Robert D'Oyly (Osney)
Encyclopedia
Robert D'Oyly was a 12th century English
nobleman, son of Nigel D'Oyly
, and nephew of Robert D'Oyly
, founder of Oxford Castle
.
Robert married Edith Forne
, daughter of Lord Greystock, who had been King Henry I of England
's concubine, in 1120. The marriage also meant Robert became Lord of the Manor of Cleydon
.
In 1129, he was persuaded by his wife to build the Church of St Mary, in the Isle of Osney
, near Oxford Castle
, for the use of Augustine Monks
- this was to become Osney Abbey
.
By 1141 Robert had inherited his father's position of Lord of Oxford Castle
and Baron Hocknorton and it was he that declared his support for Empress Matilda
against King Stephen
, giving her protection in Oxford between 1141 and the winter of 1142. It is because of this action that Stephen came to Oxford and besieged the castle for three months, burning the city down in the process. Matilda supposedly escaped by dressing in white as a form of camouflage against the snow covered ground, and fleeing across the frozen Castle Mill Stream
. It is likely that Robert died shortly after this as governorship of the castle changed hands, though whether his death was at the hands of the King is not known.
Robert and Edith had at least two children, Henry, buried at Osney in 1163, and Gilbert. Henry became 4th Baron Hocknorton and Kings Constable and married Margery, daughter of Humphry Bohun, Earl of Hereford.
Robert was buried at Eynsham
, Oxfordshire.
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
nobleman, son of Nigel D'Oyly
Nigel D'Oyly
Nigel D'Oyly was an 11th-12th century nobleman of England and, in 1120, the Lord of Oxford Castle, and briefly the Lord of Wallingford Castle.-Biography:...
, and nephew of Robert D'Oyly
Robert D'Oyly (Oxford)
Robert D'Oyly was a Norman nobleman who accompanied William the Conqueror on the Norman Conquest, his invasion of England. He died in 1091.-Background:Robert was the son of Walter D'Oyly and elder brother to Nigel D'Oyly...
, founder of Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle is a large, partly ruined Norman medieval castle situated on the west edge of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. The original moated, wooden motte and bailey castle was replaced with stone in the 11th century and played an important role in the conflict of the Anarchy...
.
Robert married Edith Forne
Edith Forne
Edith Forne was an English noblewoman who was the concubine of King Henry I of England and the foundress of Osney Abbey in Oxford.She was the daughter of Forn Sigulfson, Lord of Greystoke, Cumberland.Edith had two children by King Henry:...
, daughter of Lord Greystock, who had been 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...
's concubine, in 1120. The marriage also meant Robert became Lord of the Manor of Cleydon
Steeple Claydon
Steeple Claydon is a village and also a civil parish within the district of Aylesbury Vale in Buckinghamshire, England. It has an unusually high number of gingers, it is speculated that this is due to most people's mums also being their aunts. Steeple Claydon is located about four miles south of...
.
In 1129, he was persuaded by his wife to build the Church of St Mary, in the Isle of Osney
Osney
Osney, Osney Island, or Osney Town is a riverside community in the west of the city of Oxford, England. It is located off the Botley Road, just west of the city's main railway station, on an island surrounded by the River Thames, known in Oxford as the Isis. Osney is part of the city council ward...
, near Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle is a large, partly ruined Norman medieval castle situated on the west edge of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. The original moated, wooden motte and bailey castle was replaced with stone in the 11th century and played an important role in the conflict of the Anarchy...
, for the use of Augustine Monks
Augustinians
The term Augustinians, named after Saint Augustine of Hippo , applies to two separate and unrelated types of Catholic religious orders:...
- this was to become Osney Abbey
Osney Abbey
Osney Abbey or Oseney Abbey, later Osney Cathedral, was a house of Augustinian canons at Osney in Oxfordshire. The site is south of the modern Botley Road, down Mill Street by Osney Cemetery, next to the railway line just south of Oxford station. It was founded as a priory in 1129, becoming an...
.
By 1141 Robert had inherited his father's position of Lord of Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle
Oxford Castle is a large, partly ruined Norman medieval castle situated on the west edge of Oxford in Oxfordshire, England. The original moated, wooden motte and bailey castle was replaced with stone in the 11th century and played an important role in the conflict of the Anarchy...
and Baron Hocknorton and it was he that declared his support for 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...
against King Stephen
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...
, giving her protection in Oxford between 1141 and the winter of 1142. It is because of this action that Stephen came to Oxford and besieged the castle for three months, burning the city down in the process. Matilda supposedly escaped by dressing in white as a form of camouflage against the snow covered ground, and fleeing across the frozen Castle Mill Stream
Castle Mill Stream
Castle Mill Stream is a backwater of the River Thames in the west of Oxford, England. It is 5.5 km long.-Course:The stream leaves the main course of the Thames at the south end of Port Meadow, immediately upstream of Medley Footbridge. It then flows under the Cherwell Valley railway line and turns...
. It is likely that Robert died shortly after this as governorship of the castle changed hands, though whether his death was at the hands of the King is not known.
Robert and Edith had at least two children, Henry, buried at Osney in 1163, and Gilbert. Henry became 4th Baron Hocknorton and Kings Constable and married Margery, daughter of Humphry Bohun, Earl of Hereford.
Robert was buried at Eynsham
Eynsham
Eynsham is a village and civil parish about east of Witney in Oxfordshire, England.-History:Eynsham grew up near the historically important ford of Swinford on the River Thames flood plain...
, Oxfordshire.