Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester
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Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester
, Count of Meulan (between 1040 and 1050 – 5 June 1118) was a powerful English and French nobleman, revered as one of the wisest men of his age. Chroniclers speak highly of his eloquence, his learning, and three kings of England valued his counsel.
He accompanied William the Conqueror
to England in 1066, where his service earned him more than 91 lordships and manors. When his mother died in 1081, Robert inherited the title of Count of Meulan in Normandy
, also the title of Viscount Ivry and Lord of Norton. He did homage to Philip I of France
for these estates and sat as French Peer in the Parliament held at Poissy
.
At the Battle of Hastings
Robert was appointed leader of the infantry on the right wing of the army.
He and his brother Henry were members of the Royal hunting party in the New Forest
, when William Rufus
received his mysterious death wound, 2 August 1100. He then pledged alligience to William Rufus' brother, Henry I of England
, who created him Earl of Leicester in 1107.
On the death of William Rufus, William, Count of Evreux and Ralph de Conches made an incursion into Robert's Norman estates, on the pretence that they had suffered injury through some advice that Robert had given to the King; their raid was very successful for they collected a vast booty.
According to Henry of Huntingdon
, Robert died of shame after "a certain earl carried off the lady he had espoused, either by some intrigue or by force and stratagem." His wife Isabella remarried in 1118 to William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey
.
and Adeline of Meulan, daughter of Waleran III, Count de Meulan, and an older brother of Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick
.
In 1096 he married (Isabel) Elizabeth de Vermandois
, daughter of Hugh Magnus
(b. 1053, d. 18 Oct 1101) a younger son of the French king and Adelaide de Cleremont (b. 1050, d. 23 Sep 1120). Their children were:
Earl of Leicester
The title Earl of Leicester was created in the 12th century in the Peerage of England , and is currently a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, created in 1837.-Early creations:...
, Count of Meulan (between 1040 and 1050 – 5 June 1118) was a powerful English and French nobleman, revered as one of the wisest men of his age. Chroniclers speak highly of his eloquence, his learning, and three kings of England valued his counsel.
He accompanied William the Conqueror
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
to England in 1066, where his service earned him more than 91 lordships and manors. When his mother died in 1081, Robert inherited the title of Count of Meulan in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, also the title of Viscount Ivry and Lord of Norton. He did homage to Philip I of France
Philip I of France
Philip I , called the Amorous, was King of France from 1060 to his death. His reign, like that of most of the early Direct Capetians, was extraordinarily long for the time...
for these estates and sat as French Peer in the Parliament held at Poissy
Poissy
Poissy is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France in north-central France. It is located in the western suburbs of Paris from the center.In 1561 it was the site of a fruitless Catholic-Huguenot conference, the Colloquy at Poissy...
.
At the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
Robert was appointed leader of the infantry on the right wing of the army.
He and his brother Henry were members of the Royal hunting party in the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
, when William Rufus
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...
received his mysterious death wound, 2 August 1100. He then pledged alligience to William Rufus' brother, 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...
, who created him Earl of Leicester in 1107.
On the death of William Rufus, William, Count of Evreux and Ralph de Conches made an incursion into Robert's Norman estates, on the pretence that they had suffered injury through some advice that Robert had given to the King; their raid was very successful for they collected a vast booty.
According to Henry of Huntingdon
Henry of Huntingdon
Henry of Huntingdon , the son of a canon in the diocese of Lincoln, was a 12th century English historian, the author of a history of England, Historia anglorum, "the most important Anglo-Norman historian to emerge from the secular clergy". He served as archdeacon of Huntingdon...
, Robert died of shame after "a certain earl carried off the lady he had espoused, either by some intrigue or by force and stratagem." His wife Isabella remarried in 1118 to William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey was the son of William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey and his first wife Gundred. He is more often referred to as Earl Warenne or Earl of Warenne than as Earl of Surrey....
.
Family and children
He was the eldest son of Roger de BeaumontRoger de Beaumont
Roger de Beaumont-le-Roger, Seigneur de Beaumont-le-Roger et de Pont-Audemer was son of Humphrey de Vielles and his wife Albreda de la Haye Auberie...
and Adeline of Meulan, daughter of Waleran III, Count de Meulan, and an older brother of 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...
.
In 1096 he married (Isabel) Elizabeth de Vermandois
Elizabeth de Vermandois (d. 1131)
Elizabeth of Vermandois, or Elisabeth or Isabel de Vermandois , was a niece of Philip I of France who was twice married to influential Anglo-Norman magnates.-Family:...
, daughter of Hugh Magnus
Hugh of Vermandois
Hugh I , called Magnus or the Great, was a younger son of Henry I of France and Anne of Kiev and younger brother of Philip I. He was in his own right Count of Vermandois, but an ineffectual leader and soldier, great only in his boasting...
(b. 1053, d. 18 Oct 1101) a younger son of the French king and Adelaide de Cleremont (b. 1050, d. 23 Sep 1120). Their children were:
- Emma de Beaumont (born 1102)
- Waleran IV de Beaumont, Count of MeulanWaleran de Beaumont, 1st Earl of WorcesterWaleran de Beaumont, Count of Meulan, 1st Earl of Worcester , was the son of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester and Elizabeth de Vermandois, and the twin brother of Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester...
(born 1104) - Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of LeicesterRobert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of LeicesterRobert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester was Justiciar of England 1155–1168.The surname "de Beaumont" is given him by genealogists. The only known contemporary surname applied to him is "Robert son of Count Robert"...
(born 1104) - Hugh de Beaumont, 1st Earl of BedfordHugh de Beaumont, 1st Earl of BedfordHugh de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Bedford was Earl of Bedford from 1137 to 1141. The grant of the earldom was by Stephen of England; this was the first of his numerous creations. Hugh was known as 'Hugh the Pauper' or 'Hugh the Poor'....
(born c. 1106) - Adeline de Beaumont, married two times:
- Hugh IV of Montfort-sur-Risle;
- Richard de Granville of Bideford (d. 1147)
- Aubree de Beaumont, married Hugh II of Château-neuf-ThimeraisChâteauneuf-en-ThymeraisChâteauneuf-en-Thymerais is a commune Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.The commune was once an important stronghold reigning over the whole natural and historic province of Thymerais....
. - Maud de Beaumont, married William Lovel. (b. c. 1102)
- Isabel de Beaumont, a mistress of King Henry I of EnglandHenry I of EnglandHenry 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...
. Married two times:- Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of PembrokeGilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of PembrokeGilbert fitz Gilbert de Clare , son of Gilbert Fitz Richard and Alice de Claremont, was sometimes referred to as "Strongbow", although his son is better remembered by this name, was the first Earl of Pembroke from 1138....
; - Hervé de Montmorency, Constable of Ireland
- Gilbert de Clare, 1st Earl of Pembroke
Sources
- Edward T. Beaumont, J.P. The Beaumonts in History. A.D. 850-1850. Oxford.