Robert FitzWimarc
Encyclopedia
Robert FitzWimarc was a kinsman of both Edward the Confessor
and William of Normandy, and was present at Edward's death bed.
Born in Normandy, his mother Wimarc (c.990-c.1016) was a well-connected noblewoman and his father, Ansfrid de Normandy (born c.987), a rising noble. Brought to England by Edward he had a successful career and was rewarded with numerous lands in various parts of the country.. He had a special interest in Essex
and set up his main base at Clavering
. It was to Clavering
that many of Edward's Norman
favourites fled when they were ousted from political power in 1052, before taking ship into exile. Despite being a Norman
, Robert stayed in England and found further favour with Edward, and possibly with Harold Godwinson
after him.
Robert was later made Sheriff
of Essex
and was described as regalia palatil stabilitor - high officer or sometimes staller - of the royal palace. When Edward died in January 1066, Robert was one of the four inner councillors present at his death bed, along with the Queen, Edith of Wessex
, Earl Harold Godwinson
and Archbishop Stigand
, an event captured on the Bayeux Tapestry
.
Robert seems to have acquiesced with Harold's succession to the throne, but also seems to have kept in touch with his homeland. When William landed at Pevensey it was Robert who contacted him to advise a retreat back to France. The advice was, apparently, that William had neither the strength nor numbers to win a battle against Harold, particularly as Harold was buoyed by his victory against the Norwegians at Stamford Bridge
.
Robert clearly remained in favour with William after his victory at Hastings
, and subsequent succession, as he retained his estates, and was further rewarded with others. He left his extensive estates to his son Suen (Swein of Essex), who went on to build Rayleigh Castle
.
Robert FitzWimarc seems to have been a prudent man, with a fair degree of wisdom who helped to ease the transition from Saxon
to Norman
England.
He is remembered in Rayleigh, Essex
, where one of the town's secondary schools is named The FitzWimarc School.
Edward the Confessor
Edward the Confessor also known as St. Edward the Confessor , son of Æthelred the Unready and Emma of Normandy, was one of the last Anglo-Saxon kings of England and is usually regarded as the last king of the House of Wessex, ruling from 1042 to 1066....
and William of Normandy, and was present at Edward's death bed.
Born in Normandy, his mother Wimarc (c.990-c.1016) was a well-connected noblewoman and his father, Ansfrid de Normandy (born c.987), a rising noble. Brought to England by Edward he had a successful career and was rewarded with numerous lands in various parts of the country.. He had a special interest in Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
and set up his main base at Clavering
Clavering
Clavering may refer to:In places:*Clavering, Essex, a village in England*Clavering, Ontario, a community in Georgian Bluffs, Ontario, Canada*Clavering Island, an island in the Atlantic Ocean, part of GreenlandPeople with the surname Clavering:...
. It was to Clavering
Clavering
Clavering may refer to:In places:*Clavering, Essex, a village in England*Clavering, Ontario, a community in Georgian Bluffs, Ontario, Canada*Clavering Island, an island in the Atlantic Ocean, part of GreenlandPeople with the surname Clavering:...
that many of Edward's Norman
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...
favourites fled when they were ousted from political power in 1052, before taking ship into exile. Despite being a Norman
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...
, Robert stayed in England and found further favour with Edward, and possibly with Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...
after him.
Robert was later made Sheriff
Sheriff
A sheriff is in principle a legal official with responsibility for a county. In practice, the specific combination of legal, political, and ceremonial duties of a sheriff varies greatly from country to country....
of Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
and was described as regalia palatil stabilitor - high officer or sometimes staller - of the royal palace. When Edward died in January 1066, Robert was one of the four inner councillors present at his death bed, along with the Queen, Edith of Wessex
Edith of Wessex
Edith of Wessex married King Edward the Confessor of England on 23 January 1045. Unlike most wives of kings of England in the tenth and eleventh centuries, she was crowned queen, but the marriage produced no children...
, Earl Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson was the last Anglo-Saxon King of England.It could be argued that Edgar the Atheling, who was proclaimed as king by the witan but never crowned, was really the last Anglo-Saxon king...
and Archbishop Stigand
Stigand
Stigand was an English churchman in pre-Norman Conquest England. Although his birthdate is unknown, by 1020, he was serving as a royal chaplain and advisor. He was named Bishop of Elmham in 1043, and then later Bishop of Winchester and Archbishop of Canterbury...
, an event captured on the Bayeux Tapestry
Bayeux Tapestry
The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth—not an actual tapestry—nearly long, which depicts the events leading up to the Norman conquest of England concerning William, Duke of Normandy and Harold, Earl of Wessex, later King of England, and culminating in the Battle of Hastings...
.
Robert seems to have acquiesced with Harold's succession to the throne, but also seems to have kept in touch with his homeland. When William landed at Pevensey it was Robert who contacted him to advise a retreat back to France. The advice was, apparently, that William had neither the strength nor numbers to win a battle against Harold, particularly as Harold was buoyed by his victory against the Norwegians at Stamford Bridge
Battle of Stamford Bridge
The Battle of Stamford Bridge took place at the village of Stamford Bridge, East Riding of Yorkshire in England on 25 September 1066, between an English army under King Harold Godwinson and an invading Norwegian force led by King Harald Hardrada of Norway and the English king's brother Tostig...
.
Robert clearly remained in favour with William after his victory at 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...
, and subsequent succession, as he retained his estates, and was further rewarded with others. He left his extensive estates to his son Suen (Swein of Essex), who went on to build Rayleigh Castle
Rayleigh Castle
Rayleigh Castle was a masonry and timber castle built near the town of Rayleigh in Essex, England in the 11th century shortly after the Norman conquest...
.
Robert FitzWimarc seems to have been a prudent man, with a fair degree of wisdom who helped to ease the transition from Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
to Norman
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...
England.
He is remembered in Rayleigh, Essex
Rayleigh, Essex
Rayleigh is a market town and civil parish in the District of Rochford in Essex, England, located between Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea. It lies to the east of central London. It has a population of 30,196, having expanded rapidly in the 1960s.-Toponymy:...
, where one of the town's secondary schools is named The FitzWimarc School.