HENRY II, COUNT OF EU--PART 1
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Counts of Eu in Normandy, 996-1350 and the English Earls of Eu, of the House
of Bourchier, 1419-1540" attempted by Robt. Edmund Chester Waters, B.A., a
Barrister of the Inner Temple, etc., etc., 1886
Ancestors of Henry II, Count of Eu\\
Generation No. 1
1. Henry II, Count of Eu (Source: Ä, 139-27.), died Abt. 1191. He was the
son of 2. Count of Eu John and 3. Alice d'Aubigny. He married (1) Maud de
Warenne (Source: Ä, 123-27.). She was the daughter of Hamelin de Warenne and
Isabella de Warenne.
Notes for Henry II, Count of Eu:
HENRY II. COUNT OF Eu, the son and heir of Count John by Alice de Albini
succeeded his father in 1170 when he was still under age, for it appears from
the Pipe Roll that his uncle the Earl of Arundel paid £66 10s. in the next
year for his ward's quota to the Scutage of Ireland. The Count of Eu is
enumerated amongst the partisans of the younger Henry in his rebellion against
his father in 1173 ; but he afterwards made his peace with Henry II. and was
in attendanee, at Bec on 19 March 1178, when lie witnessed the King's grant to
that abbey of a rent charge £100 per annuni.
Count Henry like his ancestors was munificent in his gifts to the Church. He
witnessed and approved his mother's grant to Robertsbridge Abbey in 1178, and
some three years afterwards gave to this same Abbey the manor of Worth in the
parish of Brightling for the soul of his brother Robert, who had died in the
interval. Moreover, he confirmed to the Canons of St. Mary in the Castle at
Hastings the prebends of his grandfather's foundation, and liberally increased
their endowments; whilst he gave to the monks of Bermondsey a manor in the
parish of Lydd as well as an estate in Bilsington, which was afterwards
commuted for a rent-charge. This gift is strangely misdated in the Bermondsey
annals, for it is attributed to 1194, which was eleven years after the death
of the donor. Count Henry married about 1179 Matilda widow, of Osbert de
Preaux, and daughter of Hamelin Plantagenet, the natural brother of King Henry
II. who was in right of his wife Earl of Warrenne and Surrey. His death is
misdated in all the
received pedigrees, but Stapleton has proved that he died in 1183 and was
buried in Foucarmont Abbey.
Count Henry II. had issue by Matilda de Warrenne two sons and a daughter, who
were all of tender years at the time of his death.
Children of Henry and Maud are:
i. Countess of Eu Alice (Source: Ä, 123-28.), died 1246; married Ralph de
Lusignan.
Notes for Countess of Eu Alice:
ALICE COUNTESS OF Eu was a mere child in 1186, when she succeeded her brotber
Ralph, but so considerable an heiress was not allowed to remain long
unmarried, and the husband chosen for her by King Henry II. was Ralph Seigneur
de Issoudon and Mello in Poitou, the second son of Hugh IX. de Lusignan by
Matilda Countess of La Marche and Angoulême. It was not a match of
disparagement even for so nobly descended an heiress, for Ralph was a Cadet
of one of those semi-royal families, who were connected by marriage with the
Kings of England and France. Ralph was from the time of his marriage Count of
Eu, and his loyaltyto the English King was soon put to the test, for his
territory was devastated and one of his towns was burnt, when the Bishop of
Beauvais invaded Normandy in 1188. Ralph joined the crusade in the next year,
and -the Count of Eu was conspicuous among the chiefs encamped on the heights
of Acre in 1190. He had been a favourite with King Richard from boyhood, and
on his return from the Crusade was entrusted with the custody of Drincourt
Castle, and the defence of the frontier. He was equally loyal to King John who
reckoned the Lusignans amongst his staunchest supporters, until these friendly
relations were interrupted in 1200 by the King's perfidy in carrying off
Isabella of Angoulême, who was the promised wife of Hugh de Lusignan the Count
of Eu's older brother.
It was an aggravation of the wrong that Hugh had just before done the King a
good turn by expelling his nephew Arthur from Poitou and for a suzerain to
interfere with the domestic relations of a vassal, whilst he was absent in his
service, was a grave offence against the unwritten laws of feudal bonour.
