Ivo de Grandmesnil
Encyclopedia
Ivo de Grandmesnil son of Hugh de Grandmesnil
, was a Norman
magnate
in England
and a participant in the First Crusade
, in 1096.
Ivo participated in the first crusade in 1096, following Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy. Having been among the nobles who rebelled
against William Rufus in 1088, participation in the crusade was a good way to avoid the English king's wrath. However, Ivo became a figure of some derision when, during the Siege of Antioch
he and some his compatriots (including his brother) panicked, let themselves over the city walls by rope and fled back home.
After the death of his father in 1098, he inherited the town
and castle
of Leicester and additional estates, assuming the title of Sheriff of Leicester
.
He was among the barons supporting the claims of Robert Curthose against his brother Henry I
in 1100.
In 1102, after the attempt to put Curthose on the English throne had failed, Ivo was severely fined by King Henry I
for waging private war against his neighbors. He sought the help of Robert de Beaumont
, who agreed to help Ivo return to the king's favor, and took mortgage of Ivo's lands for fifteen years in return for a large sum which Ivo would use to go back to the Holy Land. In addition, he agreed to eventually marry the infant daughter of his brother Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick
to Ivo's young son, and to return the mortgaged lands to the son.
Ivo de Grandmesnil and his wife died on the pilgrimage in 1101 or 1102, but Robert de Beaumont retained control of his estates even after the end of the fifteen years, dispossessing Ivo's sons. Deathbed attempts to induce him to return them were unavailing. Two years later Henry I made plans to return the lands to the sons, who were probably serving in the king's household, but both died in the wreck of the White Ship
in 1120.
Hugh de Grandmesnil
Hugh de Grandmesnil , also known as Hugh or Hugo de Grentmesnil or Grentemesnil, is one of the very few proven Companions of William the Conqueror known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Subsequently he became a great landowner in England.He was the elder son of Robert of...
, was 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...
magnate
Magnate
Magnate, from the Late Latin magnas, a great man, itself from Latin magnus 'great', designates a noble or other man in a high social position, by birth, wealth or other qualities...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
and a participant in the First Crusade
First Crusade
The First Crusade was a military expedition by Western Christianity to regain the Holy Lands taken in the Muslim conquest of the Levant, ultimately resulting in the recapture of Jerusalem...
, in 1096.
Ivo participated in the first crusade in 1096, following Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy. Having been among the nobles who rebelled
Rebellion of 1088
The Rebellion of 1088 occurred after the death of William the Conqueror and concerned the division of lands in the Kingdom of England and the Duchy of Normandy between his two sons William Rufus and Robert Curthose...
against William Rufus in 1088, participation in the crusade was a good way to avoid the English king's wrath. However, Ivo became a figure of some derision when, during the Siege of Antioch
Siege of Antioch
The Siege of Antioch took place during the First Crusade in 1097 and 1098. The first siege, by the crusaders against the Muslim city, lasted from October 21, 1097, to June 2, 1098. The second siege, against the crusaders who had occupied it, lasted from June 7 to June 28, 1098.-Background:Antioch...
he and some his compatriots (including his brother) panicked, let themselves over the city walls by rope and fled back home.
After the death of his father in 1098, he inherited the town
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
and castle
Leicester Castle
Leicester Castle is located in the city of the same name in the English county of Leicestershire. The complex is situated in the west of the city centre, between Saint Nicholas Circle to the north and De Montfort University to the south....
of Leicester and additional estates, assuming the title of Sheriff of Leicester
High Sheriff of Leicestershire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Leicestershire. The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
.
He was among the barons supporting the claims of Robert Curthose against his brother 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...
in 1100.
In 1102, after the attempt to put Curthose on the English throne had failed, Ivo was severely fined by King 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...
for waging private war against his neighbors. He sought the help of Robert de Beaumont
Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester
Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester, Count of Meulan was a powerful English and French nobleman, revered as one of the wisest men of his age...
, who agreed to help Ivo return to the king's favor, and took mortgage of Ivo's lands for fifteen years in return for a large sum which Ivo would use to go back to the Holy Land. In addition, he agreed to eventually marry the infant daughter of his brother Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick
Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick
Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick was a Norman nobleman. Henry was the younger son of Roger de Beaumont and Adeline of Meulan, daughter of Waleran I, Count of Meulan. He was given by his father the modest lordship of Le Neubourg, in central Normandy...
to Ivo's young son, and to return the mortgaged lands to the son.
Ivo de Grandmesnil and his wife died on the pilgrimage in 1101 or 1102, but Robert de Beaumont retained control of his estates even after the end of the fifteen years, dispossessing Ivo's sons. Deathbed attempts to induce him to return them were unavailing. Two years later Henry I made plans to return the lands to the sons, who were probably serving in the king's household, but both died in the wreck of the White Ship
White Ship
The White Ship was a vessel that sank in the English Channel near the Normandy coast off Barfleur, on 25 November 1120. Only one of those aboard survived. Those who drowned included William Adelin, the only surviving legitimate son and heir of King Henry I of England...
in 1120.