Текст книги "Britain's Royal Families"

Автор книги: Элисон Уир

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CHAPTER TWO

The Norman Kings of England

Harold II was the last of the Saxon Kings of England. His successor, William I, based his claim to the English throne upon a promise made to him more than a decade before 1066 by Edward the Confessor, who is said to have told William that he, Edward, would make him his successor.

In 1064, Earl Harold was shipwrecked upon the coast of Normandy. William kept him in honourable captivity until he had sworn upon holy relics to do all in his power to enforce William’s claim to the English throne. William knew very well that at that time it seemed that Harold, the most powerful man in England next to the king, would be designated Edward’s successor, which was what in fact happened. When, in the autumn of 1065, Edward was seen to be dying, the Witan considered all the claimants and decided that Harold, as the only man with the strength and maturity that befitted him to rule England, was the natural choice. Edward, on his deathbed, accordingly left his crown to Harold, who seized power in defiance of his oath to William.

William thereupon gathered an army, sailed to England, and defeated Harold on 14 October, 1066, at the Battle of Hastings.

At that time, there was only one living male representative of the ancient line of the Kings of Wessex, and that was the child Edgar the Atheling, the grandson of Edmund II. The Witan in London set him up as king as soon as they received the news of William’s victory at Hastings, but it quickly became obvious that Edgar’s impeccable claim to the throne would be no match for William’s determination to wear the crown of England. Edgar submitted to William within 6 weeks, and William was crowned King of England in Westminster Abbey on Christmas Day, 1066.

A new royal dynasty had been founded; the joining of England with Normandy brought England very much into the forefront of European affairs. William’s followers received lands and honours, and thus founded aristocratic dynasties of their own in their new realm. A new order prevailed: England was feudalised and its Church and legal system were overhauled, and all things Saxon were disdained by the conquering Normans.

William’s claim to the English throne had very little basis in dynastic terms. His great-aunt Emma had been wife to both Ethelred II and Canute, and William’s wife Matilda was a descendant of King Alfred. Those were his only links to the English royal line. William’s own ancestor, Rollo, who founded the duchy of Normandy in the 10th century, had been a Viking pirate. It was left to William’s son, Henry I, to ally himself in blood to the ancient line of Cerdic: in 1100, he married Edith, the niece of Edgar the Atheling, much to the disgust of his Norman barons, who sneeringly referred to the royal couple as ‘Godric and Godgifu’, old Saxon names now fallen into disrepute. Yet the marriage was popular with the common people, who were, after all, Saxon, and later Kings would acknowledge that it was fitting that the blood of Cerdic flowed in their veins.

William I

FATHER: Robert

Known as ‘the Devil’ or ‘the Magnificent’, he was the son of Richard II, Duke of Normandy, by Judith of Brittany, and was born in c.1008 in Normandy. He perhaps married Astrid, daughter of King Sweyn, in c.1027, but repudiated her almost at once. He succeeded his brother Richard III as Duke of Normandy on 6 August, 1028, and died on 2 or 22 July, 1035, on pilgrimage at Nicea in Bithynia. William I was his illegitimate son.

MOTHER: Herleva

Alternatively called Arlette, she was the daughter of Fulbert, a tanner of Falaise in Normandy, by his wife Duxia. She was born in c.1012. She is said to have been noticed by Duke Robert as she sat washing clothes in a river. Their liaison produced two children ( below). Herleva married Herluin, Viscount of Conteville, between c.1029 and 1035, and had four (or perhaps as many as six) further children ( below). She died in c.1050, and was buried in the Abbey of St Grestain in France.

SIBLINGS:

Adeliza

She was born perhaps in 1029, before her mother’s marriage to a Norman nobleman. She married firstly Enguerrand III, Count of Ponthieu ( d.1053), and had issue:

1  Adelaide (alive in 1096).

Adeliza married secondly Lambert of Boulogne, Count of Lens in Artois (who was killed in battle in 1054), in c.1053, and had issue:

2  Judith (1054/5–after 1086); she married Waltheof, Earl of Northumbria and Huntingdon (who was executed in 1076), and had issue, including Matilda, wife of David I, King of Scotland.

Adeliza married thirdly Odo II, Count of Champagne (disinherited in 1071), and had issue:

3  Stephen, Count of Aumale (before 1070–1121/30), who married Hawise, daughter of Ralph de Mortimer of Wigmore, and had issue.

