Gilbert de Lacy
Encyclopedia
Gilbert de Lacy was a medieval Anglo-Norman baron in England, the grandson of Walter de Lacy
(– 1085) a Norman
soldier.
. A medieval manuscript which narrates the descendents of the founders of Lanthony Priory names “Gilbertus de Lacy” as the son of Roger's sister Emma and her unnamed husband, which would make him a nephew of Roger. This is in agreement with other medieval manuscripts which together show the line of succession from Walter to Roger, to Roger's younger childless brother Hugh, to Roger's sisters Ermeline and Emma, and then, as Ermeline was childless, to Emma's children. Some modern historians, however, instead list Gilbert as a son.
Walter de Lacy's eldest son and heir Roger de Lacy had inherited from his father Walter in 1085. Roger was then been banished from England in 1096 by King William II of England
, with his English estates being confiscated and given to his younger brother Hugh. Roger de Lacy's half-share of the lands in Normandy, however, were not confiscated, as they were held of the Bishop of Bayeux. Roger was never able to return to England and died sometime after 1108. As no further record of Roger is found it is believed that he predeceased his younger brother Hugh. Hugh then died childless prior to 1121/2. The heirs to the de Lacy estates were then Roger's and Hugh's two sisters Ermeline and Emma, with subsequent succession to Emma's heirs as Ermeline was childless. At Hugh's death, however, the English estates instead escheated to the crown. By gift of King Henry I of England
a large part of the lands forming the honour of de Lacy, which included large amounts along the border with Wales, were given to Pain fitzJohn
. When fitzJohn was later killed in 1137 the lands that he had held were then gifted by King Stephen
to Joscelin de Dinan. Lands were also given to Miles of Gloucester.
family). By 1136 Gilbert was in England with King Stephen of England, and before 1143 his claim of inheritance to much of the honour of de Lacy, as nephew of the deceased baron Hugh de Lacy, was recognised by the king. Among the lands Gilbert recovered were lands about Weobley. He never, however, recovered the border lands near Wales.
Although de Lacy had spent time at Stephen's court, during the civil war
during Stephen's reign, he switched sides and served Stephen's rival, Matilda the Empress. He witnessed charters of the Empress in 1141 and of her son, Henry fitzEmpress
in 1154. De Lacy also led an army in an attack against Bath in the service of the Empress, along with Gilbert Talbot. During the later 1140s, de Lacy was able to recover many of Roger's Welsh marcher lands, and one of his efforts at Ludlow
was later embroidered in the medieval romance
Fouke le Fitz Waryn. He and Miles of Gloucester were claimants to many of the same lands, and during Stephen's reign were generally on opposite sides of the succession dispute.
De Lacy gave land to the cathedral chapter
of Hereford Cathedral
. He also gave a manor at Guiting to the Knights Templar
and two churches, at Weobley
and Clodock
to Llanthony Priory, which was a monastery founded by his family.
of the Templars in the County of Tripoli
. In 1163, de Lacy was one of the crusader army commanders fighting against Nur ad-Din. His year of death is unknown, but he was commemorated on 20 November at Hereford Cathedral. Robert died without children sometime before 1162, when Gilbert's younger son Hugh de Lacy
inherited the lands.
The Gesta Stephani called de Lacy "a man of judgement and shrewd and painstaking in every operation of war".
De Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
(– 1085) a 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...
soldier.
Background and family
Gilbert de Lacy was either the nephew or son of Walter de Lacy's eldest son and heir Roger de LacyRoger de Lacy
Roger de Lacy, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman, a Marcher Lord on the Welsh border.- Lineage :He was son of Walter de Lacy , a retainer of William fitzOsbern. Roger was a castle builder, particularly at Ludlow Castle....
. A medieval manuscript which narrates the descendents of the founders of Lanthony Priory names “Gilbertus de Lacy” as the son of Roger's sister Emma and her unnamed husband, which would make him a nephew of Roger. This is in agreement with other medieval manuscripts which together show the line of succession from Walter to Roger, to Roger's younger childless brother Hugh, to Roger's sisters Ermeline and Emma, and then, as Ermeline was childless, to Emma's children. Some modern historians, however, instead list Gilbert as a son.
Walter de Lacy's eldest son and heir Roger de Lacy had inherited from his father Walter in 1085. Roger was then been banished from England in 1096 by King William II of England
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
, with his English estates being confiscated and given to his younger brother Hugh. Roger de Lacy's half-share of the lands in Normandy, however, were not confiscated, as they were held of the Bishop of Bayeux. Roger was never able to return to England and died sometime after 1108. As no further record of Roger is found it is believed that he predeceased his younger brother Hugh. Hugh then died childless prior to 1121/2. The heirs to the de Lacy estates were then Roger's and Hugh's two sisters Ermeline and Emma, with subsequent succession to Emma's heirs as Ermeline was childless. At Hugh's death, however, the English estates instead escheated to the crown. By gift of King Henry I of England
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...
a large part of the lands forming the honour of de Lacy, which included large amounts along the border with Wales, were given to Pain fitzJohn
Pain fitzJohn
Pain fitzJohn was an Anglo-Norman nobleman and administrator, and one of King Henry I of England's "new men". The son of a minor nobleman, Pain, along with his brothers, rose through their ability to become important royal officials during the reign of King Henry...
