William de Courcy

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Earl of Ulster John de Courcy died in 1219.

Robert married Avice de Meschines. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Rohese de Grandmesnil about 1089. Rohese (daughter of Sheriff of Leicester Hugh I de Grandmesnil and Adeliza (Aelis) (Alice) de Beaumont) was born in 1062 in Grentemesnil, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France; died in 1127. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

William married Cecily de Romilly. Cecily (daughter of Robert de Romilly and Murel) was born about 1100 in of Normandy; died in 1151. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

RICHARD DE COURCI
The Conqueror and His Companions
by J. R. Planché, Somerset Herald. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1874..

I have just mentioned Robert, the son of this Richard, and son-in-law of Hugh de Grentmesnil, and shall conclude this chapter with a notice of this memorable family, the direct male descendant of which wears at the present day the coronet of a baron, one of the very few instances that can be quoted of an unbroken line of nobles in the same family from the Conquest.

Wace simply mentions "Cil de Corcie" amongst those knights who "that day slew many English." Courci is in the arrondissement of Falaise, and I have just described its siege by Robert Court-heuse in 1091, at which time it was held by Richard de Courci, the companion of the Conqueror. He was the son of Robert de Courci, who was one of the six sons of Baldric the Teuton, or German, Lord of Bacqueville-en-Caux, and held the office of Archearius under Duke William. He married a niece of Gilbert Comte de Brionne, grandson of Richard first Duke of Normandy, name unknown, by whom he had six sons and two daughters, and here we have an example of the difficulty the general reader would experience in endeavoring to form an idea of the family and connections of many important personages with whose names he incidentally meets in the popular histories of England. Robert, the third of these six sons, alone bore the name of De Courci: all the rest assumed surnames similarly derived from their particular properties or the place of their birth. The eldest, Nicholas, succeeding to his father's fief of Bacqueville-en-Caux, was thence called Nicholas de Bacqueville. The second son, Fulk, was named Fulk d'Aunou from his fief of Aunou le Faucon, arrondissement of Argentan. Richard, the fourth son, was the first of the famous name of Nevil, derived from his fief of Neuville-sur-Tocque, in the department of the Orne and the canton of Gacé. Baldric, fifth son, was surnamed de Balgenzais, from his fief off Bouquence or Bouquency. The youngest, Vigerius or Wiger, was named after an uncle, and also called Apulensis, having been born, it is presumed, in Apulia. Who, meeting with the names of these noble and powerful Normans in their study of English history, would, without such an explanation, suspect they were all sons of the same father, and cousins of William the Conqueror on their mother's side? Elizabeth, named after her aunt, who was a nun at St. Amand, married Fulk de Boneval; and Hawise was the wife of Robert Fitz Erneis, who fought and fell at Senlac.
It was Robert, the third son of Baldric the Teuton, as I have said, who assumed the name of De Courci from his inheritance of Courci-sur-Dive, and transmitted it to his immediate descendants. His son Richard married a lady named Guadelmodis, and was the Sire de Courci present at Hastings and Senlac. For his services he received from the Conqueror the barony of Stoke in the county of Somerset, and the manors of Newnham, Setenden, and Foxcote, in Oxfordshire. At least, he held them at the time of the great survey.

We hear no more of him during the reign of the elder William, though it is improbable he could have remained quiescent during all the commotions that were constantly convulsing the duchy; but whether he fought or not we may be satisfied that he remained loyal to the Conqueror, and to his successor William Rufus, whose opportune arrival in Normandy caused Robert Court-heuse and Robert de Belesme to raise the siege of Courci, as before related.

Both he and his friend and neighbor Hugh de Grentmesnil, who was now connected with him by the marriage of their children, were considerably advanced in years, and like Hugh, the Lord of Courci, may not have mingled in the mêlée; but it is strange not to find Robert's nameme mentioned amongst the gallant defenders of his own property and that of his father-in-law.

Besides this Robert, whose line was not of long endurance, Richard had a second son named William, from whom descended the famous John de Courci, Earl of Ulster, and the present Lord Kingsale, who enjoys the enviable privilege of wearing his hat in the presence of his sovereign, traditionally granted by King John to the said Earl of Ulster in reward for the following service.