Adeliza was styled Countess of Aumale in her own right from 1082. She died between 1087 and 1090.

William did not have any full brothers.

HALF-SIBLINGS (the children of his mother’s marriage):

1   Robert

He was born in 1030/1, and was created Count of Mortain in c.1049 or c.1056. He was probably created Earl of Cornwall in c.1066/7. He died on 8 December, 1090/1, and was buried in the Abbey of St Grestain, France.

Robert married, before 1066:

Matilda

She was the daughter of Roger of Montgomery, Earl of Shrewsbury, by Mabel, daughter of William, Seigneur of Alençon-Bellême. The date of her death is not known; she was buried in the Abbey of St Grestain in France.

Issue of marriage:

  (i)   William

He was born before 1084. He succeeded his father as Count of Mortain on 8 December, 1090/1, and married a lady called Adelaide, of whom nothing more is known. He died after 1140.

 (ii)   Emma

She married William IV, Count of Toulouse ( d.1094), and had issue.

Robert married secondly:

Almodis

She was perhaps a sister of Boson, Count of La Marche. After Robert’s death, she perhaps married Roger of Montgomery.

2   Odo

He was born between c.1031 and 1035. He entered the Church and was consecrated Bishop of Bayeux in Normandy around 1049 and before 23 April 1050. He was created Earl of Kent in 1066/7; he was deprived of this earldom, which was not forfeited, in 1082, but restored in 1087. He was again deprived of the earldom of Kent in 1088, and this time it was declared forfeit, Odo being banished from England. He died in February, 1097, at Palermo, Sicily, and was buried in Palermo Cathedral.

Odo had the following illegitimate issue:

1  John.

3   Emma(?)

Historians now think she was probably fictitious. She is said to have married Richard of Goz, Viscount of Avranches ( d.c.1082), and had issue:

1  Hugh, Viscount of Avranches, Earl of Chester ( c.1047–1101), who married Ermentrude, daughter of Hugh, Count of Clermont, and had issue. Hugh died a monk.

4   Muriel

She married either William, Count of La Ferté-Macé, or, more probably, Eudo de Capello, Viscount of the Côtentin (it is possible that she had an unnamed sister who married William, Count of La Ferté-Macé – below). Muriel perhaps had issue by Eudo:

1  Muriel; she is said to have married Robert de la Haia (although there is no firm evidence for this).

Muriel’s date of death is not known; she was buried in the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

5   Sister(?)

Her existence is uncertain and her name unknown. She was possibly the sister who married William, Count of La Ferté-Macé.

6   Isabella

She married Henry, Count of Séez, and had issue:

1 St Osmund, Bishop of Salisbury ( d.1099).

WILLIAM I

Known as ‘the Bastard’, and later as ‘the Conqueror’, he was born in c.1027/8 at Falaise Castle in Normandy. He succeeded his father as Duke of Normandy on 22 July, 1035, despite his bastardy, as Duke Robert had no legitimate son. William became Count of Maine by right of conquest in 1063. He defeated Harold II at the Battle of Hastings on 14 October, 1066, and claimed the crown of England by right of inheritance (according to William, Edward the Confessor had promised to make him his successor) and by right of conquest. William I formally acceded to the throne of England on 25 December, 1066, and was crowned on that same day in Westminster Abbey, his being the first coronation to take place in the Abbey, which set a precedent for almost all future coronations.

William I married, in c.1050/52 at the Cathedral of Notre Dame d’Eu in Normandy:

Matilda

She was the daughter of Baldwin V, Count of Flanders, by Adela, daughter of Robert II, King of France. She was born in c.1032, and was crowned Queen Consort on 11 May, 1068, either at Westminster Abbey or in Winchester Cathedral. Matilda died on 2 November, 1083, at Caen in Normandy, and was buried in the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, her own foundation known as the Abbaye aux Dames, Caen, Normandy.

Issue of marriage:

1   Robert

Known as ‘Curthose’, he was born in c.1052/4 in Normandy. He succeeded his father as Duke of Normandy on 9 September, 1087, but was deprived of the dukedom by his brother Henry I on 28 September, 1106, after losing the Battle of Tinchebrai in Normandy. Robert was henceforth a prisoner in England for the rest of his life. He died on 3, 10 or 15 February, 1134/5, still in captivity, at Cardiff Castle, and was buried in Gloucester Cathedral.

