EFL - Enciclopedia delle Famiglie Lombarde

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISH%20NOBILITY%20MEDIEVAL.htm Th e earldom of Hereford appears to have been first created by Edward "th e Confessor" King of England in favour of his nephew Raoul de Mantes . With the Norman conquest, the title was effectively revoked and th e earldom was awarded to William FitzOsbern by William I King of Engla nd as a reward for his part in the conquest of England. After the rebe llion in 1075 of Earl William´s son, the family forfeited the title a nd estates which presumably remained in the hands of the crown. King S tephen granted the town and county of Hereford to Robert de Beaumont E arl of Leicester in [1139/40] but the latter does not appear in docume nts as Earl of Hereford[132]. Empress Matilda granted the earldom to M iles of Gloucester in 1141. It was re-granted by Henry II King of Engl and to Miles's son Roger in 1154, but on the latter's death in [1155 ] the earldom became extinct. It was granted again in 1200 by King Joh n to Humphrey de Bohun, who was the grand-nephew and principle heir o f Earl Roger Fitz-Miles. RAOUL de Mantes, son of DREUX Comte de Mante s & his wife Godgifu [Goda] of England ([1025/30]-21 Dec 1057, bur Pet erborough [1]). His parentage is recorded by Orderic Vitalis [2]. Flor ence of Worcester calls Raoul the "son of King Edward's sister" [3]. " Droco comes Ambianensium" donated property to "Sancti Petri Gismoensis " by undated charter, signed by "Droconis comitis, Eotde comitissæ, F alconis fratris comitis, Rodulfi filiii comitis, Gualterii alterius fi lii…" [4]. Simeon of Durham names "earl Rodulph the son of king Eadw ard's sister Goda" in 1051 [5]. He was created Earl of Hereford. The A nglo-Saxon Chronicle records that “earl Ralph” rallied to the supp ort of Edward "the Confessor" King of England “throughout his earldo m” in Sep 1051 when Godwin Earl of Wessex and his sons were threaten ing force against the king, and “came to Gloucestershire to the king ´s assistance... willing to attack Godwine´s levies if the king ha d wished it” [6]. He founded the Cistercian Abbey of Flaxley in Glou cestershire 30 Sep 1051 [7]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records in 105 2 that “the king and his council decided that ships should be sent o ut to Sandwich [as defence against the return of Earl Godwin], and ear l Ralph and earl Odda were put in command” [8]. Florence of Worceste r records that he assembled an army to defend Hereford against Earl Æ lfgar and Gruffydd Prince of South Wales but fled 24 Oct 1055, describ ing Ralph as “cowardly” [9]. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records i n 1055 that “earl Ælfgar son of earl Leofric... went to Ireland an d to Wales and raised there a great force and marched on Hereford; bu t earl Ralph came against him with a great host, and after a brief enc ounter they were put to flight and many were slain in that rout”, ma nuscript C clarifying that “earl Ralph gathered great levies to oppo se them at Hereford, and they came together there: but before a spea r was thrown, the English fled, because they had been made to fight o n horseback”, adding that “earl Harold had an earthwork built arou nd the town [of Hereford]” [10]. This last comment suggests that Ear l Ralph was removed from the government of Hereford, although the late r entry which records his death still accords him the comital title. T he Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records in 1057 that “on 21 December earl R alph passed away and was buried at Peterborough” [11]. [1] Florenc e of Worcester 1057, pp. 159-60. [2] Orderic Vitalis, Vol. IV, Book V II, p. 77. [3] Florence of Worcester 1055, p. 157. [4] Guérard, M . (ed.) (1840) ''Cartulaire de l'abbaye de Saint-Père de Chartres'' ( Paris) (“Chartres Saint-Père”), Vol. I, Cap. XLVI, p. 173. [5] S tevenson, J. (trans.) (1855) ''The Historical Works of Simeon of Durha m'' (London) (“Simeon of Durham”), Vol. I, p. 535. [6] Garmonsway , G. N. (trans) (1972) The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle (Dent) D, 1052 [1051] . [7] Domesday Descendants, p. 118. [8] Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, E, 10 52. [9] Florence of Worcester 1055, p. 157. [10] Anglo-Saxon Chronic le, C, D, 1055. [11] Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, D, 1057.