Roger Beauchamp and Joane (Johanna) Clopton
Husband Roger Beauchamp
Born: 1363 - , Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, England
Christened:
Died: 3 May 1406
Buried:
Father: Roger De Beauchamp (Abt 1337-Between 1363)
Mother:
Marriage:
Wife Joane (Johanna) Clopton
Born: Abt 1363 - Of, Paston, Norfolk, England
Christened:
Died: - Y
Buried:
Father: William Clopton (Abt 1336-1377)
Mother: Ivetta De Grey (Abt 1340- )
Children
1 M John Beauchamp Lord St. John 1 2 3 4
Born: Abt 1381 - Of, Bletneshoe Powyk, Bedfordshire, England 4
Christened: - Bletsoe Bedfords, England 4
Died: Abt 1412 4
Buried:
Spouse: Edith Stourton (Abt 1375-1441) 1 2 4
Marr: Abt 1409 - Of, Stourton, Wiltshire, England 4
General Notes for Child John Beauchamp Lord St. John
[royalty.ged]
BIRT PLAC Of, Bletneshoe Powyke, Bedfordshire, England
CHR PLAC Bletsoe Bedfordshire And Worcestershire, England
Roger De Beauchamp
Husband Roger De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1337 - <Of, Paston, Norfolk, England>
Christened:
Died: Between 1363 and 1379
Buried:
Father: Roger De Beauchamp (Abt 1335-1379)
Mother: Sibyl De Patshull (Abt 1338-After 1351)
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Roger Beauchamp
Born: 1363 - , Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, England
Christened:
Died: 3 May 1406
Buried:
Spouse: Joane (Johanna) Clopton (Abt 1363- )
Roger De Beauchamp and Sibyl De Patshull
Husband Roger De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1335 - Of, Paston, Norfolk, England
Christened:
Died: 3 Jan 1379-1380
Buried:
Father: Giles De Beauchamp (Abt 1309-1361)
Mother: Catherine De Bures (Abt 1313- )
Marriage:
Wife Sibyl De Patshull
Born: Abt 1338 - Of, Paston, Norfolk, England
Christened:
Died: After 26 Oct 1351
Buried:
Children
1 M Roger De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1337 - <Of, Paston, Norfolk, England>
Christened:
Died: Between 1363 and 1379
Buried:
Ronald Shelby Beauchamp and Kerri Jo Hart
Husband Ronald Shelby Beauchamp (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Kerri Jo Hart (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: William Morgan Hart (1935-1996) 5
Mother: Saundra June Miller
Children
1 M Cameron Shelby Beauchamp (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
2 F Cassidy Morganne Beauchamp (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Robert Jefferson Townsend M.D. and Sarah Ann (Sallie) Beauchamp
Husband Robert Jefferson Townsend M.D. 6 7 8 9
Born: Aug 1807 - Logan Co, KY 7 8 9
Christened:
Died: 23 Jul 1849 - Logan Co, KY 7 8 9
Buried:
Father: Thomas Jefferson Townsend (1780-1851) 6 7 8 9 10
Mother: Elizabeth Betty Davidson (1788-1867) 6 7 8 9 10
Marriage: 23 Dec 1845 - Logan Co, Kentucky 7 8 9
Wife Sarah Ann (Sallie) Beauchamp 6 7 8 9
Born: Abt 1850 - Logan Co, Kentucky 7 8 9
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Gilson Columbus Townsend (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
2 M Robert Presley Townsend (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Richard Talbot and Sarah De Beauchamp
Husband Richard Talbot
Born: 1250 - Of Hereford, England
Christened:
Died: By 03 1306 Sep - Eccleswall, Gloucestershire, England
Buried:
AFN: 84ZS-9D
Father: Gilbert Talbot (Abt 1225-1274)
Mother: Gwenllian Verch Rhys (Abt 1219- )
Marriage:
Wife Sarah De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1255 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 1306
Buried:
AFN: 84ZS-BK
Father: William De Beauchamp (Abt 1210-1269)
Mother: Isabel Mauduit (Abt 1214-Bef 1268) 1 2
Children
1 M Gilbert Talbot
Born: 18 Oct 1276 - Of Wyke, Cornwall, England
Christened:
Died: Bef 1 Mar 1346 - , Eccleswall, Herefordshire, England
Buried:
AFN: 84ZS-72
Spouse: Anne Le Boteler (1280- ) 2
Marr: Said To Have
2 M Richard Talbot
Born: Abt 1285 - Of, Richard's Castle, Herefordshire, England
Christened:
Died: Bef 10 Oct 1328
Buried: - Priory, Wormsley, Herefordshire, England
AFN: 9FSD-9V
3 M Thomas Talbot
Born: 1287 - Of, Eccleswall, Herefordshire, England
Christened: - (20-1307)
Died:
Buried:
AFN: V9TJ-40
4 F Catherine Talbot
Born: Abt 1286 - Of Eccleswell, Linton, Herefordshire, England
Christened:
Died: 1357 - (Spm)
Buried:
AFN: 158M-9VQ
Sybil De Beauchamp
Husband
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Sybil De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1251 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: 8PTN-WP
Father: William De Beauchamp (Abt 1210-1269)
Mother: Isabel Mauduit (Abt 1214-Bef 1268) 1 2
Thomas Beauchamp
Husband Thomas Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1308 - Of, Hatch, Somersetshire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: H4KX-2Q
Father: John De Beauchamp (1274-1336)
Mother: Joan Chenduit Cheney (Abt 1279-1327)
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Thomas De Beauchamp
Husband Thomas De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1247 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: 8PTN-TC
Father: William De Beauchamp (Abt 1210-1269)
Mother: Isabel Mauduit (Abt 1214-Bef 1268) 1 2
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Thomas De Beauchamp
Husband Thomas De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1197 - Of, Elmsley Castle, Worcester, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: 18GN-KV3
Father: Walcheline (Walter) De Beauchamp (Abt 1184-1236)
Mother: Joan De Mortimer (Abt 1195-1268)
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Thomas Jefferson Beauchamp
Husband Thomas Jefferson Beauchamp (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Francis Marion (Frank) Beauchamp (Abt 1816- ) 6 7 8 9
Mother: Amanda M Townsend (1818-1875) 6 7 8 9
Marriage:
Wife (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Victoria E. Beauchamp
Husband (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife Victoria E. Beauchamp (details suppressed for this person)
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Father: Francis Marion (Frank) Beauchamp (Abt 1816- ) 6 7 8 9
Mother: Amanda M Townsend (1818-1875) 6 7 8 9
Walcheline (Walter) De Beauchamp and Joan De Mortimer
Husband Walcheline (Walter) De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1184 - Of, Elmley, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 14 Apr 1236
Buried:
AFN: B27N-JP
Marriage: 1212 - Of, Elmley, Worcestershire, England
Wife Joan De Mortimer
Born: Abt 1195 - Of, Wigmore, Herefordshire, England
Christened:
Died: 1268
Buried:
AFN: V9TT-KG
Father: Roger De Mortimer (1158-1215) 2
Mother: Isabel De Ferrieres (Abt 1172-Bef 1252) 2
Children
