Robert Avenel
Encyclopedia
Robert Avenel was a 12th-century Anglo-Norman
magnate. He was ruler of the small former Northumbrian province of Eskdale
in Dumfriesshire
, as well as Abercorn
in West Lothian
. He was one of a small number of Anglo-Norman immigrants to have been given a provincial lordship in southern Scotland in the early-to-mid 12th century. For some period in the 1170s he served as Justiciar in Lothian
(along with three others). He also had some part of the township of Innerwick
. He seems to have held this of Walter fitz Alan. He passed this on to his younger son Vincent. He passed Innerwick His nephew Glai or Glay may have held part of Innerwick too.
He died on 8 March 1185, according to the Chronicle of Melrose
Robert had a daughter who was a concubine of William the Lion, king of the Scots. The king and Robert Avenel's daughter had a daughter named Isabella, who was given as wife in 1183 to Robert III de Brus
, son of Robert II de Brus lord of Annandale
. After Robert II de Brus died in 1191, she was married to a Yorkshire Anglo-Norman baron named Robert de Ros (died 1226).
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
magnate. He was ruler of the small former Northumbrian province of Eskdale
Eskdale, Dumfries and Galloway
Eskdale is a glen in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The River Esk flows through Eskdale to its estuary at the Solway Firth....
in Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire
Dumfriesshire or the County of Dumfries is a registration county of Scotland. The lieutenancy area of Dumfries has similar boundaries.Until 1975 it was a county. Its county town was Dumfries...
, as well as Abercorn
Abercorn
Abercorn is a village and parish in West Lothian, Scotland. Close to the south coast of the Firth of Forth, the village is around west of South Queensferry.-History:...
in West Lothian
West Lothian
West Lothian is one of the 32 unitary council areas in Scotland, and a Lieutenancy area. It borders the City of Edinburgh, Falkirk, North Lanarkshire, the Scottish Borders and South Lanarkshire....
. He was one of a small number of Anglo-Norman immigrants to have been given a provincial lordship in southern Scotland in the early-to-mid 12th century. For some period in the 1170s he served as Justiciar in Lothian
Justiciar of Lothian
The Justiciar of Lothian was an important legal office in the High Medieval Kingdom of Scotland.The Justiciars of Lothian were responsible for the administration of royal justice in the province of Lothian, a much larger area than the modern Lothian, covering Scotland south of the Forth and Clyde,...
(along with three others). He also had some part of the township of Innerwick
Innerwick
Innerwick is a coastal civil parish and small village, which lies in the east of East Lothian, from Dunbar and approximately from Edinburgh....
. He seems to have held this of Walter fitz Alan. He passed this on to his younger son Vincent. He passed Innerwick His nephew Glai or Glay may have held part of Innerwick too.
He died on 8 March 1185, according to the Chronicle of Melrose
Chronicle of Melrose
The Chronicle of Melrose is a medieval chronicle from the Cottonian Manuscript, Faustina B. ix within the British Museum. It was written by unknown authors, though evidence in the writing shows that it most likely was written by the monks at Melrose Abbey. The chronicle begins on the year 735 and...
Robert Avenel, our noviceHe had entered the monastery of Melrose shortly before his death He had three sons, Gervase, Vincent and Robert, the latter of whom became a clerk. Gervase was Robert's principal heir, and the latter also served as Justiciar of Lothian.NovitiateNovitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
-associate, died on the eighth day before the Ides of MarchIdes of MarchThe Ides of March is the name of the 15th day of March in the Roman calendar, probably referring to the day of the full moon. The word Ides comes from the Latin word "Idus" and means "half division" especially in relation to a month. It is a word that was used widely in the Roman calendar...
. He gave to God, and to St Mary and the monks of Melrose, his land of Eskdale, as his charter testifies; may his blessed soul ever live in glory.
Robert had a daughter who was a concubine of William the Lion, king of the Scots. The king and Robert Avenel's daughter had a daughter named Isabella, who was given as wife in 1183 to Robert III de Brus
Robert III de Brus
Robert III de Brus was the oldest son of Robert de Brus, 2nd Lord of Annandale.He predeceased his father, and so did not inherit the lordship of Annandale, which passed to his brother, William de Brus, 3rd Lord of Annandale...
, son of Robert II de Brus lord of Annandale
Lord of Annandale
The Lord of Annandale was a sub-comital lordship in southern Scotland established by David I of Scotland by 1124 for his follower Robert de Brus...
. After Robert II de Brus died in 1191, she was married to a Yorkshire Anglo-Norman baron named Robert de Ros (died 1226).