Notes
Note N1507
Index
Baldwin fitz Gilbert was a Norman nobleman, the son of Gilbert, Count of Brionne who, along with his brother Richard fitz Gilbert, accompanied William, Duke of Normandy and participated in the conquest of England in 1066. He was also known as Baldwin de Meules et du Sap, Baldwin of Exeter, Baldwin de Redvers and Baldwin the Sheriff.[1]. Baldwin was granted 164 manors in Devon[2], south-west England. He was originally from Meules.
In 1067 William the Conqueror made him castellan of the newly built Rougemont Castle in Exeter, Baron of Okehampton and appointed him hereditary High Sheriff of Devonshire, which position he held until his death, He built Okehampton Castle.[3][4].
Death and legacy
Baldwin died in 1090. He had married twice (Albreda and Emma) and had three sons, Richard fitz Baldwin (his heir), William, and Robert, all of whom died childless[5]. On Richard's death his sister Adeliza inherited his title and became Sheriff of Devon.
Notes
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1. ^ William Rufus (1983), p. 162, confirming his father and brother
2. ^ [1], lists manors; [2] with Domesday Survey extract; [3] says 159 manors in Devon.
3. ^ Barlow, p. 446.
4. ^ Essay On The Belle-Balliol Dynasty - Historical Study On The Belle-Balliol Dynasty
5. ^ Barlow, p. 469.
Notes
Note N1508
Index
Eudo Dapifer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Eudo Dapifer (sometimes Eudo fitzHerbert;[1] 1120) was a Norman aristocrat who served as a steward (sewer, Latin dapifer) under William the Conqueror, William II Rufus, and Henry I.
Eudo was the fourth son of Hubert of Ryes,[2] who is legendarily known as the loyal vassal who saved the life of Duke William of Normandy in his flight from Valognes during a revolt 1047.[3] Eudo's brothers were Robert, Bishop of Séez,[4] Hubert,[5][4] William[6]and Adam[4]. Another sister, Albreda, was married to Peter de Valognes.[7] There was also a sister, named Muriel, who was married to Osbert.[2] Eudo is known as "dapifer" because of his position as a steward[a][8] or sewer[9] which in Latin is "dapifer".[10]
There is no evidence of Eudo having been at the Battle of Hastings, although some have speculated that Wace may have designated him as the Sire de Préaux which Eudo was in possession of by 1070. After the Norman Conquest of England all five brothers and their father were in England.
Eudo's brother Ralph was named Castellan of Nottingham, Hubert had custody of Norwich Castle, and Adam was one of the commissioners of the Domesday Survey in 1085. Eudo received lands in Essex, Hertfordshire, Berkshire, Bedfordshire, Northamptonshire, Cambridgeshire, Huntingdonshire, Hampshire, Norfolk and in Suffolk;[11] as well as being a steward in the English royal household by at least 1072.[8] Sometime after the Domesday Survey he inherited the lands of his bother Adam, held of Odo, Biship of Bayeux, and those of his brother William at Bardley, Hertfordshire.[6]
Eudo was present at Rouen for the death of King William, and then accompanied the new king, William II of England to England; securing for him the royal castles at Dover, Pevensey, and Hastings.[12]
Eudo was steward to William II also, and was one of the early adherents, witnessing charters and serving in the royal household.[13] In 1096/7 Eudo founded Colchester Abbey.[2] During William II's reign, Eudo witnessed 27 royal writs.[14] The historian Francis West, who studied the office of the justiciarship, asserts that Eudo, along with Haimo and Urse d'Abetot, as well as Ranulf Flambard, could be considered the first English justiciars,[15] a position that the historian Emma Mason has modified towards them being the first barons of the exchequer.[16] By that time Eudo's position was so powerful that he was able to impede efforts by the monks of Westminster Abbey to recover a church in London that had previously belonged to the abbey but had been alienated.[17]
Eudo continued as a steward to King Henry I of England, William's younger brother who succeeded as king in 1100.[18] Eudo was one of the witnesses to Henry's coronation charter, issued shortly after his coronation in August 1100.[19] Eudo was also a royal witness to the treaty between Henry and his brother Robert Curthose in 1101.[20] From his service to Henry, Eudo acquired more lands, including the town of Colchester and several manors.[18] Eudo continued to be a frequent witness to the royal charters and writs, along with Urse and Haimo.[21] In 1103, Eudo's son-in-law William de Mandeville had lands confiscated which were then granted to Eudo. The punishment was likely for allowing Ranulf Flambard to escape from the Tower of London in 1101.[22]
Eudo died at Préaux in Normandy early in 1120 but was buried at Colchester 28 February 1120.[2][23] He left gifts to Colchester Abbey, including the manor of Brightlingsea.
Eudo was married to Rohais, daughter of Richard Fitz Gilbert,[2] in about 1088.[24] They had one daughter Margaret who married William de Mandeville and Otuer fitzCount.[2][notes 1] She was the mother of Geoffrey de Mandeville, first Earl of Essex.
^ Some sources state that Eudo died childless, apparently basing this on the fact that his estates went to the king on his death.[24]
^ The household office of steward (sewer, or dapifer) in the mid to late eleventh century had not yet evolved into the great office of state, later called the Lord High Steward. It paralleled the dapifer’s position in the French court, that of a chef-du-service, or server at the royal banquet table. The rapid rise to prominence of the dapifer in the English court was more due to the officers themselves than the position they held. See Harcourt, His Grace The Steward, pp. 5-6.