1 M William De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1210 - Of, Elmley, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 1269
Buried:
AFN: 84ZX-P1
Spouse: Isabel Mauduit (Abt 1214-Bef 1268) 1 2
Marr: 1245 - Of, Hanslape, Buckinghamshire, England
2 M James Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1217 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: B27N-QQ
3 M Thomas De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1197 - Of, Elmsley Castle, Worcester, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: 18GN-KV3
Walter De Beauchamp
Husband Walter De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1243 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 16 Feb 1303
Buried: - Grey Friars, London, Middlesex, England
AFN: 8PTN-R1
Father: William De Beauchamp (Abt 1210-1269)
Mother: Isabel Mauduit (Abt 1214-Bef 1268) 1 2
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Walter De Beauchamp
Husband Walter De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1283 - Of, Beauchamps Court, Alcester, Warwickshire, England
Christened:
Died: 1303
Buried:
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Children
1 M Giles De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1309 - Beauchamps Court, Alcester, Warwickshire, England
Christened:
Died: Oct 1361
Buried:
Spouse: Catherine De Bures (Abt 1313- )
Walter De Beauchamp and Emmeline D'abitot
Husband Walter De Beauchamp
Born: - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: - Y
Buried:
Father: Hughes De Beauchamp (Abt 1087-Abt 1141)
Mother: Adeliza Matilda Taillebois (Abt 1060-After 1080) 2
Marriage: - Of Worcester, Worchestershire, England
Wife Emmeline D'abitot
Born: Abt 1076 - Of, Barley, Derbyshire, England
Christened:
Died: - Y
Buried:
Father: Urso D'abitot (Abt 1050- ) 2
Mother: Adeline Arbitot ( - ) 2
Children
1 M William De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1105 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 1269
Buried:
Research Notes (Husband)
[mytree.FTW]
Check dates, Ancestral file lists dob as 1120 and marriage as abt 1129
William Beauchamp
Husband William Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1331 - Of, Hatch, Somersetshire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: 8504-8J
Father: John Beauchamp (1306-1343)
Mother: Margaret Saint John (Abt 1308-1361)
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
William Beauchamp Baron Bergavenny and Joan Fitzalan
Husband William Beauchamp Baron Bergavenny 1 2 4 11
Born: Abt 1358 - Of, Warwick, Warwickshire, England 4
Christened:
Died: 8 May 1411 - London, Middlesex County, England 4
Buried: - Black Friars, Hereford, Herefordshire, England 4
AFN: 8J5Q-5R
Father: Thomas De Beauchamp Earl Of Warwick (1312-1369) 1 2 4
Mother: Catherine De Mortimer Lady (Between 1309-Bef 1369) 1 2 4
Marriage: Abt 1396 - Of, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, England 4
Noted events in his life were:
• Alt. Birth, Of, Warwick, Warwickshire, England, Abt 1358
• Alt. Death 4, 1411
Wife Joan Fitzalan 1 2 4 11
AKA: Joan Fitzalan
Born: Abt 1365 - Of, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, England 4
Christened:
Died: 14 Nov 1435 - Black Friars, Herefordshire, England 4
Buried: - Black Friars, Herefordshire, England 4
Father: Richard Fitzalan Earl Of Arundel (1346-1397) 1 2 11 12 13 14
Mother: Elizabeth De Bohun Lady (Abt 1350-1385) 1 2
Noted events in her life were:
• Alt. Birth 4, Of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, England, Abt 1365
• Alt. Birth, Of, Arundel, Sussex, England, Abt 1372
• Alt. Death 4, 14 Nov 1435
• Alt. Buried 4, Black Friars, Herefordshire, England
Noted events in their marriage were:
• Alt. Marriage, Of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, England, Abt 1396
Children
1 F Joan De Beauchamp Countess Of Ormond 1 2 4 11
AKA: Joan De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1396 - Of, Abergavenny, England 4
Christened:
Died: 3 Aug 1430 - Shene, (Shere?) 4
Buried: 8 Aug 1430 - Saintthomas Acon, London, Middlesex, England 4
Spouse: Le Botiller Butler James The White, 4Th Earl Of Or (Between 1390-1452) 1 4 11
Marr: Bef 28 Aug 1413 - , Eng 4
Spouse: John Grey ( - ) 1
2 F Elizabeth Beauchamp 2 4
Born: Abt 1400 - Of, Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, England 4
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Richard Neville (Abt 1400-1460) 1 2 4 11 12 14
General Notes (Husband)
Sanity Check: are the two Richard Beauchamp's who married Isabel de Despencer the same? Are they both the son of William?
General Notes (Wife)
Its not quite clear which Richard Fitzalan is Joans father, and who her mother was.
Research Notes for Child Joan De Beauchamp Countess Of Ormond
Place of death might be Shere. Need to find out exactly where this is
William De Beauchamp
Husband William De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1305 - Of, Hatch, Somersetshire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: 8504-BV
Father: John De Beauchamp (1274-1336)
Mother: Joan Chenduit Cheney (Abt 1279-1327)
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
William De Beauchamp
Husband William De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1227 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened: - (26/30-1268)
Died: 9 Jun 1298 - , Elmley, Worcestershire, England
Buried: 22 Jun 1298 - , Grey Friars, Worcestershire, England
AFN: FQW3-3N
Father: William De Beauchamp (Abt 1210-1269)
Mother: Isabel Mauduit (Abt 1214-Bef 1268) 1 2
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
William De Beauchamp and Isabel Mauduit
Husband William De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1210 - Of, Elmley, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 1269
Buried:
AFN: 84ZX-P1
Father: Walcheline (Walter) De Beauchamp (Abt 1184-1236)
Mother: Joan De Mortimer (Abt 1195-1268)
Marriage: 1245 - Of, Hanslape, Buckinghamshire, England
Wife Isabel Mauduit 1 2
Born: Abt 1214 - Of, Hanslope, Buckinghamshire, England 15
Christened:
Died: Bef 1268 - Ellmley Castle, Warwickshire, England 15
Buried: 1268 - Of, Cokehill, Worcestershire, England
AFN: 84ZX-Q6
Father: William Maudit Baron (1196-1257) 1 2
Mother: Alice De Newburgh (1196-Bef 1263) 1 2
Other Spouse: William De Beauchamp III (1214-After 1268) 1 2 - 1245 - Of, Hanslope, Buckinghamshire, England
Children
1 M William De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1227 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened: - (26/30-1268)
Died: 9 Jun 1298 - , Elmley, Worcestershire, England
Buried: 22 Jun 1298 - , Grey Friars, Worcestershire, England
AFN: FQW3-3N
