William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford

FitzOsbern William, 1st Earl of Hereford (* 1020, † February 22, 1071 ), was a relative and counselor of William the Conqueror, who was one of the biggest landowner of the early Norman England.

Origin and family

He was born the son of Osbern de Crépon ( Fitz = son ), in the home of his cousin, Duke Robert I, worked as treasurer. When Robert the duchy passed to his son William, Osbern was one of the guards and William was killed during an attempted assassination of the young Duke to the year 1040. Osbern had Emma, a niece married I. Roberts, and inherited by them a large estate in Normandy, namely the fief of Breteuil and Pacy. William FitzOsberns younger brother Osbern FitzOsbern was one of the chaplains of King Edward the Confessor and had the rich church of Bosham in Sussex. Due to its high position, he was able to provide information on England's military his brother and by this his cousin Duke William. In return for which he was Bishop of Exeter in 1072.

Youth

William FitzOsbern was probably brought up at the court of his cousin William, and became, like his father to one of the duke's chamberlain. He scored one of the earliest and strongest advocates of invasion in England and it is said that he should have convinced the doubters among the Norman nobles.

England

When Duke Wilhelm seized power in England, he gave FitzOsbern the Isle of Wight to manage and already in 1067 he made ​​him Earl of Hereford. However, this county was not yet under Norman control in procurement of the fief. Apparently FitzOsbern should conquer the territory itself. For the most part of the year 1067 the king returned to Normandy, leaving his brother Odo of Bayeux and FitzOsbern as its governor. The next year he accompanied the king in subduing West of England and participated in the court of the king part in May. Then he made himself a visit to his Norman fief, where he remained because of an illness for several months.

In February or March of the year 1069 the castle in York was placed under FitzOsberns care, but he soon left to take part in the King's court at Easter. The resistance across the West Midlands in 1070 was finally broken and it is likely that FitzOsbern contributed an important part, although details are unknown. During this time penetrated FitzOsbern and his companions one at the behest of the king to Wales, to conquer the kingdom of Gwent. In order to expand the Norman power base in England and Wales, let FitzOsbern as one of the largest builders of this phase, build some castles such as in Carisbrooke, Chepstow, Monmouth and Wigmore and improved the attachment of the cities of Hereford and Shrewsbury.

Death

1070 died the brother of King William, Baldwin VI. of Flanders, and left his country and his little sons in the hands of his widow Richilde. However, her husband 's brother Baldwin, Robert tried to seize power in the country, and desperately looking for help, she asked FitzOsbern to the wedding. Could not resist the temptation to become a wealthy country, Count of the Holy Roman Empire and close to the Normandy, and moved to Flanders, where he was beaten and killed on February 22, 1071 at the Battle of Cassel with his army.

Family

FitzOsbern first married Adeliza, the daughter of Roger I of Tosny. It is believed that he also Countess Richilde shortly before his defeat at the Battle of Cassel for his wife. His eldest son, Guillaume de Breteuil succeeded him as lord in Normandy after his younger son Roger de Breteuil, 2nd Earl of Hereford, inherited his possessions in England and Wales. His daughter Emma married Ralph de Gael, Earl of Norfolk.

Swell

  • David C. Douglas, "The Ancestors of William Fitz Osbern ," English Historical Review, 59 (1944 ) 62-79
  • Chris P. Lewis, " The early earls of Norman England ', Anglo- Norman Studies, 13 (1991 ), 207-23
  • Lynn Nelson, The Normans in South Wales, 1070-1171 ( particularly pages 24-33 in Chapter 2)
  • W. E. Wightman, "The palatine earldom of William fitz Osbern in Gloucestershire and Worcestershire (1066-1071) ," English Historical Review, 77 (1962), 6-17
Odo, Earl of Kent Chepstow Castle Monmouth Castle Robert I, Count of Flanders Battle of Cassel (1071) Cassel (Nord)
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