danish king, Canute IV. There wasalso the problem of William's heir apparent, Robert Curthose, who, givenno appanage and seemingly kept short of money, left Normandy in 1077 andintrigued with his father's enemies. In 1081 William made a compromisewith Fulk in the treaty of Blancheland: Robert Curthose was to be countof Maine but as a vassal of the count of Anjou. The eastern part of theVexin, the county of Mantes, had fallen completely into King Philip'shands in 1077 when William had been busy with Maine. In 1087 Williamdemanded from Philip the return of the towns of Chaumont, Mantes, andPontoise. In July he entered Mantes by surprise, but while the townburned he suffered some injury from which he never recovered. He wasthwarted at the very moment when he seemed about to enforce his lastoutstanding territorial claim.

Death

William was taken to a suburb of Rouen, where he lay dying for fiveweeks. He had the assistance of some of his bishops and doctors, and inattendance were his half brother Robert, count of Mortain, and hisyounger sons, William Rufus and Henry. Robert Curthose was with the Kingof France. It had probably been his intention that Robert, as was thecustom, should succeed to the whole inheritance. In the circumstances hewas tempted to make the loyal Rufus his sole heir. In the end hecompromised: Normandy and Maine went to Robert and England to Rufus.Henry was given great treasure with which he could purchase an appanage.William died at daybreak on September 9, in his 60th year, and was buriedin rather unseemly fashion in St. Stephen's Church, which he had built atCaen. [Encyclopaedia Britannica CD, 1996, WILLIAM I] He was Ruled between 1066 and 1087.