2 F Sarah De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1255 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 1306
Buried:
AFN: 84ZS-BK
Spouse: Richard Talbot (1250-1306)
3 M James De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1247 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: HPGR-TV
4 F Isabel De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1255 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: HPGR-XD
5 M Walter De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1243 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 16 Feb 1303
Buried: - Grey Friars, London, Middlesex, England
AFN: 8PTN-R1
6 M John De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1245 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: After 1298
Buried:
AFN: 8PTN-S6
7 M Thomas De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1247 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: 8PTN-TC
8 F Joan De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1249 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 1280
Buried:
AFN: 8PTN-VJ
9 F Sybil De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1251 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: 8PTN-WP
William De Beauchamp and Joane Waleries
Husband William De Beauchamp 2
Born: Abt 1130 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: Between 1211 and 1212 - Elmsley, Warwickshire, England
Buried:
Father: William De Beauchamp (Abt 1107-1160) 2
Mother: Maud De Braose (Abt 1110-After 1155) 2
Marriage: Abt 1172 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Wife Joane Waleries 2
Born: Abt 1154 - Of Elmley, Castle Elmley, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: After 1173 - Y
Buried:
Children
1 M Walter De Beauchamp 2
Born: 1150 - Elmley, Worchestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 1235 - Elmsley, Warwickshire, England
Buried:
Spouse: Bertha De Braose (1151-1170) 2
Marr: 1193 - Bramber, Sussex, England
William De Beauchamp
Husband William De Beauchamp
Born: Abt 1105 - Of, Elmley Castle, Worcestershire, England
Christened:
Died: 1269
Buried:
Father: Walter De Beauchamp ( - )
Mother: Emmeline D'abitot (Abt 1076- )
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Count Etienne Henri Count Of Blois Of Blois And Chartres and Countess Adaele Beauclerc Of Blois
Husband Count Etienne Henri Count Of Blois Of Blois And Chartres 1 2 4 12 16
Born: 1045 - Blois, Loir-Et-Cher, France 4
Christened:
Died: 19 May 1102 - Ramulah, Palestine
Buried:
Father: Theobald (Thibaud) III Blois Count Of Blois (Abt 1010-Abt 1089) 1 2
Mother: Garsende Du Maine ( - ) 1 2
Marriage: 1081 - Chartres
Noted events in his life were:
• Occupation, Crusader
• Addl Data, Crusades
Wife Countess Adaele Beauclerc Of Blois 1 2 4 12 13 14 16 17
AKA: Adaele (Alice) Princess Of England
Born: Abt 1062 - Bretagne, France
Christened:
Died: 23 Sep 1120 - , Marsilly, Aquitaine
Buried: - , Caen, Normandie
AFN: 8XJ0-3C
Father: King Guillaume I De Normandie Of England (1024-1087) 1 2 13 14 16
Mother: Queen Matilda Of England (1031-1083) 1 2 4 13 16
Noted events in her life were:
• Alt. Birth 12, Normandy, France, Abt 1062
• Alt. Birth 14, Of, Normandie, Abt 1062
• Alt. Death 14, , Marsilly, Aquitaine, 8 Mar 1134-1135
• Alt. Death 4, Marsilly, Charente-Maritim, France, 8 Mar 1134-1135
• Alt. Buried 14, , Caen, Normandie
• Alt. Buried 4, Caen, Calvados, France
Noted events in their marriage were:
• Alt. Marriage, Abt 1080
• Alt. Marriage, , Breteuil, Eure, France, 1080
Children
1 M King Stephen IV Blois Of England 1 2 16
Born: Between 1095 and 1097 - Blois, Loir-Et Cher, France
Christened: 1135-1154 - King Of England
Died: 25 Oct 1154 - Dover Castle, Kent, England 18
Buried: - Feversham Abbey, Kent County, England
Spouse: Matilda Of Boulogne Countess Of Boulogne (1103-1152) 1 2 12
Marr: 1125 - Westminster, England 12
Spouse: Dameta Of Normandy ( - ) 1
Marr: Associated With
2 M William De Champagne 1
Born:
Christened:
Died: After 1104
Buried:
Spouse: Agnes De Sulli ( -After 1104) 1 4
3 F Eleanor Of Blois 2
Born:
Christened:
Died: Abt 1147
Buried:
Spouse: Raoul I De Vermandois Count Of Vermandois (Abt 1085-1152) 2 14
4 M Theobald Count Of Blois 4 12
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1152 4
Buried:
Spouse: Maud ( - ) 12
5 M Count Thibaud IV (Theobald Ii) Of Blois & Champagne 1 2 4 16
Born: Abt 1090 - Blois, Loir-Et-Cher, France
Christened:
Died: 10 Jan 1151-1152 - Ligny
Buried: 10 Jan 1152
AFN: 9FN9-XB
Spouse: Mathilda (Maud Of Carinthia) Von Sponheim (Abt 1097-1160) 1 2 14 16
Marr: 1123 14
6 F Matilda 1
Born:
Christened:
Died: 25 Nov 1120 - Drowned In The White Ship
Buried:
Spouse: Richard De Abrincis ( -1120) 1
Marr: 1115
7 F Lithiuse 1
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Milo II Of Montlhéry De Brai ( -1118) 1
Marr: Abt 1112
8 M Phillip Of Châlon 1
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1100
Buried:
9 F Agnes Of Blois 1
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Hugh III De Puiset ( - ) 1
10 F Eleanor Of Blois 1
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1147
Buried:
Spouse: Raoul Of Vermandois ( - ) 1
11 F Alice Of Blois 1
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
Spouse: Reginald III Of Joigni ( - ) 1
General Notes (Husband)
Headed an army of men during the First Crusade, but ab a n d o ned the expedition at Antioch. He was nagged back i n t o ar mo r by his wife in time to go on the Second Crusa d e . He wa s i n the second wave of the Second Crusade, he ad e d by Will ia m IX of Aquitaine. He made it to Jerusale m , bu t was kill e d in battle defending Palestine from t h e Egypt ians.
!BIRTH:edwardiii.ged, edwardiii.ged
!DEATH:edwardiii.ged, edwardiii.ged
General Notes (Wife)
[royalty.ged]
NAME Adela (Alice) Princess Of /ENGLAND/
TITL [COUNTESS OF BLOIS]/
DEAT PLAC , Marsilly, Charente-Maritime, France[royalty.ged]
Adela of Normandy, b. 1062, d. 1137; m. ca. 1080, bef. 1085, Stephen of Blois, Count of Blois; a leader of the first Crusade.
Notes (Marriage)
!MARRIAGE:edwardiii.ged, edwardiii.ged
General Notes for Child King Stephen IV Blois Of England
[royalty.ged]
Stephen of Blois, cr. King of Engalnd, 26 Dec. 1135, b. 1095/6, d. 25 Oct. 1154; m. ca. 1119-1120, Matilda of Boulogne, b. ca. 1105, d. Hedingham Castle, Kent, 3 May 1152, dau. of Eustace III, Count of Boulogne, and Mary, dau. of Malcolm III Canmore, King of Scots, and St. Margaret, dau. of Edward, the Aethling.
Stephen, (The Irresolute King) by general consent the chroniclers of the time suggest that Stephen was an attractive personality. Good-natured, courteous, brave as a lion in battle and 7GGDAU.