. When fitzJohn was later killed in 1137 the lands that he had held were then gifted by King Stephen
Stephen, King 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...
to Joscelin de Dinan. Lands were also given to Miles of Gloucester.
Stephen's reign
Gilbert de Lacy had inherited his family's half-share of the de Lacy lands in Normandy by 1133 (the other half-share was owned by another branch of the de LacyDe Lacy
de Lacy is the surname of an old Norman noble family originating from Lassy . The first records are about Hugh de Lacy . Descendent of Hugh de Lacy left Normandy and travelled to England along with William the Conqueror. Walter and Ilbert de Lacy fought in the battle of Hastings...
family). By 1136 Gilbert was in England with King Stephen of England, and before 1143 his claim of inheritance to much of the honour of de Lacy, as nephew of the deceased baron Hugh de Lacy, was recognised by the king. Among the lands Gilbert recovered were lands about Weobley. He never, however, recovered the border lands near Wales.
Although de Lacy had spent time at Stephen's court, during the civil war
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
during Stephen's reign, he switched sides and served Stephen's rival, Matilda the Empress. He witnessed charters of the Empress in 1141 and of her son, Henry fitzEmpress
Henry II of England
Henry 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...
in 1154. De Lacy also led an army in an attack against Bath in the service of the Empress, along with Gilbert Talbot. During the later 1140s, de Lacy was able to recover many of Roger's Welsh marcher lands, and one of his efforts at Ludlow
Ludlow
Ludlow is a market town in Shropshire, England close to the Welsh border and in the Welsh Marches. It lies within a bend of the River Teme, on its eastern bank, forming an area of and centred on a small hill. Atop this hill is the site of Ludlow Castle and the market place...
was later embroidered in the medieval romance
Romance (genre)
As a literary genre of high culture, romance or chivalric romance is a style of heroic prose and verse narrative that was popular in the aristocratic circles of High Medieval and Early Modern Europe. They were fantastic stories about marvel-filled adventures, often of a knight errant portrayed as...
Fouke le Fitz Waryn. He and Miles of Gloucester were claimants to many of the same lands, and during Stephen's reign were generally on opposite sides of the succession dispute.
De Lacy gave land to the cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
of Hereford Cathedral
Hereford Cathedral
The current Hereford Cathedral, located at Hereford in England, dates from 1079. Its most famous treasure is Mappa Mundi, a mediæval map of the world dating from the 13th century. The cathedral is a Grade I listed building.-Origins:...
. He also gave a manor at Guiting to the Knights 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...
and two churches, at Weobley
Weobley
Weobley is a black and white village in Herefordshire, England.The name possibly derives from 'Wibba's Ley', a ley being a woodland glade and Wibba being a local Saxon landowner...
and Clodock
Clodock
Clodock is a village in the west of Herefordshire, England. It lies on the River Monnow in the foothills of the Black Mountains, close to the border with Wales. The village is in the civil parish of Longtown....
to Llanthony Priory, which was a monastery founded by his family.
Later years and death
Around 1158 de Lacy surrendered his lands to his eldest son Robert when the elder de Lacy became a member of the Knights Templar. He then traveled through France to Jerusalem, where de Lacy became precentorPrecentor
A precentor is a person who helps facilitate worship. The details vary depending on the religion, denomination, and era in question. The Latin derivation is "præcentor", from cantor, meaning "the one who sings before" ....
of the Templars in the County of Tripoli
County of Tripoli
The County of Tripoli was the last Crusader state founded in the Levant, located in what today are parts of western Syria and northern Lebanon, where exists the modern city of Tripoli. The Crusader state was captured and created by Christian forces in 1109, originally held by Bertrand of Toulouse...
. In 1163, de Lacy was one of the crusader army commanders fighting against Nur ad-Din. His year of death is unknown, but he was commemorated on 20 November at Hereford Cathedral. Robert died without children sometime before 1162, when Gilbert's younger son Hugh de Lacy
Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath
Hugh de Lacy, Lord of Meath was an Anglo-Norman magnate granted the lands of the Kingdom of Meath by Henry II in 1172, during the Norman Invasion of Ireland.-Early life:Hugh de Lacy was born before 1135...
inherited the lands.
The Gesta Stephani called de Lacy "a man of judgement and shrewd and painstaking in every operation of war".