Robert married, in 1100, at Apulia, Sicily:

Sybilla

She was the daughter of Geoffrey, Count of Conversano. She died around February or March, 1103, at Rouen in Normandy, probably in childbed, although one chronicler states she was poisoned by a rival for her husband’s affections. She was either buried at Caen in Normandy, or in Rouen Cathedral, Normandy.

Issue of marriage:

  (i)   William

Known as ‘Clito’, he was born in 1101 at Rouen in Normandy. In the Spring of 1127, he was created Count of Flanders by right of inheritance through his grandmother Matilda of Flanders. He died on 27 July, 1128, at the Abbey of St Bertin, St Omer, France, of wounds received at the Battle of Alost, and was buried in the Abbey of St Bertin, St Omer, France.

William married firstly, in 1123 (although no record exists as to where):

Sybilla

She was the daughter of Fulk V, Count of Anjou, by Aremburga, daughter of Hélias I, Count of Maine. She was born between 1112 and 1116. Her marriage to William Clito was annulled in 1124. She married secondly, Thierry of Alsace, Count of Flanders ( d.1168), in 1134, and had issue, including:

1  Matthew I, Count of Flanders and Boulogne ( d.1173), who married Mary, daughter of King Stephen, and had issue.

Sybilla retired in middle age to the Abbey of St Lazarus in Bethlethem, where she became a nun. She died and was buried there in 1165.

William married secondly, in January, 1128 (although no record exists as to where):

Joan(or Giovanna)

She was the daughter of Ranieri, Marquess of Montferrat, by Gisla, daughter of William I, Count of Burgundy. No dates are recorded.

(ii)    Henry

He was born in 1102. He was killed whilst hunting in the New Forest in Hampshire; the year is not known.

Robert also had the following illegitimate issue:

By a priest’s wife or mistress:

1  Richard (killed in the New Forest in 1100).

2  William (killed c.1110 at the Battle of Jerusalem, fighting the Infidel). He was Lord of Tortosa.

By an unknown woman:

3  Daughter (name not known); she married Hélias of Saint-Saëns, Count of Arques.

2   Richard

He was born before 1054 (or 1056?) in Normandy, and is said to have been created Duke of Bernay in Normandy. He was gored to death by a stag in 1075 or 1081, whilst hunting in the New Forest, Hampshire, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

3   Cecilia

She was born in c.1054/5 in Normandy, and entered the novitiate at the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, Caen, her mother’s foundation, on 18 June, 1066. She was professed there as a nun on 5 April, 1075, and was elected Abbess of Caen in 1112. She died on 3 July, 1126, at Caen, where she was buried in the Abbey of the Holy Trinity.

4   Adeliza

She was possibly born in 1055. Ordericus Vitalis states that she took religious vows early in life. Robert of Torigny states that she was at one time betrothed to Harold II when he was Earl of Wessex. She was probably dead by 5 January, 1066.

5   William II( see here).

6   Constance

She was born in c.1057 or c.1061 in Normandy. She married Alan IV Fergant, Duke of Brittany ( d.1119), at Caen, Normandy, in c.1086. She died on 13 August, 1090, perhaps poisoned by her servants, and was buried in the Church of St Melans, near Rhedon, Brittany. Sandford, writing in the 17th century, perpetrated the myth that she was married 25 years and was buried in the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.

7   Adela( see here, under King Stephen).

8   Henry I( see here).

9   Agatha

Alternatively called Elgiva, or Margaret, she may have been born in 1064. She was married by proxy to Alfonso VI ( d.1109), King of Galicia and Léon, at the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, Caen, Normandy, but died before 1074, before the marriage could be consummated. She was buried in Bayeux Cathedral, Normandy.

10   Matilda

Very little is known of her. She died unmarried before 1112.

Note: There is no evidence that either William or Matilda were the parents of Gundrada, Countess of Surrey. Charters attesting this have been proved spurious.

WILLIAM I

He died on 9 September, 1087, at the Priory of St Gervais, Rouen, Normandy, of wounds received at the siege of Mantes. He was buried in St Stephen’s Abbey, Caen, Normandy, his own foundation.

He was succeeded in England by his son William (and in Normandy by his son Robert).

