Isabel de Warenne, 4th Countess of Surrey
Encyclopedia
Isabel de Warenne, Countess of Surrey (born 1136, died 12 July 1203) was an English peeress
. She was the only surviving heir of William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey
and his wife, Adela, the daughter of William III of Ponthieu
.
In 1148, de Warenne inherited her father's lands and the earldom of Surrey
and was married to William of Blois
, the younger son of King Stephen
, that year. The marriage occurred at a critical moment in The Anarchy
as part of the king's attempt to control the de Warenne lands. The couple did not have any children and after William's death in 1159, William X, Count of Poitou sought her hand in 1162/3, but Thomas Becket
refused a dispensation
from affinity
on the grounds of consanguinity
.
In April 1164, the countess married Hamelin Plantagenet, the half-brother of King Henry II
, who became jure uxoris
Earl of Surrey. They had four surviving children:
Hamelin died in 1202 and the countess a year later. She was buried alongside him in the chapter house
of Lewes Priory
.
Peerage
The Peerage is a legal system of largely hereditary titles in the United Kingdom, which constitute the ranks of British nobility and is part of the British honours system...
. She was the only surviving heir of William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey
William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey was the eldest son of the William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey and Elizabeth de Vermandois.He was generally loyal to king Stephen...
and his wife, Adela, the daughter of William III of Ponthieu
William III of Ponthieu
William III of Ponthieu was son of Robert II of Bellême and Agnes of Ponthieu. He is also called William Talvas....
.
In 1148, de Warenne inherited her father's lands and the earldom of Surrey
Earl of Surrey
The Earl of Surrey is a title in the Peerage of England, and has been created five times. It was first created for William de Warenne, a close companion of William the Conqueror...
and was married to William of Blois
William of Blois
William I of Blois was Count of Boulogne and Earl of Surrey jure uxoris . He was the third son of King Stephen of England and Matilda of Boulogne....
, the younger son of King Stephen
Stephen of England
Stephen , often referred to as Stephen of Blois , was a grandson of William the Conqueror. He was King of England from 1135 to his death, and also the Count of Boulogne by right of his wife. Stephen's reign was marked by the Anarchy, a civil war with his cousin and rival, the Empress Matilda...
, that year. The marriage occurred at a critical moment in The Anarchy
The Anarchy
The Anarchy or The Nineteen-Year Winter was a period of English history during the reign of King Stephen, which was characterised by civil war and unsettled government...
as part of the king's attempt to control the de Warenne lands. The couple did not have any children and after William's death in 1159, William X, Count of Poitou sought her hand in 1162/3, but Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket
Thomas Becket was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr by both the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion...
refused a dispensation
Dispensation (Catholic Church)
In the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, a dispensation is the suspension by competent authority of general rules of law in particular cases...
from affinity
Affinity (canon law)
In Canon law of the Catholic Church, affinity is a relationship which "arises from a valid marriage, even if not consummated, and exists between a man and the blood relatives of the woman and between the woman and the blood relatives of the man."...
on the grounds of consanguinity
Consanguinity
Consanguinity refers to the property of being from the same kinship as another person. In that respect, consanguinity is the quality of being descended from the same ancestor as another person...
.
In April 1164, the countess married Hamelin Plantagenet, the half-brother of King Henry II
Henry II of England
Henry II ruled as King of England , Count of Anjou, Count of Maine, Duke of Normandy, Duke of Aquitaine, Duke of Gascony, Count of Nantes, Lord of Ireland and, at various times, controlled parts of Wales, Scotland and western France. Henry, the great-grandson of William the Conqueror, was the...
, who became jure uxoris
Jure uxoris
Jure uxoris is a Latin term that means "by right of his wife" or "in right of a wife". It is commonly used to refer to a title held by a man whose wife holds it in her own right. In other words, he acquired the title simply by being her husband....
Earl of Surrey. They had four surviving children:
- William, later 5th Earl of Surrey (1166–1240)
- Adela (born c. 1170, date of death unknown), married Robert of Naburn and William FitzWilliam and was also a mistress of King JohnJohn of EnglandJohn , also known as John Lackland , was King of England from 6 April 1199 until his death...
. - Isabel (died 30 November 1234), married Robert de Lacy and Gilbert de l'Aigle, Lord of Pevensey.
- Matilda, married Henry II of Eu and Henry de Stuteville.
Hamelin died in 1202 and the countess a year later. She was buried alongside him in the chapter house
Chapter house
A chapter house or chapterhouse is a building or room attached to a cathedral or collegiate church in which meetings are held. They can also be found in medieval monasteries....
of Lewes Priory
Lewes Priory
The Priory of St Pancras was the first Cluniac house in England and had one of the largest monastic churches in the country. It was set within an extensive walled and gated precinct laid out in a commanding location fronting the tidal shore-line at the head of the Ouse valley to the south of Lewes...
.
Source
- Johns, Susan M. - Warenne, Isabel de, suo jure countess of Surrey (d. 1203), magnate - Oxford Dictionary of National Biography