Dict of Nat'l Biog Eng Pub A Vol 37 p. 53, 54, V o l 5 4 p . 1 51-156; Kingsof Eng Eng 176 p. 38-44; Tab So u v Ge n Fran ce 2 2, Tab 6, 56; Burke's Peerage EngP 194 9 pr ef p . 252; M emoir s of Warren A12 A79 Vol 1 p. 148 . Archi ve Re cord - SL C, UT[ edwardiii.ged]
Stephen was the grandson of William the Conqueror, th r o u g h his daughter Adela and Stephen, Count of Blois. B o r n ci rc a 1096, he was about half-dozen years older th a n hi s cou si n and rival for the throne, Matilda, daught e r of H enry I . S tephen married Matilda of Boulogne, wh o b ore hi m five c hild ren, only three of whom survived i nfan cy: Eus tace, Mar y, an d William. Stephen's father di ed i n the Hol y Land i n 1102 , and he was raised by his U ncl e Henry I. H enry wa s genuine ly found of Stephen, an d gra nted his neph ew estat es on bot h sides of the Engli sh Cha nnel. Stephen , by 1130 , was the r ichest man in En gland a nd Normandy.
Stephen's reign was beset by problems from the beginn i n g . S tephen had promised to recognize his cousin as la wf u l h eir , but Matilda was in Anjou at the time of Henr y' s d eath . St ephen, in a rare exhibition of resolve, cr oss ed t he Ch anne l and took control in England, being cr owne d o n Decemb er 22 , 1135. The first few years were ca lm, b ut t he Wels h and Sc ots attacked in 1138, followe d by inv asion s of Mat ilda, he r second husband Geoffre y Plantagen et o f Anjou , a nd her ha lf-brother Robert o f Gloucester . Civi l war ensue d until clo se to the end o f the reign , as th e rivalry divi ded loyaltie s. Stephe n captured an d release d Matilda; Mati lda later cap ture d Stephen and t raded hi m for Robert of Gl oucester, h a d also had been ca ptured. T he succession probl em wen t beyon d the hostiliti es of th e two cousins: Stephe n wa nted his so n Eustace t o be name d heir, and Matilda wan t ed her son Henr y fitzEm press to s ucceed to the crown . I t became academic i n 115 3, when Eus tace died and th e two s ides reached a compr om ise - Stephe n would rule u nopposed u ntil his death, as t h e throne wou ld pass to H enry of Anjou , crowned Henry I I i n 1154.
Henry's death came soon, just a year later in 1154. " 1 0 6 6 a nd All That" offered a humorous but accurate acco u n t o f th e civil war: "... Stephen and Matilda (or Mau d ) sp en t th e reign escaping from each other over the sn o w in n igh tgown s." Anglo-Saxon Chronicle addressed bot h t he virt ue s of th e man, and the nature of the era: "I n th e days o f t his Kin g there was nothing but strife, e vil , and robbe ry , for quic kly the great men who were tr aito rs rose agai ns t him. Whe n the traitors saw that Ste phe n was a good-hu mor ed, kindly , and easy-going man wh o inf licted no punish ment , then the y committed all mann er o f horrible crimes . .. . And so it l asted for ninete en ye ars while Stephe n was K ing, till the l and was al l undon e and darkened wit h such d eeds, and men sa id ope nly tha t Christ and his ang els slept ." Source: www.br it annia.com
!BIRTH:edwardiii.ged, edwardiii.ged
!DEATH:edwardiii.ged, edwardiii.ged
General Notes for Child William De Champagne
Lord of Sulli. Described in the chronicles as an imbecile and was disinherited in favour of his younger brother. There is a confusion between sources about his parentage. The Complete Peerage vol.V,p.156 suggests that his father was Étienne, Count of Champagne; is this the same person as Stephen Henry of Blois
General Notes for Child Eleanor Of Blois
!DEATH:edwardiii.ged, edwardiii.ged
General Notes for Child Count Thibaud IV (Theobald Ii) Of Blois & Champagne
1 NAME Thibaud IV (II)/CHAMPAGNE/ 1 UPDA 2 DATE 1125 2 PLAC Acceded:
3rd Count Palatine of Champaigne
Charles Beauclerc 1st Duke and Diana De Vere
Husband Charles Beauclerc 1st Duke 1 11 14
Born: 8 May 1670 - Lincoln's Inn Fields, Westminster, Middlesex, England 14
Christened:
Died: 11 May 1726 - Bath, Somersetshire, England 14
Buried: 20 May 1726 - Westminster Abbey, Westminster, Middlesex, England 14
AFN: 84QT-7G
Father: King Charles II Stuart Of England (1630-1685) 1 4 11 12 14
Mother: Eleanor (Nell) Gwyn Mistress (1650-1687) 1 4 11 14
Marriage:
Wife Diana De Vere 1 11 14
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1742
Buried:
Father: Aubrey De Vere Earl Of Oxford ( -1703) 1 14
Mother:
Children
1 M William Beauclerk Lord 1 11
Born: 22 May 1698
Christened:
Died: 23 Feb 1732
Buried:
Spouse: Charlotte Werden Lady ( -1770) 1 11
Marr: 13 Dec 1722
Count Geoffrey V Le Plantagenet Of Anjou and Matilda Beauclerc Of Scotland
Husband Count Geoffrey V Le Plantagenet Of Anjou 1 2 4 12 14 16
AKA: Geoffrey V "Le Bon" Plantagenet
Born: 24 Aug 1113 - Anjou, France 4
Christened: - Count Of Anjou & Duke Of Normandy
Died: 7 Sep 1151 - Chateau, Eure-Et-Loire, France 4
Buried: - St Julian's Church, Le Mans, Anjou
AFN: 8WKK-1D
Father: Count Foulques V Of Anjou (1092-1143) 1 2 4 14 16
Mother: Countess Ermengarde Du Maine Of Anjou (1096-1126) 1 2 4 14 16
Marriage: 22 May 1127 - Le Mans Cathedral, Anjou 4
Noted events in his life were:
• Alt. Birth 14, , , Anjou, France, 24 Aug 1113
• Alt. Death 14, , Chateau, France, 7 Sep 1151
Wife Matilda Beauclerc Of Scotland 1 2 4 12 14 16
Born: 5 Aug 1102 - Winchester, London, Middlesex, England 4
Christened: - The Empress, Queen Of England
Died: 10 Sep 1167 - Notre Dame, Rouen, France 4 14
Buried: - Fontevrault Abbey Maine France 4 14
AFN: 9FM0-NL
Father: King Henry I Plantaganet Of England (1070-1135) 1 2 13 14 16
Mother: Princess Matilda Edith Of Scotland (1079-1118) 1 2 4 12 14 16
Other Spouse: Henry V Of Germany Holy Roman Emperor (1080-1125) 1 2 4 12 16 - 7 Jan 1114 - Mainz, Germany 12
Other Spouse: Conan Duke Of Brittany ( -1148) 4 19
Noted events in her life were:
• Baptism, Reigned 7 Months From Apr 1141
