Richard de Redvers

Richard de Redvers (also coalfield, Rivers or Ripariis, † September 8, 1107 ) was a Norman nobleman from coalfield at Caen. Its origin is unclear, maybe he was one of the participants in the Norman Conquest of England. His rise to fame began as one of the main supporters of King Henry I. in his battle against Duke Robert to the English throne. Richard de Redvers was rewarded for his efforts with good things, so that he became one of the richest tycoons in the country. Earlier it was believed that he had been appointed the first Earl of Devon, but is now based on the his son Baldwin.

Origin

Little is known about the family Redvers, when it comes to the time before Richard. William Dugdale (1605-1686) made ​​him falsely with Richard, the son of Baldwin FitzGilbert ( Baudouin de Meules ) are identical, the Sheriff of Devon at the time of William the Conqueror. This error has been rumored yet in the late 19th century. The Complete Peerage brings about 1890 William de Vernon as the father into play later research takes this view into question. On the other hand, three brothers " de coalfield " from the time around 1060 in Normandy are known, Baudouin, Guillaume and Richard, their close relationship to Richard de Redvers one can assume. As Richard named his eldest son Baldwin, it is likely that his father was as well.

Similarly, little is known about Richard's young years. The poet Wace mentioned in 1170 a " sire de coalfield " as a participant in the Battle of Hastings, but it is not clear whether this is Richard. The first clear mention of Richards comes from the mid- 1080s Years: in the Domesday Book of 1086 it is mentioned as the owner of Mosterton Manor in Dorset.

The follower of Henry

After Wace 1089 Richard was in the service of Duke Robert II of Normandy, but was given permission to join Roberts younger brother Henry: William the Conqueror had his eldest son, Robert of Normandy, where Henry had bought parts thereof, including the Cotentin and thus the place Néhou, the most important property of the Redvers family; as the family had also owned the dominion Roberts, so they now served two masters, between which Richard probably would decide. When Henry fell out with his older brothers, Richard stood so steadfastly at his side, that Orderic Vitalis and William of Jumièges mention him in their chronicles. Since Mosterton is not mentioned at this time as the family's possession, is to assume that it was seized by King William Rufus because of the support for Heinrich.

When William Rufus died in 1100 and Henry took his successor as King of England, Richard de Redvers quickly became one of his closest confidants. It occurs in more than twenty documents of Henry as a witness to, in different places and sometimes even the only one. After Richard's death, his loyalty was well worth Anselm of Canterbury a comment.

The first Earl of Devon?

Some early sources indicate, Richard de Redvers was charged by Henry I for the first Earl of Devon. Among these sources are ( 1) The Chronicle of the Abbey of Ford, but is considered to be unreliable when it comes to the Redvers Family ( 2) The cartulary of Twynham, apparently ( 3) follows ( 3) An addition to a later scribe fitted in with a document Richards ( 4) A copy of a document Richards, which was edited by his widow and when it is assumed that the writer einfügte the word " comitis " ( " Count " ) - the original document is lost.

Against these four documents, all other sources that Richard never called Count, nor his children or grandchildren - or his widow, who never posed as a Countess. Nevertheless, there have been many years discrepancies in the numbering of the Earls of Devon. Since the early 20th century is now prevailing opinion that Richards son Baldwin was the first Earl.

Family

Richard had a sister Adelisa, and probably a brother, Hugo ( Hugues / Hugh ). A few years after 1086, possibly around 1094, he married Adelisa, a daughter of William Peverel the Elder and Adleina of Lancaster. Five child of the couple are known:

Richard de Redvere died on September 8, 1107 and was buried in the Abbey of Monte Bourg in Normandy, whose founders he is regarded. His wife Adelisa lived to about 1160.