King's Kinsfolk: King Henry II of England's kinsfolk
Douglas Richardson
In the search for a better understanding of how kinship was recognized
in early medieval times, I've examined records of European
kings/emperors of both pre- and post-1250. What I have discovered is
that before 1250, the relationships acknowledged by the kings/emperors
were rather simple and straightforward, whereas those after 1250 were
often very extended and elaborate.
I've listed below nine further examples of pre-1250 kinship, this time
drawn from records of King Henry II of England (died 1189). Analysis
of his kinship to these nine people (see tables below) indicates that
he is related to the eight of the nine parties as follows: one person
in the 1st and 2nd degrees, two persons in the 2nd and 2nd degrees,
three persons in the 3rd and 3rd degrees, and two persons in the 3rd
and 4th degrees. To date, I've unable to determine how King Henry II
is related to one party, Eustache, wife of Geoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd
Earl of Essex, and Anselme Candavène, Count of Saint-Pol. As we can
see, the results reported here are very similar to the pattern of
simple kinship acknowledged by King Henry II's contemporary, King Louis
VII of France, which I discussed earlier this week. Also, the
acknowledged kinships below involve different parts of King Henry II's
ancestry, in this case people related through three of his four
grandparents.
l. Dugdale, Monasticon Anglicanum 4 (1823): 573 (William [Fitz Roy],
4th Earl of Surrey ["Warenne"], styled "my kinsman" [cognati
mei] by King Henry II).
2. Eyton, Court, Household, & Intinerary of King Henry II (1878): 8
(Henry [de Sully], Abbot of Fécamp, styled "my kinsman" [cognatus
meus] by King Henry II).
Vincent et al., Acta of Henry II and Richard I 2 (List & Index Soc.
Special Ser. 27) (1996): 67-69 (instances of Henry [de Sully], abbot
of Fécamp, styled "king's kinsman").
3. Liveing, Recs. of Romsey Abbey (1906): 49-57 (Mary, Abbess of
Romsey, styled "kinswoman" by King Henry II of England).
4. Great Roll of the Pipe 1184-1185 (Pipe Roll Soc. 34) (1913): 216
([Maud de Bohun], wife of Juhel de Mayenne, styled "neptis Regis"
[kinswoman of King Henry II]).
5. C.P., 5 (1926): 117, footnote f (sub Essex) [Eustache, wife of
Geoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd Earl of Essex, and Anselme Candavène,
Count of Saint-Pol, styled "kinswoman" of King Henry II.
6. Charles Evans, "Margaret of Scotland, Duchess of Brittany," in
Mélanges offerts à Szabolcs de Vajay à l'occasion de son
Cinquitième Anniversaire (Braga. 1971): 187-191 (Margery [de Bohun],
wife of Pedro Manrique, Count of Lara, styled "kinswoman" of King
Henry II).
7. Kemp, Reading Abbey Cartularies (Camden 4th Ser. 33) (1987): 6
(Reynold, Earl of Cornwall, styled "my uncle" [avunculo meo] by
Henry [II], later King of England, in charter dated 1147 or 1149).
8. Tyerman, England & the Crusades 1095-1588 (1988): 48 ([Baldwin
IV], King of Jerusalem, styled "kinsman" by King Henry II).
9. Cornwall Record Office: Arundell of Lanherne and Trerice, AR/20/1
(Robert [Fitz Count], son of [Robert Fitz Roy], Earl of Gloucester,
styled "my kinsman" [cognatus meus]).
A. Those related to the king by common descent from the English royal
family:
1. William the Conqueror, King of England.
2. Henry I, King of England, died 1135.
3. Maud of England, married Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, Duke
of Normandy.
4. Henry II, King of England, died 1189.
1. William the Conqueror, King of England.
2. Adele of England, married Henri (or Etienne), Count of Blois.
3. Stephen of Blois, King of England, died 1154.
4. William Fitz Roy, 4th Earl of Surrey.
1. William the Conqueror, King of England.
2. Adele of England, married Etienne, Count of Blois.
3. Stephen of Blois, King of England, died 1154.
4. Mary, Abbess of Romsey, afterwards wife of Matthew, Count of
Boulogne.