Noted events in their marriage were:
• Alt. Marriage, , Le Mans, Sarthe, France, 22 May 1127
Children
1 M King Henry II Plantagenet Of England 1 2 4 12 14 16
AKA: Curtmantle, Henry II Plantagent
Born: 5 Mar 1132-1133 - , Le Mans, Sarthe, France 14
Christened: 1154-1189
Died: 6 Jul 1189 - , Chinon, Indre-Et-Loire, France 14
Buried: 8 Jul 1189 - Fontevrault Abbey, Fontevrault, Maine-Et-Loire, France 14
AFN: 8WKP-WF
Spouse: Annabel Balliol (Abt 1153-1204)
Marr: 18 May 1153 - Unmd
Spouse: Queen Elbeonore D' Aquitaine Of England (1121-1204) 1 2 4 12 14 16
Marr: 18 May 1152 - Bordeaux, France 12
Spouse: Rosamund (Joan) Clifford Mistress (Abt 1137-1176) 1 2 13
Marr: Not Married. Produced 2 Illegitimate Son
Spouse: Princess Alisa Capet Of France (Abt 1150-Abt 1198) 1 2 16
Marr: Associated With
Spouse: Nesta Bloet ( - ) 1
Marr: Associated With
Spouse: Alice De Porhoët ( - ) 1
Marr: Associated With
Spouse: Ykenai Or Hikenai Concubine Of England (Abt 1131- )
Marr: Unmd
2 F Agnes Plantagenet 14
Born: Abt 1130 - <, Le Mans, Sarthe, France> 14
Christened:
Died: 1192 - Of, Anyore, England 14
Buried:
AFN: 18GK-RL2
3 M Geoffrey VI Plantagenet 2 4 12 14
AKA: Count Of Nantes, Mantell, Geoffrey VI Plantagenet ;[Count Of Nantes]
Born: 3 Jun 1134 - Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France 4
Christened:
Died: 27 Jul 1157 - Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, France 4
Buried: - Nantes, Loire-Atlantique, France 4
AFN: 9FTJ-JQ
4 M Earl Hamelin De Plantagenet Of Surrey 1 2 3 4
Born: 1130 - Normandy, France 4 20
Christened:
Died: Apr 1202 - England 4 20 21
Buried: - Chapter House Lewes Sussex
AFN: 8WKJ-MC
Spouse: Countess Isabel De Warenne Of Surrey (1137-1199) 1 2 4
Marr: Apr 1164 - London, Middlesex County, England 20
5 M Count Of Poitou William 2
Born: 1136
Christened:
Died: 30 Jan 1163-1164 - Rouen, Normandy
Buried: - Rouen Cathedral
6 M Guillaume Plantagenet 2 4 12 14
AKA: Count Of Poitou
Born: 22 Jul 1136 - Argentan, Orne, France 4
Christened:
Died: 30 Jan 1163-1164 - Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France 4
Buried: - Notre Dame, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, France 4 14
AFN: 9FTJ-KW
7 F Emma Plantagenet 4 14
AKA: Princess Of Wales
Born: Abt 1138 - Normandy, France 4
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
AFN: 9FTJ-M8
Spouse: Dafydd Ap Owain ( - ) 4
Marr: 1173 - Of, Wales 4
General Notes (Husband)
[royalty.ged]
NAME Geoffrey V "le Bon" /PLANTAGENET/
General Notes (Wife)
1 NAME Maud // 1 UPDA 2 PLAC Queen of ENGLAND
House of Anjou. Reigned 7 months, never crowned.
Henry 1, made the Barons accept Matilda as his heir,(to become Queen when he died) following the death of Prince William in 1120. This did not happen as most of the Barons would not have Matilda as their Queen. They chose her cousin, Stephen {1135-1154}. Matilda tried to get the throne and civil war broke out between barons who supported Stephen and the barons who supported Matilda.She never got the throne and England suffered because of the war. Also the barons became more powerful and built their own castles without the King's permission.
Declared heiress-presumptive in 1126, disputed the throne with Stephen. She was possibly a twin with William (Duke of Normandy). Had three sons, of whom the eldest later became King Henry II.
General Notes for Child King Henry II Plantagenet Of England
[royalty.ged]
NAME Henry II "Plantagenet" King Of /ENGLAND/
BURI PLAC Fontevrault Abbey, Fontevrault, Maine-Et-Loire, France
General Notes for Child Geoffrey VI Plantagenet
[royalty.ged]
TITL [COUNT OF NANTES]/
General Notes for Child Earl Hamelin De Plantagenet Of Surrey
1 NAME Hamelin of Anjou Plantagenet/de Warenne/ 1 UPDA 2 DATE 1164 2 PLAC Acceded:
Assumed the name of Warren and became the Earl of Surrey Vicomte of Touraine. (See Early Yorkshire Charters Vol viii pp20-24 for daughters details).
General Notes for Child Guillaume Plantagenet
[royalty.ged]
TITL [COUNT OF POITOU]/
General Notes for Child Emma Plantagenet
[royalty.ged]
TITL [PRINCESS OF WALES]/
Conan Duke Of Brittany and Matilda Beauclerc Of Scotland
Husband Conan Duke Of Brittany 4 19
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1148 4 19
Buried:
Father: Alan Duke Of Brittany ( - ) 4 19
Mother: Ermengardis D' Anjou Duchess Of Aquitaine (Abt 1090-1146) 4 14
Marriage:
Wife Matilda Beauclerc Of Scotland 1 2 4 12 14 16
Born: 5 Aug 1102 - Winchester, London, Middlesex, England 4
Christened: - The Empress, Queen Of England
Died: 10 Sep 1167 - Notre Dame, Rouen, France 4 14
Buried: - Fontevrault Abbey Maine France 4 14
AFN: 9FM0-NL
Father: King Henry I Plantaganet Of England (1070-1135) 1 2 13 14 16
Mother: Princess Matilda Edith Of Scotland (1079-1118) 1 2 4 12 14 16
Other Spouse: Henry V Of Germany Holy Roman Emperor (1080-1125) 1 2 4 12 16 - 7 Jan 1114 - Mainz, Germany 12
Other Spouse: Count Geoffrey V Le Plantagenet Of Anjou (1113-1151) 1 2 4 12 14 16 - 22 May 1127 - Le Mans Cathedral, Anjou 4
Noted events in her life were:
• Baptism, Reigned 7 Months From Apr 1141
Children
1 F Bertha Of Brittany 4
Born:
Christened:
Died: Bef 1167 4 19
Buried:
General Notes (Wife)
1 NAME Maud // 1 UPDA 2 PLAC Queen of ENGLAND
House of Anjou. Reigned 7 months, never crowned.
Henry 1, made the Barons accept Matilda as his heir,(to become Queen when he died) following the death of Prince William in 1120. This did not happen as most of the Barons would not have Matilda as their Queen. They chose her cousin, Stephen {1135-1154}. Matilda tried to get the throne and civil war broke out between barons who supported Stephen and the barons who supported Matilda.She never got the throne and England suffered because of the war. Also the barons became more powerful and built their own castles without the King's permission.
