Hamelin de Warenne, Earl of Surrey

Hamelin de Warenne, Earl of Surrey (sometimes anachronistic Hamelin Plantagenet called ) (* 1129, † May 7, 1202 ) was a nobleman at the court of the English kings Henry II, Richard I and John Lackland.

He was an illegitimate son of Geoffrey of Anjou, thus a half-brother of Henry II and uncle of Richard I. and John. Henry gave him one of the richest heiresses in England for his wife, Isabella de Warenne, Countess of Surrey in its own right. She was the widow of William of Blois († 1159 ), the third son of King Stephen. Hamelin and Isabella were married in April 1164, after Hamelin was commonly referred to as Comte de Warenne than as Earl of Surrey. As a consequence, he and his descendants took on the family name Warenne.

His estate was to Conisbrough in Yorkshire, where Hamelin built a strong castle. He also had the "third penny" of the county of Surrey ( ie one third of the tax revenues of the courts of the county) and the castles Mortemer and Bellencombre in Normandy.

Hamelin participated in 1164 at the Thomas Becket's denunciation, but it was after his death as one of the most ardent proponents of Becket's canonization. In 1176 he accompanied his niece Johanna to her wedding to Sicily.

His life was Hamelin loyal to King Henry II, as many nobles presented against him to King Richard I and his regent William Longchamp. He participated in the second coronation Richards in 1194 as well as part of the coronation of John 1199th He died 1202 and was buried in the chapter house of Lewes Priory in Sussex. His successor as Earl of Surrey William de Warenne was his son. His daughter Adela was the mistress of her cousin King John and the mother of Richard Fitz Roy.