William II

FATHER: William I( see here).

MOTHER: Matilda of Flanders( see here, under William I).

SIBLINGS: ( see here, under William I).

WILLIAM II

Known as ‘Rufus’, he was born between c.1056 and 1060 in Normandy. He succeeded his father as King of England on 9 September, 1087, and was crowned on 26 September, 1087, in Westminster Abbey. He never married.

William is said by an unreliable 18th-century source to have had the following illegitimate issue:

1 Berstrand.

WILLIAM II

He was killed, perhaps murdered on the orders of his brother Henry, by an arrow in his back on 2 August, 1100, in the New Forest, Hampshire. He was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

He was succeeded by his brother Henry.

Henry I

FATHER: William I( see here).

MOTHER: Matilda of Flanders( see here, under William I)

SIBLINGS: ( see here, under William I).

HENRY I

Known as ‘Beauclerk’ or ‘the Lion of Justice’, he was born in September, 1068, at Selby, Yorkshire. He became Lord of Domfront in 1092, and Count of Coutances and Bayeux in 1096. He succeeded his brother William II as King of England on 3 August, 1100, and was crowned on 5/6 August, 1100, at Westminster Abbey. He usurped the duchy of Normandy on 28 September, 1106, after defeating his brother Robert, its lawful Duke, at the Battle of Tinchebrai.

Henry I married firstly, on 11 November 1100, at Westminster Abbey:

Matilda

She was christened Edith, but adopted the name Matilda upon her marriage as it was thought the Norman barons might not respect a queen with a Saxon name. She was the daughter of Malcolm III, King of Scotland, by St Margaret, a great-granddaughter of Ethelred II, and her marriage to Henry I represented the union of Norman and Saxon royal lines. Matilda was born probably in the autumn of 1080, and was crowned Queen Consort on 11 or 14 November, 1100, at Westminster Abbey. She died on 1 May, 1118, at the Palace of Westminster, and was buried in Westminster Abbey.

Issue of marriage:

1   Euphemia

She was perhaps the child born in late July or early August, 1101, at Winchester, who died young.

2   Adelaide

She adopted the name Matilda upon her marriage. ( see here, under Henry II).

3   William

He was born before 5 August, 1103, at Winchester. Styled ‘Atheling’, he was designated Duke of Normandy in 1120. He drowned on 25 November, 1120, when the White Ship sank off Barfleur in Normandy.

William married, in June, 1119, at Lisieux in Normandy:

Matilda

She was christened Alice, but adopted the name Matilda upon her marriage, although she is sometimes called Isabella. She was the daughter of Fulk V, Count of Anjou, by Aremburga, daughter of Hélias I, Count of Maine, and sister to Sybilla, wife of William Clito, grandson of William I. She was born between c.1107 and 1111 in Anjou. After her husband drowned, she became in c.1121 a nun at Fontevrault Abbey in France, where she was elected Abbess in 1148. She died at Fontevrault Abbey in 1154, and was perhaps buried there. There was no issue of her marriage to William.

4   Richard

He drowned with his brother William on 25 November, 1120, when the White Ship sank off Barfleur in Normandy. Some sources state that the Richard who drowned in the White Ship was Henry I’s natural son, and that his legitimate son Richard died in infancy. However, both Robert of Gloucester and the Saxon Chronicle state that Queen Matilda’s son Richard drowned in the White Ship.

Henry I married secondly, on 29 January (or, less probably, 2 February), 1121, at the Chapel Royal in Windsor Castle:

Adeliza

Alternatively known as Adelicia, Adela, Adelaide, Adeline or Alice, she was the daughter of Geoffrey VII, Count of Louvain, Duke of Lower Brabant and Lower Lorraine, by Ida, daughter of Albert III, Count of Namur and Countess of Namur in her own right. There are no records of Adeliza’s date of birth, but she was described as ‘nubile’ in 1120, thus she was perhaps born between c.1103 and c.1106. She was crowned Queen Consort on 30 January (or, less probably, 3 February), 1121, at Westminster Abbey. After the death of Henry I, she married secondly William d’Albini, Earl of Arundel ( d.1176), after 1136 and before September, 1139, and had issue:

1 William, 2nd Earl of Arundel (before 1150–1193); he married Matilda, daughter of James de St Hilary du Harcourt, and had issue.