Declared heiress-presumptive in 1126, disputed the throne with Stephen. She was possibly a twin with William (Duke of Normandy). Had three sons, of whom the eldest later became King Henry II.
Duke Robert VI Beauclerc Of Normandy and Margaret Estrid Svendsdatter Of Normandy
Husband Duke Robert VI Beauclerc Of Normandy 1 2 4 12 13 16
Born: Abt 0999 - Of, Normandy, France 4
Christened:
Died: 2 Jul 1035 - Nicaea, Bithynia, Turkey 3 4 20
Buried: - Nicaea, Bithynia, Turkey 4
AFN: 8XJ0-S0
Father: Duc Richard II Plantaganet De Normandie (0962-1027) 1 2 4 12 13 14 16
Mother: Princess Juetta De Bretagne (0982-1017) 1 2 4 12 13 14 16
Marriage: 1031 - (Divorced in 1032)
Other Spouse: Harlette (Herleva) De Falaise Of Normandy (1003-Abt 1050) 1 2 4 12 13 16 - WFT Est 1031-1034 - Unmarried
Noted events in his life were:
• Baptism 22, Reigned 1027-35
Wife Margaret Estrid Svendsdatter Of Normandy 1 2 4
Born: Abt 0967 20
Christened:
Died: 9 May 4
Buried:
Father: King Sveyn I Forkbeard Haraldsson Of England (0965-1014) 1 2 4 12
Mother: Queen Sigrid Storrada Skoglar Testedotter Of Sweden (Abt 0970-After 1013) 1 2 4
Other Spouse: Vsevolod Vladimirovich Prince Of Vladimir Volynsk (Abt 0983-1015) 4 14
Other Spouse: Ulf (Wolf) Thorkilsson Jarl Of Denmark (Abt 0967-1027) 1 2 4 - Abt 0987 4
Other Spouse: Duc Richard II Plantaganet De Normandie (0962-1027) 1 2 4 12 13 14 16 - (Divorced) 4
Noted events in her life were:
• Alt. Birth 4, Of Denmark, Abt 0967
General Notes (Husband)
[royalty.ged]
NAME Robert I "The Magnificent" Duke Of /NORMANDY/
MARR DATE (DIV)[royalty.ged]
Robert I, d. 22 Jul. 1035, Duke of Normandy. Ref: (CP I 351-352).
Robert I, d. 22 Jul. 1035, Duke of Normandy. Ref: (CP I 351-352).
General Notes (Wife)
[royalty.ged]
NAME Estrid Svendsdatter Princess Of /DENMARK/
Duke Robert VI Beauclerc Of Normandy and Harlette (Herleva) De Falaise Of Normandy
Husband Duke Robert VI Beauclerc Of Normandy 1 2 4 12 13 16
Born: Abt 0999 - Of, Normandy, France 4
Christened:
Died: 2 Jul 1035 - Nicaea, Bithynia, Turkey 3 4 20
Buried: - Nicaea, Bithynia, Turkey 4
AFN: 8XJ0-S0
Father: Duc Richard II Plantaganet De Normandie (0962-1027) 1 2 4 12 13 14 16
Mother: Princess Juetta De Bretagne (0982-1017) 1 2 4 12 13 14 16
Marriage: WFT Est 1031-1034 - Unmarried
Other Spouse: Margaret Estrid Svendsdatter Of Normandy (Abt 0967- ) 1 2 4 - (Divorced)
Noted events in his life were:
• Baptism 22, Reigned 1027-35
Wife Harlette (Herleva) De Falaise Of Normandy 1 2 4 12 13 16
Born: 1003 - Falaise, Calvados, France 20
Christened:
Died: Abt 1050
Buried: - Abbey Of St Grestain, France 23
AFN: GS5C-51
Father: Fulbert De Falaise (Abt 0978- ) 1 2 4 13 14 16
Mother: Doda Falaise Of Falaise (Abt 0980- ) 1 2 4 13 14 16
Other Spouse: Herluin De Conteville Viscount (1001-After 1066) 1 2 4 12 13 16 - Abt 1033 - France 4
Other Spouse: Gilbert Of De Brionne Count Of Eu (Abt 0984-1040) 1 2 4 16
Children
1 M King Guillaume I De Normandie Of England 1 2 13 14 16
Born: 14 Oct 1024 - Falaise Castle Normandy, France 14 20
Christened: 1066 - Norman Conquest, As An Adult;
Died: 9 Sep 1087 - Priory Of St. Gervais Near Rouen 4 14
Buried: - St Stephen's Abbey Caen Normandy
AFN: 92D5-NS
Spouse: Queen Matilda Of England (1031-1083) 1 2 4 13 16
Marr: 1052 - Cathedral Of Notre Dame D'eu, Normandy 4 14
Spouse: Miss De Ponthieu (Abt 1029- ) 4 13
Spouse: Maud (Abt 1024-Between 1049) 2
Marr: Between 1040 and 1069
2 F Countess Of Aumale Adelaide Countess 1 2 4 14
Born: Abt 1026 - Falaise, Calvados, France 20
Christened:
Died: Bef 1090 4 14
Buried:
AFN: V9VB-2W
Spouse: Enguerrand II Of Ponthieu D'aumale Count Of Ponthieu (Between 1024-Abt 1053) 1 2 4
Marr: Abt 1045 - Of, Normandy, France 4
Spouse: Count Eudes (Odo) Of Troyes (Abt 1026-After 1096) 1 2
Marr: Abt 1060
Spouse: Lambert Of Boulogne ( - ) 4
Marr: Abt 1053 - Of, Normandy, France 4
Spouse: Lambert De Boulogne Count Of Lens (Abt 1020-1054) 1 2 14
Marr: Abt 1053 - Of, Normandy, France 14
Spouse: Eudes III Count Aumale ( - ) 4
Marr: Abt 1056 - Of, Normandy, France 4
General Notes (Husband)
[royalty.ged]
NAME Robert I "The Magnificent" Duke Of /NORMANDY/
MARR DATE (DIV)[royalty.ged]
Robert I, d. 22 Jul. 1035, Duke of Normandy. Ref: (CP I 351-352).
Robert I, d. 22 Jul. 1035, Duke of Normandy. Ref: (CP I 351-352).
General Notes (Wife)
1 NAME Arlotta - /Harletta/ 1 UPDA 2 PLAC Officer of the Household
General Notes for Child King Guillaume I De Normandie Of England
1 NAME The /Bastard/
WILLIAM I, THE CONQUEROR (1027?-1087), was the first Norman king of England. He took power in 1066, following his army's victory over the Anglo-Saxons of England. As king, William maintained tight control over the country's central government.
William was born at Falaise, in the Normandy region of northwestern France. He was the son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and inherited Normandy in 1035, at about the age of 8. During his youth, there were many disorders. In 1047, William put down a great rebellion at the battle of Val-es-dunes, near Caen, with the aid of his lord, King Henry I of France. From that time on, William ruled Normandy with an iron hand.
William claimed that King Edward the Confessor of England promised him succession to the English throne as Edward's nearest adult heir. However, Edward's brother-in-law Harold became king in 1066 through a deathbed grant by Edward and election by the nobles.
