Robert de Mowbray
Encyclopedia
Robert de Mowbray a Norman
, was Earl of Northumbria
from 1086, until 1095, when he was deposed for rebelling against William Rufus, King of England. He was the son of Roger de Mowbray and nephew of Geoffrey de Montbray
, bishop of Coutances. The family name derives from Montbray in Manche
, Normandy
, Mowbray being a corruption of it.
, the previous earl decided that he no longer wished to remain in his post. Coucy was made earl in 1080 and, probably that same year, resigned his position and returned to Normandy
losing all of the lands that he held in England. He was not replaced until Robert was appointed in 1086.
In 1088 Robert and his uncle, Geoffrey, sided with Robert, duke of Normandy, in the rebellion
against William Rufus, and both were active militarily. The rebellion failed but the king subsequently pardoned them both, and Robert remained in his post as Earl of Northumbria.
In November 1093 Malcolm III of Scotland
invaded Northumbria
for the second time since 1091, and attacked Alnwick
. Robert de Mowbray raised an army and attacked the Scots taking them by surprise on November 13 (St Brice’s Day). In the ensuing conflict, known as the Battle of Alnwick
, Malcolm and his son Edward were slain. Earlier that same year Geofrey de Montbray died and Mowbray succeeded to his uncle's large estates, so becoming one of the most powerful barons in the kingdom.
In 1095 Mowbray married Matilda, daughter of Richard de l'Aigle, and niece of Hugh d'Avranches, earl of Chester.
. It appears that there was a conspiracy that included several barons, but that when the time came for action most of the conspirators abandoned the scheme leaving Mowbray and his fellow conspirator William of Eu
exposed. The incident that brought the matter to a head was Mowbray seizing four Norwegian vessels lying in the Tyne. The merchants who owned the vessels complained to the king and Mowbray was commanded to attend the Curia Regis
to explain his actions. Mowbray did not attend and ignored further summonses, so that William finally led an army against him. Mowbray shut himself up in his stronghold, Bamburgh Castle
. William laid siege to Bamburgh and built a temporary siege castle alongside it, known as Malvoisin, or “evil neighbour”. For some reason, during the siege, Mowbray left the castle with a small force of knights and was pursued by his besiegers, being forced to take refuge in Tynemouth. After a siege of six days he was wounded in the leg, captured and was taken back to Bamburgh where his wife was still resisting the besiegers. She finally surrendered the castle after the besiegers threatened to blind her husband.
. He spent many years in prisons, “growing old without offspring”, according to the chronicler, Florence of Worcester
, and then was allowed to become a monk at St Albans Abbey, according to another chronicler Orderic Vitalis
. There is some doubt about the date of his death. On one hand it was claimed that he spent thirty years in prison, giving his date of death about 1125. However, William Dugdale
claimed that Mowbray became a monk and died in 1106.
Mowbray’s fellow conspirators, William of Eu
and William of Aldrie
, received harsher punishment, William of Eu being castrated and blinded, and William of Aldrie being condemned to death.
gives the following description of Robert de Mowbray: "Powerful, rich, bold, fierce in war, haughty, he despised his equals and, swollen with vanity, disdained to obey his superiors. He was of great stature, strong, swarthy and hairy. Daring and crafty, stern and grim, he was given more to meditation than speech, and in conversation scarce ever smiled".
Mowbray's wife, Matilda, was granted an annulment of her marriage by Pope Paschal II
and sometime after 1107, she became the wife of Nigel d'Aubigny
, who was also granted the lands in Montbray forfeited by her former husband. The couple remained childless and in 1118 d’Aubigny divorced Matilda and married Gundred de Gournay , daughter of Gerard de Gournay and Edith de Warenne. They had a son, Roger who inherited the estates originally forfeited by Robert Mowbray. On receiving his inheritance Roger changed his name to Mowbray at the instruction of Henry I
. Thus the name Mowbray was continued, but with no blood line from Robert de Mowbray.
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...