2  Reyner.

3  Henry.

4  Geoffrey.

5  Alice ( d.1188); she married firstly John, Count of Eu, Lord of Hastings ( d.1170), and had issue. She married secondly Alvred de St Martin ( d. after 1189).

6  Olivia. She died young, and was buried in Boxgrove Priory, Sussex.

7  Agatha. She died young, and was buried in Boxgrove Priory, Sussex.

Adeliza became a nun at Affligem Abbey, near Alost in South Brabant, in c.1149/50. She died on 23/24 March (or 23 April), 1151 at Affligem Abbey, and was buried there.

Henry I also had the following illegitimate issue:

By Sybilla (also known as Adela or Lucy), daughter of Sir Robert Corbet of Alcester, Co. Warwick, and afterwards wife of Herbert FitzHerbert ( d. by 1165):

1  Robert Fitzroy of Caen, Earl of Gloucester (1090/95–1147); he married Mabel ( d.1157), daughter of Robert FitzHamon, Earl of Gloucester, and had issue. There is no certain evidence to show that Sybilla really was Robert’s mother, who may have been an unknown woman of Caen.

2  Reginald or Rainald of Dunstanville, Earl of Cornwall (by 1110?–1175); he married Beatrice, daughter of William FitzRichard, and had issue.

3  William (by 1105–after 1187); he married a lady called Alice, of whom nothing more is known.

4  Sybilla ( see here, under Alexander I, King of Scotland).

5  Gundrada (alive in 1130).

6  Rohese ( d. after 1176); she married Henry de la Pomerai ( d.c.1167), and had issue.

By Ansfrida, widow of Anskill, a knight and tenant of Abingdon Abbey:

7  Richard of Lincoln (drowned in the White Ship, 1120).

8  Fulk ( b.before 1100); he either died young, or grew up and became a monk at Abingdon Abbey.

9  Juliana (1090?–after 1136); she married Eustace of Breteuil, Lord of Pacy ( d.1136), and had issue. In widowhood, she became a nun at Fontevrault Abbey. There is some doubt that Ansfrida was her mother, but circumstantial evidence makes this likely.

By Nesta, Princess of Deheubarth ( d.c.1114), daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, Prince of Deheubarth, by Gladys of Powys, and wife of Gerald de Windsor ( d. by 1136):

10  Henry FitzHenry (1103? or 1105?; by 1109–killed 1157); he married an unknown lady and had issue.

By Edith, daughter of Forn Sigulfson, Lord of Greystoke, Cumberland ( d.1173); afterwards wife of Robert d’Oilli:

11  Robert FitzEdith, Baron of Okenhampton ( d.1172); he married Matilda, Dame du Sap, daughter of Robert d’Avranches, and had issue.

By Isabella of Meulan ( b.c.1102/7), daughter of Robert de Beaumont, Earl of Leicester, and afterwards Countess of Pembroke:

12  Isabella or Elizabeth ( b.1120?). Died unmarried.

By Edith, of unknown origin ( d.after 1130):

13  Matilda or Mary (1090?–1120: drowned in the White Ship); she married Rotrou II, Count of Perche ( d.1144), and had issue.

By unknown mothers:

14  William de Tracy ( d.1136? or 1140?); he married an unknown lady and had issue.

15  Gilbert (1130?–1142).

16  Matilda; she married Conan III, Duke of Brittany ( d.1148), and had issue.

17  Constance or Matilda; she married Richard or Roscelin, Viscount of Beaumont-le-Maine, and had issue including Ermengarde, wife of William the Lyon, King of Scotland.

18  Eustacia; she married William Gouet III, Lord of Montmirail.

19  Alice or Aline; she married Matthew de Montmorenci, Constable of France, and had issue.

20  Matilda, Abbess of Montvilliers.

21  Daughter (name not known), who was betrothed at one time ( c.1109) to William de Warenne.

22  Joan or Elizabeth; she married Fergus of Galloway, and had issue.

23  Emma; she married Guy de Laval.

24  Daughter (name not known), to be betrothed to Hugh FitzGervais in c.1110.

25  Sybilla of Falaise; she married Baldwin de Boullers.

HENRY I

He died on 1/2 December, 1135, at St Denis le Fermont in the Forest of Angers, near Rouen, Normandy, of food poisoning. He was buried in Reading Abbey, Berkshire, his own foundation. His tomb was destroyed during the Reformation.

