Ribald of Middleham
Raymond Phair
Ken Finton posted a notice about Ribald of Middleham, Yorkshire,
27 June. Additional information is available.
Ribald was called a brother of count Alan (Rufus) in charter of Alan
for the soul of his father count Eudo and others [EYC 4:no.1]. Before
the Domesday Survey Alan Rufus granted to Ribald lands in Yorkshire,
Norfolk, and possibly elsewhere [EYC 5:297-8]; the caput was
Middleham, Richmondshire, Yorkshire. About 1121 Ribald made a gift to
St. Mary's, York, for the souls of his brother count Alan and his own
wife Beatrice (who may have died before 1112), with the consent of his
son and heir Ralph Taillebois [EYC 5:no. 358]. Ralph fitz Ribald had
succeeded by 1130 ["Pipe Roll 31 Henry I", 1929, p.27]. A 15th c.
account states Ribald was a monk at St. Mary's before he died [T.D.
Whitaker, "Richmondshire", 1823, 1:331].
Eudo, count of Brittany, had 8 legitimate sons and 4 sons (including
Ribald) who were probably illegitimate [EYC 4:84-9; Complete Peerage
10:779-787]. While Ribald was alive, his brothers, counts Alan Niger
and Stephen, succeeded to Alan Rufus' lands which were later called
the honor of Richmond or the honor of Brittany. Eudo (d.1079) was a
son of Geoffrey (d.1008) duke of Brittany and Hawise (d.1034), dau.
of Richard I duke of Normandy. Alan IV Fergant (d.1119), duke of
Brittany, who m(1) Constance, dau. of William the Conqueror, was a
grandson of Eudo's older brother Alan III (d.1040) duke of Brittany.
Ribald was called son-in-law in a charter of Ivo Taillebois
[Monasticon Anglicanum, new ed., 3:553]. Clay thought Beatrice was
perhaps illegitimate [EYC 5:299], but decisive evidence is lacking.
Ribald gave the church of Upton, Lincs., to Spalding priory, Lincs.,
for the souls of king William, count Alan, Ivo (probably Taillebois)
and himself [R.E.G. Kirk, Genealogist, n.s., 5:67 (1888)]. Spalding
was founded by Ivo's wife Lucy (with Ivo's active cooperation); hence
this gift suggests Beatrice might have been a daughter of Lucy.
Further research is needed.
Note: Ribald didn't use any surname. His son Ralph occasionally used
Taillebois, but none of Ralph's descendants used it. Eventually
the family settled on the surname Fitz Randolph.
EYC = Early Yorkshire Charters, ed. C. T. Clay, vols.4 & 5 (1935-6).
Ray Phair