, was Earl of Northumbria
Earl of Northumbria
Earl of Northumbria was a title in the Anglo-Danish, late Anglo-Saxon, and early Anglo-Norman period in England. The earldom of Northumbria was the successor of the ealdormanry of Bamburgh, itself the successor of an independent Bernicia. Under the Norse kingdom of York, there were earls of...
from 1086, until 1095, when he was deposed for rebelling against William Rufus, King of England. He was the son of Roger de Mowbray and nephew of Geoffrey de Montbray
Geoffrey de Montbray
Geoffrey de Montbray , bishop of Coutances , a right-hand man of William the Conqueror, was a type of the great feudal prelate, warrior and administrator at need....
, bishop of Coutances. The family name derives from Montbray in Manche
Manche
Manche is a French department in Normandy named after La Manche , which is the French name for the English Channel.- History :Manche is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790...
, 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:...
, Mowbray being a corruption of it.
Earldom of Northumbria
Robert was made Earl of Northumbria after Aubrey de CoucyAubrey de Coucy
Aubrey de Coucy was the earl of Northumbria from 1080, by appointment of William the Conqueror, until he resigned it. After the rebellion and suppression of Earl Waltheof in 1075, William Walcher, prince-bishop of Durham, was installed temporarily. In 1080, the Conqueror gave the earldom to...
, the previous earl decided that he no longer wished to remain in his post. Coucy was made earl in 1080 and, probably that same year, resigned his position and returned to 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:...
losing all of the lands that he held in England. He was not replaced until Robert was appointed in 1086.
In 1088 Robert and his uncle, Geoffrey, sided with Robert, duke of Normandy, in the rebellion
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, and both were active militarily. The rebellion failed but the king subsequently pardoned them both, and Robert remained in his post as Earl of Northumbria.
In November 1093 Malcolm III of Scotland
Malcolm III of Scotland
Máel Coluim mac Donnchada , was King of Scots...
invaded Northumbria
Northumbria
Northumbria was a medieval kingdom of the Angles, in what is now Northern England and South-East Scotland, becoming subsequently an earldom in a united Anglo-Saxon kingdom of England. The name reflects the approximate southern limit to the kingdom's territory, the Humber Estuary.Northumbria was...
for the second time since 1091, and attacked Alnwick
Alnwick
Alnwick is a small market town in north Northumberland, England. The town's population was just over 8000 at the time of the 2001 census and Alnwick's district population was 31,029....
. Robert de Mowbray raised an army and attacked the Scots taking them by surprise on November 13 (St Brice’s Day). In the ensuing conflict, known as the Battle of Alnwick
Battle of Alnwick (1093)
The Battle of Alnwick is one of two battles fought near the town of Alnwick, in Northumberland, England. In the battle, which occurred on 13 November 1093, Malcolm III of Scotland, also known as Malcolm Canmore, was killed together with his son Edward, by an army of knights led by Robert de...
, Malcolm and his son Edward were slain. Earlier that same year Geofrey de Montbray died and Mowbray succeeded to his uncle's large estates, so becoming one of the most powerful barons in the kingdom.
In 1095 Mowbray married Matilda, daughter of Richard de l'Aigle, and niece of Hugh d'Avranches, earl of Chester.
Rebellion and downfall
In 1095 Mowbray took part in a rebellion which had for its object the transference of the crown from the sons of the Conqueror to Stephen of AumaleStephen of Aumale
Stephen of Aumale was Count of Aumale from 1082 to 1127.He was son of Eudes de Blois, Count of Troyes and Count of Meaux, and Adelaide of Normandy, countess of Aumale, and sister of William the Conqueror...
. It appears that there was a conspiracy that included several barons, but that when the time came for action most of the conspirators abandoned the scheme leaving Mowbray and his fellow conspirator William of Eu
William of Eu
William of Eu, Count of Eu was a first generation Anglo-Norman aristocrat and rebel.Along with William of Aldrie, he conspired with Roger de Lacy and Robert de Mowbray to murder William II and install the king's cousin Stephen of Aumale....
exposed. The incident that brought the matter to a head was Mowbray seizing four Norwegian vessels lying in the Tyne. The merchants who owned the vessels complained to the king and Mowbray was commanded to attend the Curia Regis
Curia Regis
Curia regis is a Latin term meaning "royal council" or "king's court."- England :The Curia Regis, in the Kingdom of England, was a council of tenants-in-chief and ecclesiastics that advised the king of England on legislative matters...