He was succeeded by his nephew Stephen of Blois, although he had made his barons swear allegiance to his daughter Matilda as his successor.

King Stephen

FATHER: Stephen Henry

He was the son of Theobald III, Count of Blois; he married Adela of Normandy ( below) in 1080 at Breteuil in France, and again in 1081 at Chartres Cathedral, France. He succeeded his father as Count Palatine of Blois, Brie, Chartres and Meaux before 1090. He was killed on 19 May, 1102, during the siege of Ramula in the Holy Land, being slain by the Saracens after the battle of Ascalon.

Stephen had the following illegitimate issue:

1  Emma; she married Herbert II, Count of Maine, and had issue.

MOTHER: Adela

She was the daughter of William I by Matilda of Flanders, and she was born in c.1062 in Normandy. During her widowhood, she became a nun at the Cluniac Priory of Marigney-sur-Loire in the Diocese of Autun in France in c.1122. She died in 1137 or 1138 at Marigney, and was buried in the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, Caen, Normandy.

SIBLINGS:

1  Humbert, Count of Virtus ( d.young).

2  William, Count of Chartres, Lord of Sulli ( d.after 1104); he married Agnes ( d.after 1104), daughter of Giles, Lord of Sulli, and had issue. William is described in the chronicles as an idiot, and was disinherited in favour of his younger brother Theobald in the succession to Blois.

3  Theobald IV, Count of Blois (1085/91?–1152); he also became Count of Champagne, and married Matilda, daughter of Ingelbert II, Duke of Carinthia, and had issue.

4  Henry; he was born in c.1099 at Winchester, and became a monk at the Priory of Cluny in France during his childhood. He later transferred to Bermondsey Abbey, Surrey, where he became Abbot. He was elected Abbot of Glastonbury in Somerset in 1126. He was nominated Bishop of Winchester on 4 October, 1129, and consecrated on 17 November, 1129. He died on 6 August, 1171, at Winchester, and was buried in Winchester Cathedral.

5  Philip, Bishop of Châlons ( d.1100).

6  Odo; he has perhaps been confused with Henry, who is referred to as Eudes in one charter.

7  Matilda or Lucy; she married Richard d’Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester. Both were drowned in 1120 when the White Ship sank off Barfleur in Normandy.

8  Agnes; she married Hugh III de Puiset, and had issue.

9  Adela or Lithuise; she married Miles de Brai, Viscount of Troyes and Lord of Montlheri. The marriage was later annulled.

10  Eleanor ( d.1147); she married Raoul, Count of Vermandois.

11  Alice; she married Reginald III, Count of Joigni.

KING STEPHEN

He was born in c.1096/7 (before 1100) at Blois, France. He was created Count of Mortain before 1115, and became Count of Boulogne in right of his wife before 1125. On 22 December, 1135, he usurped the throne of England upon the death of Henry I, who had left it to his daughter Matilda, to whom the barons had sworn allegiance. However, this had been given unwillingly, and it was generally felt that women were unfit to rule, hence Stephen met with little opposition, and was crowned on 26 December, 1135, at Westminster Abbey. By 1141, his weak government saw many of his nobles disillusioned and turning to Matilda, who invaded England that year. Stephen was deposed between 7 and 10 April, 1141, and imprisoned, while Matilda attempted to consolidate her claim to rule England. She failed in this, due to her haughtiness and high-handed approach to government, which alienated her supporters. Stephen was eventually released, and restored to the throne on 1 November, 1141; he was again crowned, on 25 December, 1141, at Canterbury Cathedral in Kent, and once again, in 1146, at Lincoln Cathedral.

King Stephen married, before 1125:

Matilda

She was the daughter of Eustace III, Count of Boulogne, by Mary, daughter of Malcolm III, King of Scotland, and sister to Matilda, wife of Henry I. Matilda was born around 1103/5, and became Countess of Boulogne in her own right on the death of her father. She was crowned Queen Consort on 22 March, 1136, at Westminster Abbey. She died on 2/3 May, 1152, at Hedingham Castle, Essex, and was buried in Faversham Abbey, Kent. Her tomb was destroyed during the Reformation.

Issue of marriage:

1   Baldwin

He was born in c.1126, and died perhaps before 2 December (?), 1135 (certainly before 1137), in the Tower of London. He was buried in the Priory of the Holy Trinity, Aldgate Without, London.

