Giles de Braose

Giles de Braose, 5th Baron of Bramber ( probably * 1176, † November 17, 1215 in Gloucester) was a bishop of the English diocese of Hereford from the house Braose. He was the second son of the Marcher Lords William de Braose and his wife Maud de St Valery.

In 1200 he was elected as the successor to William de Vere Bishop of Hereford. At his ordination, he had no experience in canon law, probably was decisive for his choice that his father is the most powerful baron in the southern Welsh Marches was. However, Giles employed a group of well-trained clerics ended in his household, who advised him. Most of these clerics were soon canons of the pen chapter of Hereford. Giles itself must also have acquired extensive knowledge of canon law, because he was appointed by the Pope for ecclesiastical judge. Because of the interdict by Innocent III. However, he went to England in 1208 along with four other bishops to Stephen Langton, Archbishop of Canterbury from exile in France. King John then occupied the bishopric and confiscated the revenue for the crown. His mother and his older brother William died in 1210 in the prison of the king, while his father died in 1211 in exile in France.

Together with the Archbishop and other bishops Giles in 1213 returned to England. At first it seemed as if the king did reconcile with the bishop, as Giles again was able to take his bishopric and Johann promised him the restitution of the confiscated estates of his family in Wales and England seemed. However, Johann hesitated, the implementation of his promise, so Giles his brother Reginald commissioned in May 1215 to lead together with the allied Welsh prince Llywelyn from Iorwerth an open war against the king in Wales. With the support of the Welsh Reginald was several castles, including Abergavenny, White Castle and Skenfrith conquer, while Giles could take the castles of Brecon, Hay and Builth itself. In return for the support of the Welsh Giles renounced Elfael with the long embattled castles Pain Castle and Colwyn, while his brother Reginald Gwladus Ddu, a daughter Llewelyns married. On October 21, 1215 came to a settlement with the king, after Giles should pay 9000 mark fine to the king, and in return was given back the lands of his father. Giles, however, fell ill and died just four weeks later, the lands were then claimed again by the king. It was only on 26 May 1216 John returned to his younger brother Reginald.

An Epitaph for Giles is located in the choir of the cathedral of Hereford, his grave is located in the south aisle.