Philip Augustus, King of France, having proposed to King John to settle the difference between the Crowns of England and France respecting their pretensions to the Duchy of Normandy by single combat, had appointed on his side a champion. King John, who had unwarily fixed the day, could find no one of sufficient strength or prowess to oppose the Frenchman but the Earl of Ulster, who, at the instigation of Hugh de Lacy, had been dispossessed of his estates, and was a prisoner in the Tower. Having accepted the challenge for the honor of his country, he appeared in the lists on the appointed day, and so terrified the French champion by his gigantic form and warlike demeanor that, on the third sounding of the trumpets, he wheeled about, broke through the lists, and galloping to the coast took ship for Spain, leaving De Courci victor without a blow. To gratify King Philip, who desired an exhibition of his extraordinary strength, the Earl directed a massive suit of mail surmounted by a helmet to be placed on a block, and at one stroke he cleft amour and helmet asunder, his sword entering so deep into the wood that no one present could pull it out with both hands, but he did in an instant with one. King John being well satisfied with his extraordinary service restored him to his titles and estates, and bade him ask besides anything it was in his power to grant, to which the Earl replied, that he had titles and estates enough, but desired that he and his successors, the heirs-male of his family, might have the privilege, their first obeisance being paid, to remain covered in the presence of him and his successors the Kings of England, which was granted accordingly. There is about as much truth in this story as there was in the one formerly told by the warders in the Tower of London, who were wont to show a remarkably large suit of plate amour of the time of Henry VIII as being that of the very redoubtable John de Courci aforesaid.

The King of France, Philip Augustus, never set foot in England. William II, King of Scotland, never saw King John, save on the one occasion when he did homage to him at Lincoln. De Courci was never restored to his estates by John, and no one knows when a privilege, as worthless as it is unmannerly, was conferred, or by whom or on what authority it was first claimed and exercised.

Almericus, the twenty-third Baron Kingsale, astonished King William III by presenting himself with his hat on, but had the good taste to reverse the custom by remaining uncovered after the first assertion of his privilege.

George II good-humouredly observed to Gerald, cousin and successor of Almericus, that, although his lordship had a right to wear his hat before him, he had no right to do so before ladies.

Let us trust that good sense and good taste will combine to abolish an absurd custom, for the observance of which no credible authority can be produced - no dignity lost by its discontinuance.

Richard married Guadalmode. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

HUGH DE GRENTMESNIL
The Conqueror and His Companions
by J. R. Planché, Somerset Herald. London: Tinsley Brothers, 1874..

Of this noble Norman we have considerable information afforded us by Orderic, in consequence of his being one of the founders of the Abbey of Ouche, better known as that of St. Evroult, in which the historian was professed a monk by the venerable Abbot Mainer, in the eleventh year of his age, by the name of Vitalis (Vital), and in which monastery he lived fifty-six years.

From him we learn that Hugh de Grentmesnil was one of the sons of a Robert de Grentmesnil (now known as Grandmesnil, in the arrondissement of Lisieux) by Hawise de Giroie, which Robert was mortally wounded in the battle between Roger de Toeni and Roger de Beaumont, already mentioned, vol. i., pp. 19, 217.

He fought on the side of De Toeni, and being carried off the field, lingered for three weeks, and then died and was interred without the Church of St. Mary at Norrei, between Grandmesnil and Falaise. His issue by Hawise de Giroie was two sons, Robert and Hugh, between whom he divided his property.

Robert became a monk in the abbey he had assisted to re-edify. Hugh, who was "eminent for his skill and courage," was, through the machinations of Mabel de Montgomeri, banished by Duke William without any real cause of offence in 1058, but recalled from exile in 1063, and entrusted with the custody of the Castle of Neufmarché-en-Lions, from which the Duke, onn equally slight grounds, had expelled Geoffrey de Neufmarché, the rightfull heir; and nobly forgetful of past injustice, did the valiant Hugh justify the trust reposed in him, restoring in the course of a year the disturbed district to perfect tranquility. We next find him amongst the principal combatants in the great battle, but he surely cannot be the person described by Wace as "a vassal of Grandmesnil," who was in great peril during the action in consequence of his horse becoming masterless through the breaking of his bridle-rein in leaping over a bush. He was near falling, and the English perceiving his flight ran towards him with their long axes, but the horse taking fright, and wheeling suddenly round, bore his rider safely back into the ranks of the Normans. Hugh was certainly a vassal of the Duke of Normandy, but a baron of his reputation and power would scarcely be so described by Wace. Mons. Le Prévost, however,, appears by his note on the passage to consider it refers to Hugh himself, and Mr. Taylor follows him without comment. It may perhaps be argued that there is nothing in the incident itself to give it sufficient importance to be recorded by the poet unless the person endangered was some one of consequence. At all events, Hugh de Grentmesnil was certainly present at Senlac, and no doubt did his devoir, as he was wont to do; for in 1067 we find him one of the principal persons joined with William Fitz Osbern and Bishop Odo in the government of England, during the King's absence in Normandy, and besides the donation of one hundred manors in this country, sixty-five of which were in Leicestershire, he was appointed Viscount (i.e., sheriff) of that county and Governor of Hampshire.