2   Eustace

He was born between c.1127/31, or perhaps in December, 1135. He was created Count of Boulogne at Christmas, 1146/7, and is said to have also been created Earl of Huntingdon, but this is unlikely. Eustace was crowned King of England in 1152, during his father’s lifetime, but he never lived to succeed him, dying on 10 or 16 August, 1153, at Bury St Edmund’s, Suffolk. He was buried in Faversham Abbey, Kent.

Eustace married, in February, 1140, in Paris:

Constance

She was the daughter of Louis VI, King of France, by Adelaide, daughter of Umberto II, Count of Savoy and Maurienne, and she was born in c.1128. After Eustace’s death, she married secondly Raymond V ( d.1194), Count of Toulouse, in 1154, and had issue:

1  Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse (1156–1222); he married firstly Ermensinda de Pelet ( d.1176); he married secondly Beatrice of Beziers, whom he repudiated; he married thirdly, and bigamously, Bourguigne de Lusignan, Princess of Cyprus, whom he also repudiated; he married fourthly Joan, daughter of Henry II, and had issue.

2  William (or Alberic, or Alfonso), surnamed Taillefer ( d.1183/4).

3  Baldwin ( d.1212).

4  Alesia ( d.1183); she married Roger, Viscount of Beziers.

5  Laura; she married Odo, Count of Comminger.

Constance died on 16 August, 1176, at Rheims in France.

3 William

He was born between c.1132 and 1137. He became Earl of Surrey in right of his wife before 1148/9. He succeeded his mother as Count of Boulogne on 17 August, 1153, and succeeded his father as Count of Mortain on 25 October, 1154. He was killed on 11 October, 1159, at the siege of Toulouse in France, and was buried in the Hospital of Montmorillon, Poitou, France.

William married, before 1148/9, although no evidence exists as to where:

Isabella

She was the daughter of William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey, by Adela, daughter of William Talvas, Count of Ponthieu, and she was born in c.1136/7. After the death of William, she married secondly Hamelin of Anjou, Earl of Surrey (1129?–1202), a bastard brother of Henry II. Hamelin adopted her surname ‘de Warenne’ when the couple were married in April, 1164. They had issue:

1  William, 5th Earl of Surrey ( d.1240); he married Matilda, who was perhaps a member of the Albini family. He married secondly Matilda ( d.1248), daughter of William Marshal, 4th Earl of Pembroke, and had issue. He also had illegitimate issue.

2  Matilda ( d.c.1212); she married firstly Henry, Count of Eu and Baron Hastings ( d.1183), and had issue, and secondly Henry d’Estouteville of Eckington, Co. Derby ( d.after 1231).

3  Isabella; she married firstly Robert de Lascy, and secondly Gilbert de l’Aigle, Lord of Pevensey, Sussex.

4  Ela; she married firstly Robert de Newburn, and secondly William FitzWilliam of Sprotborough.

5  Mary, Margaret or Matilda ( d.after 1208); it may have been she, and not her sister Isabella, who married Gilbert de l’Aigle.

Isabella died on 13 July, 1199 or 1203, and was buried in the Chapter House, Lewes Priory, Sussex.

4 Matilda

She was born in c.1133/4, and was married in infancy at c.Easter, 1136, to Waleran de Beaumont, Count of Meulan (1104–1166). She died either before 1137 or in 1141 in the Tower of London, and was buried in the Priory of the Holy Trinity, Aldgate Without, London.

5   Mary

She was born in c.1136; she was dedicated to religion in her infancy and entered as a novice at Lillechurch Priory, Kent. She transferred to Romsey Abbey, Hampshire, where she was professed a nun between c.1148 and 1155. She was elected Abbess of Romsey after 1155. She succeeded her brother William as Countess of Boulogne on 5 October, 1159. She was abducted from her convent in 1160 by Matthew I, Count of Flanders and Boulogne ( d.1173), who made her his wife in defiance of her religious vows around the same time. They had issue:

1  Ida, Countess of Boulogne (1161?–1216); she married firstly Gerard III, Count of Gueldres ( d.1183), and secondly Berthold IV, Duke of Zehringen ( d.1186); and thirdly Reginald de Tree, Count of Dammartin, and had issue.