Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford
Encyclopedia
Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford, was born some time before 1125 and, according to the Hereford Cathedral Book of Obits, died on 22 September 1155. He was the son of Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford
and Sibyl of Neufmarche, the heiress of Brecon
.
He became earl on the death of his father on 24 December 1143 and immediately took his father's place as one of the mainstays of the Empress Matilda
in the war against King Stephen
. On being told by King Henry II
to relinquish the royal castle of Gloucester
he rebelled, only to submit almost immediately on 13 March 1155. He then fought in the royal war against Hugh de Mortimer
of Wigmore
. When this ended at the beginning of July he gave up his lands to his brother, Walter de Hereford
and retired to Gloucester
monastery where he died three months later. Possibly he had been seriously wounded in the summer fighting.
Roger married Cecily Fitz John, the daughter of Pain fitzJohn
in January 1137/8. She remained Countess of Hereford in right of her dower
until 1199. She died in 1207. The earldom of Hereford remained in abeyance
from the death of Roger until 28 April 1199 when King John of England
recreated it for Henry de Bohun
, the grandson of Earl Roger's sister Margaret.
Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford
Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford, Lord of Brecknock was the son of Walter de Gloucester, who served as hereditary sheriff of that county between 1104 and 1121....
and Sibyl of Neufmarche, the heiress of Brecon
Brecon
Brecon is a long-established market town and community in southern Powys, Mid Wales, with a population of 7,901. It was the county town of the historic county of Brecknockshire; although its role as such was eclipsed with the formation of Powys, it remains an important local centre...
.
He became earl on the death of his father on 24 December 1143 and immediately took his father's place as one of the mainstays of the 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...
in the war 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...
. On being told by King Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
to relinquish the royal castle of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
he rebelled, only to submit almost immediately on 13 March 1155. He then fought in the royal war against Hugh de Mortimer
Hugh de Mortimer
Hugh de Mortimer was a Norman English medieval baron.- Lineage :The son of Hugh de Mortimer , the son of Ralf de Mortimer, he was Lord of Wigmore Castle, Cleobury Mortimer and at times, Bridgnorth, Bishop's Castle and Maelienydd.- Anarchy :During the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign, Mortimer was...
of Wigmore
Wigmore Castle
Wigmore Castle is a ruined castle which is barely visible from the village of Wigmore in the northwest region of Herefordshire, England.- History :...
. When this ended at the beginning of July he gave up his lands to his brother, Walter de Hereford
Walter de Hereford
Walter de Hereford was a holder of the feudal title Baron Bergavenny or Lord Abergavenny in the Welsh Marches in the mid twelfth century.- Lineage :...
and retired to Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
monastery where he died three months later. Possibly he had been seriously wounded in the summer fighting.
Roger married Cecily Fitz John, the daughter of Pain fitzJohn
Pain fitzJohn
Pain fitzJohn was an Anglo-Norman nobleman and administrator, and one of King Henry I of England's "new men". The son of a minor nobleman, Pain, along with his brothers, rose through their ability to become important royal officials during the reign of King Henry...
in January 1137/8. She remained Countess of Hereford in right of her dower
Dower
Dower or morning gift was a provision accorded by law to a wife for her support in the event that she should survive her husband...
until 1199. She died in 1207. The earldom of Hereford remained in abeyance
Abeyance
Abeyance is a state of expectancy in respect of property, titles or office, when the right to them is not vested in any one person, but awaits the appearance or determination of the true owner. In law, the term abeyance can only be applied to such future estates as have not yet vested or possibly...
from the death of Roger until 28 April 1199 when King John of England
John of England
John , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
recreated it for Henry de Bohun
Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford
Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford was an Anglo-Norman nobleman.He was Earl of Hereford and Hereditary Constable of England from 1199 to 1220.- Lineage :...
, the grandson of Earl Roger's sister Margaret.