He was one of the Norman nobles who interceded with the Conqueror in favor of Robert Court-heuse, and effected a temporary reconciliation. On the accession of Rufus he espoused the cause of the young duke; but like many others of his rank and country, weary of his vacillations, and disgusted by his general conduct, he ultimately took part against him.

In 1090 we find him in Normandy, in his old age, strenuously opposing the aggressions of the detestable Robert de Belesme, who had erected strongholds at Fourches and at La Conebe, on the river Orme, whence he made inroads on his neighbors, and harried all the country round.
Hugh de Grentmesnil and Richard de Courci, whose domains lay nearest to him, and most exposed to his depredations, were the first to take arms against him. Both these knights were now grey-headed, but their spirit was unbroken, and their intimate connection strengthened the bond of friendship between them, Richard de Courci, the son of Richard, having married Rohesia, daughter of Hugh. Matthew, Count of Beaumont-sur-l'Oise, brother-in-law of Hugh, William de Warren, second Earl of Surrey, with many other knights, hastened to their support, eager to exhibit their prowess in such a field. Theobald, son of Walter de Breteuil, called "the White Knight," because his steed and appointments were all white, and his brother-in-arms Guy, called "the Red Knight" for a similar reason, were slain in some of these encounters; but Robert de Belesme finding that he was unable to cope alone with his brave and resolute opponents, prevailed on the Duke of Normandy, by humble supplications and specious promises, to march to his assistance. In the month of January, 1091, the Duke accordingly laid siege to Courci-sur-Dive; but unwilling to come to extremities with his great nobles, took no measures for closely investing the place. De Belesme, however, used every means by force and stratagem to get possession of the castle. He caused a huge machine, called a belfry (berfradum), being a wooden tower containing a number of stages or floors, and moving on wheels, to be constructed and rolled up to the castle walls, filled with soldiers, who could leap from it on to the battlements, or fight hand to hand with the defenders; but the device proved in vain, for as often as he attempted an assault, a powerful force from Grentmesnil hastened to the rescue, and drew him off from the attack.

In one of these conflicts the garrison during a rally took prisoners William, son of Henry de Ferrers (who fought at Hastings), and William de Rupière, whose ransoms were a great assistance to the besieged; but, onn the other hand, the besiegers captured Ivo, one of the sons of Hugh de Grentmesnil and Richard Fitz Gilbert de Clare, the latter of whom did not long survive the horrors of the dungeon to which De Belesme consigned him.

An oven had been built outside the fortifications, between the castle gate and De Belesme's belfry, and there the baker had to bake the bread for the use of the garrison, the siege having been begun so suddenly that the inhabitants of Courci had no time to construct one within the walls. The thickest of the fight was therefore often around this oven, for the men of Courci stood in arms to defend their bread while De Belesme's followers endeavored to carry it off. This led occasionally to a general engagement, in which there was much slaughter, without special advantage to either side; but in one of them, the besiegers having repulsed their assailants, set fire to the belfry, and succeeded in destroying it.

Hugh de Grentmesnil, who did not bear arms himself, on account of his advanced age, was much distressed by the long continuance of the siege, and in consequence sent the following message to the Duke of Normandy: - "I long served your father and grandfather, and suffered much in their service; I have also always been loyal to you. What have I done? In what have I offended you? How have I merited at your hands this hostility? I openly acknowledge you as my liege lord, and on that account will not appear in arms against you; but I offer you two hundred livres to withdraw when it may suit your pleasure for one single day, that I may fight Robert de Belesme!" Orderic has not acquainted us with the reply of Court-heuse to this manly appeal of the chivalric old warrior, who, as he mentions his service to the Duke's grandfather, could not at this period have been much under eighty.

At all events, neither the letter nor the mediation of Gerrard, Bishop of Séez, who took up his abode at the Convent of Dive during the siege, inn the hope of restoring peace in his diocese, had any effect upon either the Duke or Robert de Belesme; but the arrival of King William (Rufus) with a great fleet caused them to decamp with all haste and disband their forces, each man returning to his own home.