to explain his actions. Mowbray did not attend and ignored further summonses, so that William finally led an army against him. Mowbray shut himself up in his stronghold, Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle is an imposing castle located on the coast at Bamburgh in Northumberland, England. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
. William laid siege to Bamburgh and built a temporary siege castle alongside it, known as Malvoisin, or “evil neighbour”. For some reason, during the siege, Mowbray left the castle with a small force of knights and was pursued by his besiegers, being forced to take refuge in Tynemouth. After a siege of six days he was wounded in the leg, captured and was taken back to Bamburgh where his wife was still resisting the besiegers. She finally surrendered the castle after the besiegers threatened to blind her husband.
Imprisonment and death
As a result of his part in the rebellion Mowbray forfeited his estates and was imprisoned for life, initially at Windsor CastleWindsor Castle
Windsor Castle is a medieval castle and royal residence in Windsor in the English county of Berkshire, notable for its long association with the British royal family and its architecture. The original castle was built after the Norman invasion by William the Conqueror. Since the time of Henry I it...
. He spent many years in prisons, “growing old without offspring”, according to the chronicler, Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester
Florence of Worcester , known in Latin as Florentius, was a monk of Worcester, who played some part in the production of the Chronicon ex chronicis, a Latin world chronicle which begins with the creation and ends in 1140....
, and then was allowed to become a monk at St Albans Abbey, according to another chronicler Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis was an English chronicler of Norman ancestry who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th and 12th century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England. The modern biographer of Henry I of England, C...
. There is some doubt about the date of his death. On one hand it was claimed that he spent thirty years in prison, giving his date of death about 1125. However, William Dugdale
William Dugdale
Sir William Dugdale was an English antiquary and herald. As a scholar he was influential in the development of medieval history as an academic subject.-Life:...
claimed that Mowbray became a monk and died in 1106.
Mowbray’s fellow conspirators, William of Eu
William of Eu
William of Eu, Count of Eu was a first generation Anglo-Norman aristocrat and rebel.Along with William of Aldrie, he conspired with Roger de Lacy and Robert de Mowbray to murder William II and install the king's cousin Stephen of Aumale....
and William of Aldrie
William of Aldrie
William of Aldrie was a first generation Anglo-Norman and rebel. A cousin of, and steward to, William of Eu, he was executed January 1096.Along with his cousin, Aldrie conspired with Roger de Lacy and Robert de Mowbray to murder William II and install the king’s cousin Stephen of Aumale.In 1095...
, received harsher punishment, William of Eu being castrated and blinded, and William of Aldrie being condemned to death.
Legacy
Orderic VitalisOrderic Vitalis
Orderic Vitalis was an English chronicler of Norman ancestry who wrote one of the great contemporary chronicles of 11th and 12th century Normandy and Anglo-Norman England. The modern biographer of Henry I of England, C...
gives the following description of Robert de Mowbray: "Powerful, rich, bold, fierce in war, haughty, he despised his equals and, swollen with vanity, disdained to obey his superiors. He was of great stature, strong, swarthy and hairy. Daring and crafty, stern and grim, he was given more to meditation than speech, and in conversation scarce ever smiled".
Mowbray's wife, Matilda, was granted an annulment of her marriage by Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II , born Ranierius, was Pope from August 13, 1099, until his death. A monk of the Cluniac order, he was created cardinal priest of the Titulus S...
and sometime after 1107, she became the wife of Nigel d'Aubigny
Nigel d'Aubigny
Nigel d'Aubigny was a Norman nobleman, and supporter of Henry I of England. He is described as "one of the most favoured of Henry’s 'new men'", and after the Battle of Tinchebrai in 1106 was largely rewarded by Henry with the lands of Robert de Stuteville, who had followed Robert...
, who was also granted the lands in Montbray forfeited by her former husband. The couple remained childless and in 1118 d’Aubigny divorced Matilda and married Gundred de Gournay , daughter of Gerard de Gournay and Edith de Warenne. They had a son, Roger who inherited the estates originally forfeited by Robert Mowbray. On receiving his inheritance Roger changed his name to Mowbray at the instruction of 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...
. Thus the name Mowbray was continued, but with no blood line from Robert de Mowbray.