Osbern the Steward
Encyclopedia
Osbern the Steward, known in French as Osbern de Crépon († about 1040), was the Steward of two Dukes of Normandy and the father of William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
, one of William the Conqueror's closest counsellors.
, first the mistress and then second wife of Richard I of Normandy
. Towards the end of the reign of Richard II of Normandy (années 1020) . Under Robert the Magnificent (1027-1035), he had the role of Steward or Seneschal
. He kept this role after the Duke's death in 1035. He became one of the legal protectors of the young successor to the duchy, William the Bastard, known later as William the Conqueror, then aged 8.
The young Duke William was in danger, as Richard's supporters were trying to assassinate him to regain power in the duchy, and the Norman barons were rebelling. Osbern was murdered by Le Vaudreuil in the winter of 1040-1041, while protecting the young Duke in the child's bedroom. . According to Guillaume de Jumièges, his throat was cut by William, son of Roger I of Montgomery. Barnon de Glos-la-Ferrières avenged the death of his lord by killing the murderer.
Other historians of the Normans disagree on the origin of the benefits held by Osbern, specifically which of them came from his father Herfast and which via his marriage to Emma, daughter of the powerful Count Rodulf of Ivry
and sister of Hugues of Bayeux. He possessed land widely spread across Normandy: in the Bessin at Crépon
, at Hiémois (near Falaise
), near the confluence of the rivers Seine
and Andelle
, around Cormeilles
, in Talou, in Pays d'Ouche
at Breteuil
, and at La Neuve-Lyre
.
, who was half-brother of Richard I, Duke of Normandy. The children included :
William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford
William FitzOsbern , Lord of Breteuil, in Normandy, was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror and one of the great magnates of early Norman England...
, one of William the Conqueror's closest counsellors.
Biography
Osbern was the son of Herfast, and the nephew of Gunnora, Duchess of NormandyGunnora, Duchess of Normandy
Gunnora was the wife and consort of Richard I of Normandy. Her parentage is unknown, earliest sources reporting solely that she was of Danish ancestry and naming siblings including brother Herfast de Crepon who is sometimes erroneously given as her father.She was living with her sister Seinfreda,...
, first the mistress and then second wife of Richard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy
Richard I of Normandy , also known as Richard the Fearless , was the Duke of Normandy from 942 to 996; he is considered the first to have held that title.-Birth:He was born to William I of Normandy, ruler of Normandy, and Sprota...
. Towards the end of the reign of Richard II of Normandy (années 1020) . Under Robert the Magnificent (1027-1035), he had the role of Steward or Seneschal
Seneschal
A seneschal was an officer in the houses of important nobles in the Middle Ages. In the French administrative system of the Middle Ages, the sénéchal was also a royal officer in charge of justice and control of the administration in southern provinces, equivalent to the northern French bailli...
. He kept this role after the Duke's death in 1035. He became one of the legal protectors of the young successor to the duchy, William the Bastard, known later as William the Conqueror, then aged 8.
The young Duke William was in danger, as Richard's supporters were trying to assassinate him to regain power in the duchy, and the Norman barons were rebelling. Osbern was murdered by Le Vaudreuil in the winter of 1040-1041, while protecting the young Duke in the child's bedroom. . According to Guillaume de Jumièges, his throat was cut by William, son of Roger I of Montgomery. Barnon de Glos-la-Ferrières avenged the death of his lord by killing the murderer.
Other historians of the Normans disagree on the origin of the benefits held by Osbern, specifically which of them came from his father Herfast and which via his marriage to Emma, daughter of the powerful Count Rodulf of Ivry
Rodulf of Ivry
Rodulf of Ivry was a Norman noble, half-brother of Richard I of Normandy.- Regent in Normandy :Duke Richard I died in 996...
and sister of Hugues of Bayeux. He possessed land widely spread across Normandy: in the Bessin at Crépon
Crépon
Crépon is a commune in the Calvados department in the Basse-Normandie region in northwestern France.-Population:-Architecture:Historic architecture :* Parish church, Saint-Médard-et-Saint-Gildard, 12th-14th century...
, at Hiémois (near Falaise
Falaise
Falaise is the name of several communes in France:* Falaise, Ardennes* Falaise, Calvados** The Falaise pocket was the site of a battle in the Second World War* La Falaise, in the Yvelines département* The Falaise escarpment in Quebec City...
), near the confluence of the rivers Seine
Seine
The Seine is a -long river and an important commercial waterway within the Paris Basin in the north of France. It rises at Saint-Seine near Dijon in northeastern France in the Langres plateau, flowing through Paris and into the English Channel at Le Havre . It is navigable by ocean-going vessels...
and Andelle
Andelle
The Andelle is a river of Normandy, France, in length, flowing through the departments of Seine-Maritime and Eure.- Geography :The Andelle has its source in the Pays de Bray in the territory of the commune of Serqueux...
, around Cormeilles
Cormeilles
Cormeilles may refer to the following communes in France:* Cormeilles, Eure, in the Eure département* Cormeilles, Oise, in the Oise département* Cormeilles-en-Parisis, in the Val-d'Oise département...
, in Talou, in Pays d'Ouche
Pays d'Ouche
The Pays d'Ouche is an historical and geographical region in Normandy. It extends from the southwest of Évreux up to Bernay and Beaumont-le-Roger as a northern limit, and down to L'Aigle and to Gacé in the south....
at Breteuil
Breteuil
-Places in France:*Breteuil, Eure, in the Eure département*Breteuil, Oise, in the Oise département...
, and at La Neuve-Lyre
La Neuve-Lyre
La Neuve-Lyre is a commune in the Eure department in Haute-Normandie in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
.
Family and descendants
He married Emma d'Ivry, daughter of Count Rodulf of IvryRodulf of Ivry
Rodulf of Ivry was a Norman noble, half-brother of Richard I of Normandy.- Regent in Normandy :Duke Richard I died in 996...
, who was half-brother of Richard I, Duke of Normandy. The children included :
- William Fitz OsbernWilliam Fitz OsbernWilliam Fitz Osbern may refer to:* William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford , Norman magnate and friend of William the Conqueror* William Fitz Osbern , leader of popular revolt in London 1196...
(ca 1020 – 1071), 1 Earl of HerefordEarl of HerefordThe title of Earl of Hereford was created six times in the Peerage of England. See also Duke of Hereford, Viscount Hereford. Dates indicate the years the person held the title for.-Earls of Hereford, First Creation :*Swegen Godwinson...
; - Osbern FitzOsbernOsbern FitzOsbern- Life :FitzOsbern was a relative of King Edward the Confessor as well as being a royal chaplain. During Edward's reign he received the church at Bosham, near Chichester. He was one of those present at the consecration of Westminster Abbey at Christmas 1065. He was a steward for King William I of...
(† end 1103), Bishop of ExeterBishop of ExeterThe Bishop of Exeter is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Exeter in the Province of Canterbury. The incumbent usually signs his name as Exon or incorporates this in his signature....
in 1072 .