Three years afterwards, Hugh de Grentmesnil was again in England, and worn out with age and infirmity, finding his end approaching, assumed, in accordance with the common practice of the period, the habit of a monk, and expired six days after he had taken to his bed, 22nd of February, 1094, according to our present calculation, and presumably in the city of Leicester.

His body, preserved in salt and sewn up in the hide of an ox, was conveyed to Normandy by two monks of St. Evroult, named Bernard and David, and honorably buried by the Abbot Roger on the south side of the Chapter House, near the tomb of Abbot Mainer.

Arnold de Tillieul, his nephew, caused a marble slab to be placed over his grave, for which Orderic tells us he himself furnished the Latin epitaph in heroic verse, with which he obliges his readers; but as it is simply laudatory I will not inflict it on mine, observing only that it is a relief to feel that in this instance the praise appears to have been truly deserved, as I find nothing recorded of Hugh de Grentmesnil that does not redound to his credit.
In his youth we are told he married a very beautiful lady, Adeliza, daughter of Ivo, Count of Beaumont-sur-l'Oise, by his first wife Judith, with whom he had Brokesbourne, in Herefordshire, and three lordships in Warwickshire.

She died at Rouen seven years before her husband, and was buried in the Chapter House of St. Evroult, (A charter of her son Ivo indicates that she was buried at Bermondsey.) having had issue by him five sons and as many daughters - namely, Robert, William, Hugh, Ivo, and Aubrey; Adeline, Hawise, Rohais, Matilda, and Agnes - none of whom except Robert lived to an advanced age, and he, although thrice married, died without issue in 1136. Hugh died young. William, Ivo, and Aubrey forfeited their reputation for bravery by their dishonorable and ludicrous escape from Antioch, which obtained for them the name of ropedancers. With the exception of Hawise, who died unmarried, his daughters became the wives of noble knights: Adeline, of Roger d'Ivri, Rohais, of Robert de Courci, Matilda, of Hugh de Montpincon, and Agnes, of William de Say.

Hugh married Adeliza (Aelis) (Alice) de Beaumont about 1060 in Grentmesnil, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France. Adeliza (daughter of Count of Beaumont-sur-l'Oise Ivo de Beaumont and Judith) was born in 1034; died on 11 Jul 1091 in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France; was buried in Chapter House of St. Evroult. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 1045

Notes:

Ranulf or Randle de Meschines, surnamed de Bricasard, Viscount Bayeux, in Normandy, (son of Ralph de Meschines, by Maud, his wife, co-heir of her brother, Hugh Lupus, the celebrated Earl of Chester), was given by King Henry I the Earldom of Chester, at the decease of his 1st cousin, Richard de Abrincis, 2nd Earl of Chester, of that family, without issue. By some historians, this nobleman is styled Earl of Carlisle, from residing in that city; and they further state that he came over in the train of the Conqueror, assisted in the subjugation of England, and shared, of course, in the spoil of conquest. He was lord of Cumberland and Carlisle, by descent from his father, but having enfeoffed his two brothers, William, of Coupland, and Geffrey, of Gillesland, in a large portion thereof, he exchanged the Earldom of Cumberland for that of Chester, on condition that those whom he had settled there should hold their lands of the king, in capite. His lordship m. Lucia, widow of Roger de Romara, Earl of Lincoln, and dau. of Algar, the Saxon, Earl of Mercia, and had issue, Ranulph, his successor; William, styled Earl of Cambridge, but of his issue nothing in known; Adeliza, m. to Richard FitzGilbert, ancestor of the old Earls of Clare; and Agnes, m. to Robert de Grentemaisnil. The earl d. in 1128 and was s. by his elder son, Ranulph de Meschines. [Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant and Extinct Peerages, Burke's Peerage, Ltd., London, 1883, p. 365, Meschines, Earls of Chester]

Ranulf married Lucy de Taillebois in 1098 in Normandy, France. Lucy (daughter of Earl of Anjou, 1st Baron of Kendal, Earl of Holland in Lincolnshire Ivo (Ives) de Taillebois and of Mercia Lucia) was born on 23 May 1074 in Spalding, Lincolnshire, England; died on 28 Jun 1144 in Chester, Cheshire, England; was buried in Chester, Cheshire, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Lucy of Bolingbroke
• Name: Lucy Thoroldsdottir

Robert married Murel. Murel was born about 1070. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]