France at that time was distributed like modern Germany in petty states
governed by Sovereign Counts, with whom Royalty intermarried without
disparagement. They were generally vassals both of England and France, and
therefore in times of war between the two countries had to choose between
conflicting obligations of
allegiance. The Lusignans were leading members of this powerful aristocracy,
who were almost unanimous in resenting the wrong done to one of their number.
King John was fully conscious of the danger of his position, for although the
Count of Eu and his brother abstained from open rebellion, be felt sure in his
guilty conscience that they were only biding their time for revenge. The
strong castles of Eu and Drincourt were the keys of Normandy, and he dared not
leave them in the custody of the Count of Eu, after injuring his brother
beyond forgiveness.
Notes for Ralph de Lusignan:
RALPH/RAOUL I (-1 May 1219) Ct de Eu; de Lusignan. Before Hugh
VIIIa had been added, pedigrees show RALPH as the son of HUGH VIII
He married Alice (-15 May 1246) Countess d'Eu or another reference gives her
as Yolande, daughter of ROBERT Ct d'EUX or EWE or EU
ii. Count of Eu Ralph.
Notes for Count of Eu Ralph:
RALPH COUNT OF Eu, the son and heir of Count Henry II died a minor and
unmarried in 1186, when the Honour of Eu in England and Normandy passed to his
sister Alice.
iii. Guy de Eu.
Generation No. 2
2. Count of Eu John. He was the son of 4. Henry I, Count of Eu and 5.
Margaret de Sulli. He married 3. Alice d'Aubigny.
3. Alice d'Aubigny (Source: BxP, 3.), born ; died 1188. She was the
daughter of 6. William d'Aubigny and 7. Adeliza de Louvaine.
Notes for Count of Eu John:
JOHN COUNT OF Eu, the son and heir of Count Henry I. by Margaret de Sulli,
succeeded to the Honour of Eu when his father retired from the world and
became a monk at Foucarmont Abbey. He was in high favour with his grand uncle
King Stephen, and a frequent visitor at the English Court. He was one of the
four Earls, who witnessed at Ipswich in 1140 King Stephen's charter confirming
the foundation of Monks-Horton Priory in Kent, which was built in the
immediate vicinity of the Countess of Eu's estate in Romney Marsh. The Honour
of Tickhill had fallen into the King's hands with the rest of Robert de
Belleme's fiefs, although Robert only held it as guardian of young Roger of
Busli; but King Henry could never be induced to relinquish the control of this
extensive Honour, and it was only after the accession of Stephen that the
Count of Eu's right of inheritance was recognised. The Count proved his
gratitude by loyally supporting his benefactor, and at the beginning of the
Civil war Tickbill Castle was garrisoned for the King. But the Count was
taken prisoner with his uncle at the battle of Lincoln, and Tickhill fell into
the hands of the Empress Maud. He soon recovered his liberty, but the Honour
was never restored to him, for it suited both Stephen and his rival to make
use of it as a bribe to secure the wavering allegiance of Ranulf Earl of
Chester. Count John however maintained affectionate relations with his uncle
and was at Court in London in 1147, when he witnessed a Royal charter in
favour of the Abbey of St. Benets Hulme in Norfolk.
Count John was a great benefactor to the monks of Treport, and confirmed to
them in 1149 the grants of his ancestors. He was a man of great piety, and in
his zeal to improve the condition of the Abbey of Eu, of which he was
hereditary patron, he compelled the monks who had hitherto followed the rule
of the Arroaisian congregation to adopt instead the discipline of the Canons
of St. Victor of Paris. The monks were unwilling to be reformed, and the
Archbishop of Rouen was jealous of lay interference with his clergy. He took
part with them so warmly, that when the Count insisted on the change being
carried out, he interdicted the proceedings by a sentence of excommunication,
which was to be published every Sunday. But in spite of all opposition, the
Count maintained his point, and the monks of Eu followed from this time
forward the rule of St. Victor. The Count's long struggle with the Archbishop
would naturally enlist his sympathy on the side of Henry II. in his contest
with Archbishop Becket, and the Count of Eu was amongst the King's friends at
the Council at Clarendon on 25 January 1164. His English Barony was certified
in 1166 to consist of 56 knights' fees in the Rape of Hastings besides 6 1/2
knights' fees elsewhere, all of which were of old feoffment. But he complained
that his father's Barony in the reign of Henry I. contained 60 knights' fees
instead of 56, and that the missing 4 were usurped
by the see of Chichester. He also had 11 knights' fees in Kent and Sussex by
the grant of his wife's father, for he married Alice de Albini daughter of
William Earl of Arundel by the Dowagger Queen Adeliza widow of King Henry I.
His wife's estate was in Romney Marsh, and comprised amongst others the Manors
of Snargate, Bilsington and Elham. She survived him several years, but with
her consent he obtained permission to enter religion, and following his
father's example he was shorn a monk in Foucarmont Abbey. He died there in
1170, and was buried in his father's grave at the foot of the High Altar with
the following epitaph
Est pater Henricus, primus gregio hujus amicus;
Ejus erat natus Johannes jure vocatus,
Filius iste fuit Henrici, postea frater.
Hos monachos genuit Domino domus haec, pia mater,
Qui legio, absque mora pro tantio fratribus ora.
ALICE COUNTESS of Eu is said to have taken for her second husband Alured de
St. Martin the founder of Robertsbridge Abbey in Sussex, who witnessed her
munificent grant to that religious house. Her gift comprised the Manor of
Snargate in Romney Marsh, and is expressed to be made for the souls of "my
father William Earl of Arundel, my mother Queen Adeliza, my husband John Count
of Eu, my brotber Godfrey, and my daughters Matilda and Margaret who were all
deceased. The date of this Charter will be about 1178, and amongst the
witnesses are Henry Count of Eu and his brother Robert. Snargate was parcel of
the Honour of Arundel and formed part of the lands wljich were given to the
Countess by her father in frank marriage, but the monks of Robertsbridge took
the precaution of obtaining from William third Earl of Sussex a charter
confirniing to them the gift of his aunt. TheCountess Alice survived her son
Count Henry, but died before 1204.
Count John had issue by his wife Alice de Albini three Sons and three
daughters.
Children of Count John and Alice are:
1 i. Henry II, Count of Eu, died Abt. 1191; married Maud de Warenne.
ii. Robert de Eu.
Notes for Robert de Eu:
ROBERT witncssed his motber's grant to Robertsbridge Abbey in 1178, and died
before his brother Henry.
iii. John de Eu.
Notes for John de Eu:
Witnessed his brother Henry's grant to Robertsbridge Abbey and became on the
death of his nepliew in 1186 the last male descendant of the Counts of Eu of
this line. He inherited his mother's fief in Romney Marsh, and confirmed to
the monks of Robertsbridge about 1203 the grants of his deceased mother and
brotber. He was in high favour with King John, for be took the King's side in
the quarrel with the Lusignans of whom lie was somewhat jealous. The
consequence was, that when it was rumoured in England that the Countess of Eu
was dead, the citizens of Eu were commanded by the Royal Letters Patent dated
1 April 1202 to acknowledge her uncle John as the rightful beir of the County.
The rumour turned out to be false, but there is evidence that John remained in
the King of England's service, and kept his estates at a time when the King
was at open war with the Count and Countess of Eu. He did not always however
escape giving offence to his jealous and capricious Sovereign, for the last
notice of John of Eu in the Close Rolls is in a writ dated 15 April 1207,
wbereby the Sheriff of Kent is directed to restore to him the lands of which
he had been disseised during the King's displeasure. He died unmarried, and
his fief in Kent came eventually to his niece the Countess of Eu, for after
his death it was included in the Honour of Tickhill when it was granted to
Prince Edward.
iv. Matilda de Eu.
v. Margaret de Eu.
vi. Ida de Eu (Source: (1) BxP, 266., (2) 455, 266.), married William de
Hastings.
Notes for William de Hastings:
Steward to King Henry II.
"About 1166 William de Hastings succeeded to the dapifership of St.
Edmund's. Henry II confirmed to William de Hastings, 'my despenser', the
dapifership of St. Edmund's as it had been held by his paternal uncle,
Ralf, and by the latter's maternal uncle ( i.e. William's grandmother's
brother), Maurice de Windsor (Clark, op. cit.; [this is Rise of Hastings
mentioned in Round's article, which Moriarty defends, 'which has, with
some justice been criticized by Dr. Round... . It must be observed,
however, that while the pedigree compiled by Dr. Clark contains serious
errors, all students of the family owe him a lasting debt for the great
amount of original source material collected by him, which is of vital
importance to the study of this house. It is to be regretted that Dr.
Round himself never undertook to compile the Hastings pedigree.']Josceln
de Braklond, Chron., Camden Soc.; Page's Suffolk Traveller; Round.), and
the same King confirmed to William de Hastings his inheritance which
came from his grandfather, William de Hastings, and from Hugh Hastings
his father, in the time of Henry I, and also the lands given to Robert
de Flamville by Robert de Limesi, Bishop of Coventry (Bishop,
1100-1117), which came from his mother Ernberga de Flamville (Eyton's
Shropshire V:137, 151). Dugdale in his Baronage (Vol. I:574), cites from
the collections of Robert Glover, Somerset Herald, the confirmation by
Henry II to his dapifer William de Hastings, of the fees of Burbache,
Barewell, and Birdingbury, with their appurtenances, i.e. Scerescleve
(Sketchley) and Eston (Aston-Flamville), and Stapleton, together with
his houses in Coventry, with a burges ther and a croft in Wilie to hold
by service of two kts. fees freely as Henry I gave them to his father,
Hugh de Hastings, with Erneburga, daughter of Hugh de Flamville; and he
also confirmed to him the lands of William de Hastings, his grandfather,
and of Hugh his father, which they held in the time of Henry I." These
evidences are probably to be found in one of the rolls sereies which
have been published.
These lands descended in the senior line. Our Thomas is head of the
junior line which we are following. "On 1 April 1182 Thomas de Hastings
appeared befor the Abbot of St. Edmund's, leading 'his nephew Henry de
Hastings', who was not yet a knight, and demanded for him his hereditary
office of dapifer of the Abbey (Brakelond, op. cit., pp. 116, 117, 118;
Eyton V: 138; Clark, op. cit.)."This would tend to show that Hugh and
Erneberga had a younger son, Thomas.
Hastings Manuscripts, Hist. MSS Comm., 1925, Vol. I:206, gives the gift
of Gissing, Norfolk to Thomas and the confirmation to his son, Hugh. [Kay
Allen AG all...@pacbell.net]
TO BE CONTINUED
Always optimistic--Dave
Richard Borthwick
>The main source for much of the following is "Genealogical Memoirs of the
>Counts of Eu in Normandy, 996-1350 and the English Earls of Eu, of the House
>of Bourchier, 1419-1540" attempted by Robt. Edmund Chester Waters, B.A., a
>Barrister of the Inner Temple, etc., etc., 1886
Dave, I take it that Chester Waters does not mention Ida but that BxP is
your sole source for this marriage. Thanks to Kay Allen and a library I
have had the chance to review the documentary evidence. Moriarty does not
give any credence to the Ida of Eu marriage for William Hastings. In fact
it doesn't as far as I can tell get a mention. I have been unable to locate
in any of the documents cited any reference to this alleged marriage.
Thomas (d.1182/89) was the uncle of Henry (d.s.p.<1189) (son of William I
(d.< 11 Apr 1182)). This makes William I and Thomas sons of Hugh (d.<1166)
and Erneburga de Flamville. William I married Maud Banastre before 1168.
Maud survived William I and d.about 1222. Her son and heir (since Henry
died before his mother), William II, inherited lands in Shroposhire from
her. William II is said to have married Margaret le Bigod (though I have
not yet found the evidence for this). ES III/4:693 does not mention Ida or
a Hastings marriage. Alix of Eu lady of Hastings (d.1219) was the heir to
the rape of Hastings and she was the daughter of Henry II count of Eu and
lord of Hastings (d.1190/91). Alix married Raoul de Lusignan.
The most likely reason for the intrusion of a marriage between Eu family
and that of Hastings was to provide the remote descendants of Thomas de
Hastings with an ancient but non-existent right to the rape of Hastings
(which was in fact conferred on them by royal gift on 15 Dec 1487). Thomas
is represented in the old pedigrees as having Ida as his mother. Whatever
the reason for introducing Ida, if she was the wife of William I then
neither William II nor Thomas can have descended from her. The references
are given in the postings we had on this subject last year.
U...@aol.com
rg...@cyllene.uwa.edu.au writes:
Hello Richard:
On page 23. Mr Waters states:
VI. Ida married William de Hastings, and had a son Robert, who claimed in 1207
against Simon de Echingham the office of Seneschal of the Honour of the Count
of Eu, which [as he alleged] had been granted to his father in frank marriage
with Ida daughter of Count John." Footnote #73= Idem. vol ii, p. 231.
Always optimistic--Dave