1. William the Conqueror, King of England.
2. Adele of England, married Henri (or Etienne), Count of Blois.
3. Guillaume of Blois, seigneur of Sully.
4. Henry de Sully, Abbot of Fécamp.
1. William the Conqueror, King of England.
2. Henry I, King of England, died 1135.
3. Reynold Fitz Roy (or de Mortain), Earl of Cornwall, died 1175.
1. William the Conqueror, King of England.
2. Henry I, King of England, died 1135.
3. Robert Fitz Roy, Earl of Gloucester, died 1147.
4. Robert Fitz Count, living 1154.
B. Those related to the king by common descent from the Scottish royal
family:
1. Malcolm III Canmore, King of Scotland, died 1093.
2. Maud of Scotland, married Henry I, King of England.
3. Maud of England, married Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, Duke
of Normandy.
4. Henry II, King of England, died 1189.
1. Malcolm III Canmore, King of Scotland, died 1093.
2. David I of Scotland, King of Scotland, died 1153.
3. Henry of Scotland, Earl of Northumberland, died 1151.
4. Margaret of Scotland, married Humphrey de Bohun, Knt.
5. Maud de Bohun, married Juhel de Mayenne, Knt., seigneur of Mayenne
1. Malcolm III Canmore, King of Scotland, died 1093.
2. David I of Scotland, King of Scotland, died 1153.
3. Henry of Scotland, Earl of Northumberland, died 1151.
4. Margaret of Scotland, married Humphrey de Bohun, Knt.
5. Margery de Bohun, married Pedro Manrique, Count of Lara in Spain.
C. Those related to the king by common descent from the Counts of
Anjou.
1. Fulk, Count of Anjou, King of Jerusalem, died 1143.
2. Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou, Duke of Normandy, died 1151.
3. Henry II, King of England, died 1189.
1. Fulk, Count of Anjou, King of Jerusalem, died 1143.
2. Amaury I, King of Jerusalem, died 1174.
3. Baldwin IV, King of Jerusalem, died 1183.
Best always, Douglas Richardson, Salt Lake City, Utah
Website: www.royalancestry.net
CED
Douglas Richardson wrote:
> Dear Newsgroup ~
To the Newsgroup:
This lastest "who is related to whom list" posted by Richardson is
illustrative of what has been previously posted about WIRTWL's. There
is no relationship here that has not been previously known, except the
CP reference to the otherwise unknown relationship to Eustache whish is
not news. To whom is the WIRTWL informative? It might be more
informative, if Richardson cited otherwise unknown original
documentation for each degree of the relationships.
Apparently Richardson wants to continue with whatever this project is.
If he could tell us what his purpose is or where he is going with it,
perhaps we could be helpful. Is he inviting help in discovering the
precise relationship between Henry II and Eustache? That has been
discussed a number of times in this newsgroup. Richardson should do a
gooogle on the archives. Among them will be found "Mandeville,
Eustachie, revisited" begun Jul 23 2004; "Fw: King Henry II's
kinswoman, Eustache, wife of Geoffrey de Mandeville and Anselme de
St.-Pol" begun Feb 12 2003.
Richardson says that this is part of a search for a better undertanding
of how kinship was recognized. Presumably, that means a systematic
study. Then he should set out the parameters of his search, included
the shape and scope of the data sought, and how it will be analyzed.
How is he going to set up a control group to determine unrecognized
relationships? Or relationships known but unacknowledged?
If we are to be party to the WIRTWL's, we should be told why? Or, are
we expected to be appreciative voyeurs? Does Richardson invite us to
submit other WIRTWL's which others might find interesting? If so, what
is the range of relationships expected in a WIRTWL? Are the
relationship to be described in Latin, or would any other language do?
What kind of documentation will be acceptable? Are comments on
previously posted WIRTWL's expected?
I assume that we can get into more detail as the discussion progresses?
We should all be looking forward to answers to these and other relevant
questions.
Have a good day,
CED