William promptly prepared to invade England. But before William could sail, the king of Norway invaded northern England. King Harold hurried north and defeated the Norwegian invaders at Stamford Bridge, near York. William landed before Harold could return to defend the southern coast. The Normans destroyed the Anglo-Saxon army and killed Harold at the Battle of Hastings on Oct. 14, 1066.
On Christmas Day, 1066, William was crowned king. William then put down local rebellions. He took lands from those who resisted him. He kept some of these lands for himself and gave the rest to his followers in return for military service. To emphasize the lawfulness of his crown, William confirmed the laws of Edward the Confessor and kept all the powers of the Anglo-Saxon monarchy. He levied Danegeld, the only national tax on landed property in all of Europe at that time. At Salisbury in 1086, he made all the landholders swear allegiance directly to him as king.
William was devout, firm in purpose, and unchanging in gaining his ends. His greatest monument is Domesday Book, a survey of the land and principal landholders of his realm.
KING 1066-1087 14 Oct 1066 = Battle of Hastings.
William of Normandy is renowned in English history as the Conqueror but to his contemporaries he was known as William the Bastard. His father Robert was Duke of Normandy, but his mother Herleve was the daughter of a Falaise tanner, albeit a prosperous one. Although Herleve bore her ducal lover two children, of whom William was born either 1027 or 1028, the social gap meant there was no question of marriage. Herleve was later married off to one of Duke Robert's vassals, by which gentleman she had two or more sons: Robert who became Count of Mortain and a mighty Anglo-Norman baron, and Odo who became Bishop of Bayeux, an equally mighty prince of the Church.
Bastardy was then common, and being illegitimate was not necessarily a bar to inheriting a natural father's land or title, but when William was born it was becoming more of a handicap. There was a strong reforming movement within the Christian Church which aimed, among other things, to enforce its teachings more strictly, including the sanctity of holy matrimony. When in 1034 Duke Robert decided to go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. the good lick necessary in any successful life smiled for the first time on William, for the duke had no legitimate children and therefore decided to recognise his bastard son as his heir. More surprisingly, he managed to persuade the Norman nobility to swear fealty to the boy. While returning from the Holy Land in 1035, Robert died suddenly and the eight/ or nine year old William found himself Duke of Normandy.
For a while the Norman lords kept their word and recognised the boy as their lawful Duke but with the death of his powerful protector, anarchy reigned. For ten bloody years William's luck held and the warring factions managed to kill each other rather than him, but it was not until 1054, when he was twenty/six or seven years old, that he finally emerged as the undisputed Duke of Normandy. In the process he had become a man of iron, but he was also a man of God who feared for his immortal soul and he was not without vision and imagination. He appreciated that force was not the sole answer to the problem of ruling men, even if it was a major factor. In the Years from 1054 to 1066 William not only consolidated his power in Normandy - and extended it into the bordering country of Maine - he reorganised the structure of Norman society.
As early as 1049, long before he became one of the most powerful rulers in mainland Europe, William had acquired sufficient reputation to negotiate a marriage with Matilda, a daughter of Count Baldwin of Flanders. This alliance was a political coup and despite papal disapproval he went ahead with the marriage, a bold action for a devout Christian ruler. Physically he and Matilda were an ill/assorted pair; she was a little over four feet tall, whereas he was close to six feet, immensely strong and tough, with a harsh guttural voice. Mentally they seem to have been well attuned and the marriage was remarkably successful, particularly if it is remembered that political gain and interest, not love or even compatibility, were the hallmarks of royal alliances.
As the Norman empire expanded William was able to leave his wife as regent, a task she performed with great efficiency and loyalty. She bore him at least nine children and he earned a reputation for total fidelity which was even more remarkable that their marital harmony. Fortune again favoured him in his marriage with a wife whom he could trust, not a quality of which he had had much experience in the treacherous, turbulent years of his youth.
When thoughts of adding the kingdom of England to the dukedom of Normandy first entered William's mind is a matter of conjecture. It is possible hid determination to marry Matilda was prompted by such an idea, because she was a direct descendant of Alfred the Great, whereas his relationship to the English monarchy was much more tenuous. In fact there was no established right of succession in England at the time, so it was a question of who could lay claim to the throne. In the Norman version of events leading up to 1066 - as depicted in the Bayeux tapestry and by the Anglo-Norman chroniclers - Duke William visited King Edward in London in 1051. Edward - known to posterity as the Confessor - had spent much of his childhood in exile at the Norman court and was to an extent Norman/oriented. During the visit he is supposed to have promised that he should he die without an heir Duke William would be his rightful successor. Then there is a leap to 1064 and the arrival of Harold Godwinson in Normandy, by which time it had become obvious that King Edward would not produce an heir.
Harold was a member of the family which had established itself as the Earls of Wessex and after some changes of fortune had become the most powerful in England. He had as good (or bad) a claim to the English throne as William, with the extra factor that he was a native of the country. Whether Harold actually intended to go to Normandy in 1064 and what his mission was if he did, is now a matter of dispute. The Norman version is that Harold arrived in Normandy, albeit via the domain of Ponthieu, explicitly to reaffirm his allegiance to Duke William as the next rightful King of England, nominated by King Edward. And moreover that he swore allegiance on sacred relics , though where he actually swore his oath varies even in the Norman accounts.
This episode is the crux of the Norman version. Once Edward the Confessor died in January 1066 and Harold Godwinson had himself crowned king, William was morally and legally entitled, even driven, to fight for the inheritance which had been usurped. The version was accepted at the time by other European rulers and, most importantly, by the Pope. William was able to land in England with the papal seal of approval for a justified invasion, bearing a holy banner. (His half-brother Odo, who as a Bishop was not supposed to carry arms, arrived wielding a holy sceptre). The Norman account can be accepted as a truth or seen as evidence that in the propaganda war - as it would now be called - Duke William beat King Harold even more decisively than he did in battle.
The last Saxon king of England has since had many apologists. They deride the idea that King
Edward would have willed away his crown as early as 1051, or even that the Saxon Harold would have gone to Normandy specifically to swear allegiance to a Norman duke; if he did swear, it was under duress and therefore an invalid oath. There is general agreement that as Edward the Confessor lay dying he nominated Harold as his successor and he was thus accepted by the Witanegemot (the assembly of Saxon nobility). But the Normans explained that this nomination was extracted from a dying, unworldly, perhaps slightly senile man and was itself invalid, apart from the fact that Harold had forsworn himself.
Early in 1066 Harold had the crown of England with the consent of his peers, but also with the
knowledge that Duke William of Normandy considered it his by right. Harold soon called up the fyrd ( a Saxon militia of freemen) in the south of England and they responded. The months went by; Harold was more or less forced to disband the fyrd because while they were willing to fight, they were not disciplined to wait. Then in the middle of September another expected invader actually arrived, Harold Hardrada of Norway who was a claimant to the English throne. Hardrada's claim was as good as anybody's: it lay through Edward the Confessor's Anglo-Danish predecessors Kings Canute and Hardacanute and promises allegedly made by them to Hardrad's father.
