Battle of Mortemer
Encyclopedia
For 16 years the Norman realms of the young William I of England
, then known as Duke William II, were gravely threatened by other Norman barons and also by the French King. This was because William came to power at age seven.
This conflict reached its greatest level in the Campaign of 1052-1054. In February 1054, the French King led a combined force to invade the Norman territories. Troops came from all over north-western France. A large force under Odo, brother to the king, came from north-eastern France along with troops under Rainald, Count of Cleremont and Guy, Count of Ponthieu. This second force entered Eastern Normandy and began widespread devastation.
While Duke William faced off against the French King to the west of the Seine River, an allied force of Norman barons led by Robert, Count of Eu, Hugh of Gournay, Walter Giffard
, Roger of Mortemer
, and the young William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey
came out of their own lands to stop the incursion by Count Odo and Count Rainald.
The French force was widely scattered in its depredations of rape and pillage in the Norman lands and was an easy target for the Norman forces of Robert, Count of Eu. The fierce engagement lasted many hours, but the French left with heavy losses. Guy, Count of Ponthieu was captured during the course of the battle.
When news of the battle reached the other side of the River, where the French King was preparing to battle Duke William, the French king withdrew in dismay.
After the defeats of 1052-1054 the rebellious Norman lords were exiled, the Norman lands of the Counts of Pointhieu were confiscated, and Guy, Count of Ponthieu swore homage to William after two years imprisonment.
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
, then known as Duke William II, were gravely threatened by other Norman barons and also by the French King. This was because William came to power at age seven.
This conflict reached its greatest level in the Campaign of 1052-1054. In February 1054, the French King led a combined force to invade the Norman territories. Troops came from all over north-western France. A large force under Odo, brother to the king, came from north-eastern France along with troops under Rainald, Count of Cleremont and Guy, Count of Ponthieu. This second force entered Eastern Normandy and began widespread devastation.
While Duke William faced off against the French King to the west of the Seine River, an allied force of Norman barons led by Robert, Count of Eu, Hugh of Gournay, Walter Giffard
Walter Giffard
Walter Giffard was Lord Chancellor of England and Archbishop of York.-Family:Giffard was the son of Hugh Giffard, of Boyton in Wiltshire; his mother was Sibyl, the daughter and co-heiress of Walter de Cormeilles. Walter was born about 1225, and may have been the oldest son. Hugh and Sybil were...
, Roger of Mortemer
Roger of Mortemer
Roger I of Mortemer , founded the abbey of St. Victor en Caux in the Pays de Caux of Upper Normandy as early as 1074 CE. Roger claimed the castle built by William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford, that was situated on the river mouth of Eaulne in Mortemer, Seine-Maritime...
, and the young William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, Seigneur de Varennes is one of the very few proven Companions of William the Conqueror known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066...
came out of their own lands to stop the incursion by Count Odo and Count Rainald.
The French force was widely scattered in its depredations of rape and pillage in the Norman lands and was an easy target for the Norman forces of Robert, Count of Eu. The fierce engagement lasted many hours, but the French left with heavy losses. Guy, Count of Ponthieu was captured during the course of the battle.
When news of the battle reached the other side of the River, where the French King was preparing to battle Duke William, the French king withdrew in dismay.
After the defeats of 1052-1054 the rebellious Norman lords were exiled, the Norman lands of the Counts of Pointhieu were confiscated, and Guy, Count of Ponthieu swore homage to William after two years imprisonment.