Hamelin de Balun
Encyclopedia
Hamelin de Ballon (died 5 March 1105/6) was an early Norman
Baron
and the first Baron Abergavenny
and Lord of Over Gwent and Abergavenny
, titles granted shortly after the Norman Conquest of England and Wales by William the Conqueror; he also served William Rufus.
, today a commune in the department of Sarthe
in the modern region of Pays-de-la-Loire. This was in the ancient province of Maine
which was invaded and conquered by Duke William of Normandy
in the early 1060s, just before his invasion of England.
He was a son of Drogo (or Dru) de Ballon and was accompanied to England by his brothers, Wynebald de Ballon
and Wynoc. It is not known if he was present at the Battle of Hastings
in 1066, but it is likely.
and in south east Wales, in what was to become the Welsh Marches
, and charged with its speedy and successful conquest and management. He sited the early motte and bailey version of Abergavenny Castle
and organised the early Norman protection of the settlement of what became the town of Abergavenny
around 1075, founding the Benedictine
Priory
in the town and making it a defensible site.
was the last name on the list of barons to witness the confirmation of the charters in 1225. He was succeeded in the title Baron Abergavenny
by his nephew Brien FitzCount
who was also lord of Grosmont
.
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
and the first Baron Abergavenny
Baron Abergavenny
The title Baron Bergavenny was created several times in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of Great Britain, all but the first being baronies created by error....
and Lord of Over Gwent and Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
, titles granted shortly after the Norman Conquest of England and Wales by William the Conqueror; he also served William Rufus.
Origin
He was from France, from the ancient manor of BallonBallon, Sarthe
Ballon is a commune in the Sarthe department in the region of Pays-de-la-Loire in north-western France....
, today a commune in the department of Sarthe
Sarthe
Sarthe is a French department, named after the Sarthe River.- History :The department was created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790, pursuant to the law of December 22, 1789, starting from a part of the province of Maine which was divided into two departments, Sarthe to the east and...
in the modern region of Pays-de-la-Loire. This was in the ancient province of Maine
Maine (province)
Le Maine is one of the traditional provinces of France . It corresponds to the old county of Maine, with its center, the city of Le Mans.-Location:...
which was invaded and conquered by Duke William of Normandy
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...
in the early 1060s, just before his invasion of England.
He was a son of Drogo (or Dru) de Ballon and was accompanied to England by his brothers, Wynebald de Ballon
Wynebald de Ballon
Wynebald de Ballon ,, was an early Norman magnate. He was a son of Drogo de Ballon and appeared in England accompanied by his brothers, Hamelin de Ballon, later created 1st Baron of Abergavenny, and Wynoc de Ballon, about whom little is recorded...
and Wynoc. It is not known if he was present at the Battle of Hastings
Battle of Hastings
The Battle of Hastings occurred on 14 October 1066 during the Norman conquest of England, between the Norman-French army of Duke William II of Normandy and the English army under King Harold II...
in 1066, but it is likely.
Rewards and duties
Hamelin de Ballon was rewarded with land in CornwallCornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
and in south east Wales, in what was to become the Welsh Marches
Welsh Marches
The Welsh Marches is a term which, in modern usage, denotes an imprecisely defined area along and around the border between England and Wales in the United Kingdom. The precise meaning of the term has varied at different periods...
, and charged with its speedy and successful conquest and management. He sited the early motte and bailey version of Abergavenny Castle
Abergavenny Castle
Abergavenny Castle is a castle in the market town of Abergavenny, Monmouthshire in south east Wales.- A naturally fortified site :The castle was sited above the River Usk overlooking the river valley and the confluence of the rivers Gavenny and Usk. The site would have been naturally defensible in...
and organised the early Norman protection of the settlement of what became the town of Abergavenny
Abergavenny
Abergavenny , meaning Mouth of the River Gavenny, is a market town in Monmouthshire, Wales. It is located 15 miles west of Monmouth on the A40 and A465 roads, 6 miles from the English border. Originally the site of a Roman fort, Gobannium, it became a medieval walled town within the Welsh Marches...
around 1075, founding the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
Priory
Priory
A priory is a house of men or women under religious vows that is headed by a prior or prioress. Priories may be houses of mendicant friars or religious sisters , or monasteries of monks or nuns .The Benedictines and their offshoots , the Premonstratensians, and the...
in the town and making it a defensible site.
Marriage, issue, succession
He married Agnes (Agnetis de Ballon). They had two sons William de Ballon and Matthew de Ballon, who both predeceased him, and a daughter Emeline de Ballon. The descendants of Emeline took his name as the Ballon lords of Much Marcle, her grandson John de 'Balun'John de Baalun
John de Baalun or Balun , was a justice itinerant and baron.Baalun possessed estates in Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, and Wiltshire, and was descended from one Hameline de Baalun, who came over with William the Conqueror, built the castle of Abergavenny, and died after 1104...
was the last name on the list of barons to witness the confirmation of the charters in 1225. He was succeeded in the title Baron Abergavenny
Baron Abergavenny
The title Baron Bergavenny was created several times in the Peerage of England and once in the Peerage of Great Britain, all but the first being baronies created by error....
by his nephew Brien FitzCount
Brien FitzCount
Brien FitzCount , held the lordships of Wallingford and Abergavenny, and was a staunch supporter of the Empress Matilda during the Anarchy of King Stephen's reign in England in the 1140s.- Illegitimate Birth :He was the illegitimate son of Alan IV, Duke of Brittany...
who was also lord of Grosmont
Grosmont
Grosmont is a small village and civil parish situated in the Scarborough district of North Yorkshire, England and is within the North York Moors National Park. The village is named after the Grandmontines Priory that used to be there...
.