King Harold marched north and on 25 September inflicted a crushing defeat on Harold of Norway at Stamford Bridge, near York. Again the necessary element of luck was with William, because as his enemy Harold Godwinson went to kill the other serious claimant Harold Hardrada for him, the weather changed for the better. On 12 September William's forces landed at Pevensey in Sussex, with neither the fyrd nor King Harold's own troops to oppose them. However, there was nothing lucky about the way William overcame his Norman nobles' reluctance to support an invasion of England (they thought he was over-reaching himself), nor in the way he organised his invasion forces. That was a masterly piece of planning and staff-work, assembling men, horses, ships, weapons, supplies and then keeping them disciplined and intact while they waited and waited for favourable weather conditions.
In the meantime, having fought a long, bitter and bloody battle at Stamford Bridge, King Harold
marched back to London, had a brief respite, gathered more troops and marched south to meet the Normans. It might have been wiser if Harold had rested longer and reorganised his tired army particularly as William was being extremely cautious and had done nothing more than establish a bridgehead slightly nearer to Hastings. But Harold presumably believed that attack was the best form of defence and on 14 October an event took place of which virtually everybody in Britain knows the date, the battle of Hastings 1066.
It was, as the Duke of Wellington said later of another battle, a damn close run thing; but as darkness fell King Harold lay dead, though probably not with an arrow in his eye, and the Saxon forces scattered into the night.
Update: from Queen's Official Web Site 8/10/97.
The Normans
William I
The victory of William I, 'the Conqueror' (reigned
1066-1087) at Hastings and his subsequent
coronation in Westminster Abbey on Christmas
Day 1066 did not give him complete control of
England. Remaining resistance was, however,
severely crushed and castles were built to control
the country (including a fortress on the site of
Windsor Castle, and the White Tower at the
Tower of London). The lands of defeated Saxon
nobles were given to William's followers in return
for military service by a certain number of knights,
so that the tenants' foremost obligation was
allegiance to the king. This firmly established the
feudal system. In 1086, William commissioned the
Domesday Book, to record land holdings for the
assessment of taxes and other dues. William spent
long periods in Normandy to maintain his authority
there, dealing with rebellions and French invasions.
William died in 1087 leaving Normandy to his
eldest son, Robert, and England to his second son,
William II Rufus (reigned 1087-1100).
Additional Information:
William was born of Robert, Duke of Normandy, and Herleva of Falaise. William's father left on a pilgrimage to the holy land when William was only seven. Before leaving, Robert made the nobles swear allegiance to his son. Robert died on the trip. Although he was illegitimate, his claim to the duchy held and the government was given to the ministers until William turned 18. This was a chaotic time for Normandy, with various rebellions, and William saw several of his close friends assassinated. William was kept alive to adulthood thanks to the protection of the Bishop of Rouen and the devotion of his tutors. The tutor took up the practice of sleeping in the same room as the boy, to protect him, and many times William spent the night hiding in a peasant cottage.
The Danish conquest of England in 1013 resulted in the West Saxon royalty fleeing to Normandy. One of them, Edward the Confessor, later retook the throne of England in 1042. At the time, William was 14 years old. The kings of England at this time tended to be less powerful than their nobles, and Edward had no sons. Edward looked upon the Normans as the only people he could trust, and actually designated William to be his heir.
At the time of Edward's death, there were three powerful factions competing for the throne of England. One was the Danish & Norwegian faction, led by Harold Hardraada, who intended to reconquer it after losing it in 1042. Another was the son of the powerful Saxon Earl Godwin, named Harold Godwinson. The third was William. The Danes had the strongest legal claim to the throne, but would have to win it by conquest -- something the vikings were rather good at. The Saxons based their claim on tradition and nationality, and they were already there. William had his claim by right of bequest from Edward.
On January 5, 1066, Edward died. Harold Godwinson, after riding all night, was crowned on January 6, claiming that Edward had changed his will and designated him the real successor. He was even able to produce a document to prove it. Hardraada had intended to invade immediately, but was setback by rebellion and delayed his invasion until September. William also spent the summer building up an army and a fleet to invade England. Harold gathered his army in Southern England, but due to supply problems was forced to disband on September 8, only 10 days before the Vikings landed in the north.
By September 20, the Vikings had taken the city of York and conquered a portion of northern England. Harold quickly gathered together a new army and marched across England. On September 25, the Saxons and Vikings met in the Battle of Stamford Bridge. The battle lasted the entire day, and the outcome was unsure. However, it was sufficient to break the Viking war machine, and seemed to secure Harold's place on the English throne. William landed in Hastings two days later.
After the conquest, Viking's would never again rule in England.
William had been pinned into his harbor for weeks due to unfavorable winds. Amazingly, his significant leadership skills allowed him to hold his forces together and keep them ready for an invasion. Thus, when the wind changed, he was ready to go and landed in England on September the 27th. Expecting an attack from Harold, William's troops started throwing up fortifications and strongholds in the area. Harold immediately marched for London, where he raised another army. He arrived with his new troops on the night of the 13th of October, and gave battle on the 14th of October.
The battle lasted for the entire day, with neither side seeming to gain the upper hand. After a while, though, the superior discipline of the Normans began to show through, as the Saxon troops slowly melted away. Harold himself was killed by an arrow.
The conquest was not yet complete, but it was assured. William became the king of both England and Normandy. He set up laws and took a census which is recorded in his Domesday book. He held out against further Viking raids, and put down rebellions in both England and Normandy.
William originally intended to leave the combined throne of England and Normandy to his son Robert. After Robert rebelled against his father, however, William split the kingdom in two: Upon his death in 1087, Robert would become the duke of Normandy, and Robert's brother William would become the king of England.
William's Domesday book was among the first of its kind -- the first known case of an English king taking a census. It is a major source of information on medieval England.
General Notes for Child Countess Of Aumale Adelaide Countess
[royalty.ged]
Adelaide or Adeliz, b. ca. 1030, d. bef. 1090, Countess of Aumale, sister of William the Conqueror; m. (1) Enguerrand II, Count of Ponthieu, slain at the siege of Arques, 1053, son of Hugh II, d. 20 Nov. 1052, Count of Pontieu and Bertha of Aumale; m. (2) Lambert of Boulonge, count of Lens in Artois, slain at the battle of Lille, 1054; m. (3) Eudes, Count of Champagne (which he was deprived by his uncle Theobaldbef. 1071), Earl of Holderness, imprisoned 1096. Ref: (CP I 350-352).
[royalty.ged]
NAME Adelaide "Countess Of Aumale" Countess Of /PONTHIEU/
William The Atheling Beauclerc
Husband William The Atheling Beauclerc 2
Born:
Christened:
Died: 1120
Buried:
Father: King Henry I Plantaganet Of England (1070-1135) 1 2 13 14 16
Mother: Edith Sigulfson ( -1173) 1 2
Marriage:
Wife
Born:
Christened:
Died:
Buried:
