Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex
Encyclopedia
Geoffrey de Mandeville II, 1st Earl of Essex (1st Creation) (died September 1144) was one of the prominent players during the reign of King Stephen of England
. His biographer, the 19th-century historian J. H. Round, called him "the most perfect and typical presentment of the feudal and anarchic spirit that stamps the reign of Stephen." That characterization was disputed in the later twentieth century.
He succeeded his father, William
, sometime before 1129, possibly as early as 1116. A key portion of the family patrimony was in the King's hands. William had incurred a debt to the crown, perhaps in part a large fine due to Henry I
's displeasure at the escape of an important political prisoner when he was in charge of the Tower of London. The King also held the substantial estate of Geoffrey's maternal grandfather Eudo le Dapifer
to which Geoffrey laid claim.
Geoffrey's goal in the early years of strife between Stephen and Empress Matilda
seems to have been to recover these lost lands and his father's offices. He succeeded in this during the shifting tides of fortunes of the two competitors for the English throne. He started out supporting Stephen, who sometime in 1140 (most likely May of that year) made him Earl of Essex
. By 1140 or 1141 Stephen had returned to him the seized estates in Essex. In 1141 he was also appointed Constable of the Tower
of London by Empress Matilda
.
After the defeat and capture of Stephen at Lincoln in 1141, the Earl, like many barons, acknowledged Matilda
as his sovereign lady. She confirmed his custody of the Tower, forgave the large debts his father had incurred to the crown, granted him the Norman
lands of Eudo Dapifer, and appointed him Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire
, Middlesex
and London. But before the end of the year, learning that Stephen's release was imminent, he returned to his original allegiance. In 1142 he may have been intriguing with the Empress. There has been a scholarly debate over the dating of the charters he received from Stephen and Matilda; depending on the order and timing of those documents, Geoffrey appears to have either been playing off one against the other to get what he wanted or was courted by the rival claimants to the throne for his support. The earl was arrested by the King in 1143 and threatened by execution, Geoffrey surrendered his castles to Stephen, then launched a rebellion.
-country, using the Isle of Ely
and Ramsey Abbey
as his headquarters. He was besieged by King Stephen and met his death in September 1144 in consequence of an arrow wound received in a skirmish. Denied burial because he died excommunicate, his body was wrapped in lead. Eventually it was taken to the Templar
community in London. He was buried in the Temple Church
in London. His son arranged for an effigy to be placed on the floor, where it still can be seen today.
with full powers in Essex, Middlesex and London, and Hertfordshire—but these were based on offices and jurisdictions his ancestors had held. His career as an outlaw exemplifies the worst excesses of the civil wars of 1140-1147, and it is possible that the deeds of Mandeville inspired the rhetorical description, in the Peterborough Chronicle
of this period, when "men said openly that Christ
and his saints were asleep." He had seized Ramsey Abbey (near Peterborough) in 1143, expelling the monks and using Ramsey as a base for forays into the surrounding region.
, daughter of Aubrey de Vere II
and sister of the first earl of Oxford. He had four sons:
"Brother Cadfael" book, 'The Potter's Field'.
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
. His biographer, the 19th-century historian J. H. Round, called him "the most perfect and typical presentment of the feudal and anarchic spirit that stamps the reign of Stephen." That characterization was disputed in the later twentieth century.
He succeeded his father, William
William de Mandeville
William de Mandeville inherited the estates of his father Geoffrey around 1100. He was constable of the Tower of London at that time, and thus keeper of the first person known to be imprisoned there for political reasons, Ranulf Flambard...
, sometime before 1129, possibly as early as 1116. A key portion of the family patrimony was in the King's hands. William had incurred a debt to the crown, perhaps in part a large fine due to Henry I
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
's displeasure at the escape of an important political prisoner when he was in charge of the Tower of London. The King also held the substantial estate of Geoffrey's maternal grandfather Eudo le Dapifer
Eudo Dapifer
Eudo Dapifer was a Norman aristocrat favoured by William the Conqueror.-Early life:Eudo was the fourth son of Hubert of Ryes, who is legendarily known as the loyal vassal who saved the life of Duke William of Normandy in his flight from Valognes during a revolt 1047. Eudo's brothers were Ralph,...
to which Geoffrey laid claim.
Geoffrey's goal in the early years of strife between Stephen and Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
seems to have been to recover these lost lands and his father's offices. He succeeded in this during the shifting tides of fortunes of the two competitors for the English throne. He started out supporting Stephen, who sometime in 1140 (most likely May of that year) made him Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex
Earl of Essex is a title that has been held by several families and individuals. The earldom was first created in the 12th century for Geoffrey II de Mandeville . Upon the death of the third earl in 1189, the title became dormant or extinct...
. By 1140 or 1141 Stephen had returned to him the seized estates in Essex. In 1141 he was also appointed Constable of the Tower
Constable of the Tower
The Constable of the Tower is the most senior appointment at the Tower of London. In the middle ages a constable was the person in charge of a castle when the owner - the king or a nobleman - was not in residence...
of London by Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
.
After the defeat and capture of Stephen at Lincoln in 1141, the Earl, like many barons, acknowledged Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
as his sovereign lady. She confirmed his custody of the Tower, forgave the large debts his father had incurred to the crown, granted him the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
lands of Eudo Dapifer, and appointed him Sheriff of Essex and Hertfordshire
High Sheriff of Hertfordshire
The High Sheriff of Hertfordshire was an ancient High Sheriff title originating in the time of the Angles, not long after the invasion of the Kingdom of England, which was in existence for around a thousand years...
, Middlesex
Middlesex
Middlesex is one of the historic counties of England and the second smallest by area. The low-lying county contained the wealthy and politically independent City of London on its southern boundary and was dominated by it from a very early time...
and London. But before the end of the year, learning that Stephen's release was imminent, he returned to his original allegiance. In 1142 he may have been intriguing with the Empress. There has been a scholarly debate over the dating of the charters he received from Stephen and Matilda; depending on the order and timing of those documents, Geoffrey appears to have either been playing off one against the other to get what he wanted or was courted by the rival claimants to the throne for his support. The earl was arrested by the King in 1143 and threatened by execution, Geoffrey surrendered his castles to Stephen, then launched a rebellion.
Outlaw activity and death
In 1143-1144 Geoffrey maintained himself as a rebel and a bandit in the fenFen
A fen is a type of wetland fed by mineral-rich surface water or groundwater. Fens are characterised by their water chemistry, which is neutral or alkaline, with relatively high dissolved mineral levels but few other plant nutrients...
-country, using the Isle of Ely
Isle of Ely
The Isle of Ely is a historic region around the city of Ely now in Cambridgeshire, England but previously a county in its own right.-Etymology:...
and Ramsey Abbey
Ramsey Abbey
Ramsey Abbey is a former Benedictine abbey located in Ramsey, Cambridgeshire, England, southeast of Peterborough and north of Huntingdon, UK.-History:...
as his headquarters. He was besieged by King Stephen and met his death in September 1144 in consequence of an arrow wound received in a skirmish. Denied burial because he died excommunicate, his body was wrapped in lead. Eventually it was taken to the Templar
Knights Templar
The Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon , commonly known as the Knights Templar, the Order of the Temple or simply as Templars, were among the most famous of the Western Christian military orders...
community in London. He was buried in the Temple Church
Temple Church
The Temple Church is a late-12th-century church in London located between Fleet Street and the River Thames, built for and by the Knights Templar as their English headquarters. In modern times, two Inns of Court both use the church. It is famous for its effigy tombs and for being a round church...
in London. His son arranged for an effigy to be placed on the floor, where it still can be seen today.
Career
His career is interesting for two reasons. The charters which he received from King Stephen and Empress Matilda illustrate the ambitions of English barons. The most important concessions are grants of offices and jurisdictions which had the effect of making Mandeville almost a viceroyViceroy
A viceroy is a royal official who runs a country, colony, or province in the name of and as representative of the monarch. The term derives from the Latin prefix vice-, meaning "in the place of" and the French word roi, meaning king. A viceroy's province or larger territory is called a viceroyalty...
with full powers in Essex, Middlesex and London, and Hertfordshire—but these were based on offices and jurisdictions his ancestors had held. His career as an outlaw exemplifies the worst excesses of the civil wars of 1140-1147, and it is possible that the deeds of Mandeville inspired the rhetorical description, in the Peterborough Chronicle
Peterborough Chronicle
The Peterborough Chronicle , one of the Anglo-Saxon Chronicles, contains unique information about the history of England after the Norman Conquest. According to philologist J.A.W...
of this period, when "men said openly that Christ
Christ
Christ is the English term for the Greek meaning "the anointed one". It is a translation of the Hebrew , usually transliterated into English as Messiah or Mashiach...
and his saints were asleep." He had seized Ramsey Abbey (near Peterborough) in 1143, expelling the monks and using Ramsey as a base for forays into the surrounding region.
Marriage and offspring
Geoffrey married Rohese de VereRohese de Vere, Countess of Essex
Rohese de Vere, Countess of Essex was an Anglo-Norman noblewoman.-Life:She was daughter of Aubrey de Vere II and Adeliza/Alice of Clare. She married twice. Her first husband, Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex, became earl in 1140, and Rohese thereafter was styled countess...
, daughter of Aubrey de Vere II
Aubrey de Vere II
Aubrey de Vere II — also known as "Alberic[us] de Ver" — was the second of that name in England after the Norman Conquest, being the eldest surviving son of Alberic or Aubrey de Vere who had followed William the Conqueror to England in or after 1066.Their lineage is probably Norman, possibly...
and sister of the first earl of Oxford. He had four sons:
- Arnulf/Ernulf (illegitimate), exiled for supporting his father in rebellion but allowed to return to England, probably in the reign of King Henry IIHenry II of EnglandHenry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
- Geoffrey III, 2nd earl of EssexGeoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd Earl of EssexGeoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd Earl of Essex was an English nobleman. He was the son of Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex and Rohese de Vere, Countess of Essex. He inherited the Earldom of Essex from his father after his elder brother was disinherited. He died childless and was succeeded by...
(d. 1166) - William II, 3rd earl of Essex and Count of AumaleWilliam de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of EssexWilliam de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex was a loyal councilor of Henry II and Richard I of England.He was the second son of Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex and Rohese de Vere, Countess of Essex. After his father's death while in rebellion , William grew up at the court of the Count of...
(d. 1189) - Robert (d. before 1189)
Historical Fiction
An accounting of Geoffrey's outlaw actions and the taking of the Ramsey abbey provides for elements of the backstory for Ellis Peter'sEdith Pargeter
Edith Mary Pargeter, OBE, BEM , also known by her nom de plume Ellis Peters, was a British author of works in many categories, especially history and historical fiction, and was also honoured for her translations of Czech classics; she is probably best known for her murder mysteries, both...
"Brother Cadfael" book, 'The Potter's Field'.