Roger Brabazon
Encyclopedia
Sir Roger Brabazon was an English
lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1296 to 1316. Little is known of his background, he was the son of William le Brabazon, and may have been born at Mowsley
in Leicestershire
in or before 1247. Sir Roger was in the service of Edmund of Lancaster
from 1275, and through Edmund's patronage he started receiving judicial commissions from the mid-1280s. In 1290, after Ralph de Hengham
had been dismissed from the King's Bench, Brabazon was hired as a junior justice.
In 1291–2, Brabazon took part in hearing the 'Great Cause
' concerning Edward I
's overlordship over Scotland
, and pronounced the judgement in favour of John Balliol
as heir to the Scottish crown. Upon the death of Gilbert de Thornton in 1295, Brabazon was then appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench, a position he held until old age and infirmity forced him to resign in 1316.
Brabazon married Beatrice, daughter of Warin of Bassingbourn, at some point between 1281 and 1284. With his own and his wife's inheritance, combined with later acquisitions, he held extensive lands in the county of Leicestershire. He died on either 13 June or 14 June 1317, and as he left no issue, his heir was his brother Matthew. He was buried in St Paul's Cathedral
, and his London
house was sold to Hervey de Stanton
, later a Chief Justice of the King's Bench himself.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
lawyer, and Chief Justice of the King's Bench from 1296 to 1316. Little is known of his background, he was the son of William le Brabazon, and may have been born at Mowsley
Mowsley
Mowsley, pronounced "mouseley" is a small village in the south part of Leicestershire. The modern village has just under 100 dwellings.-Entries in Domesday:...
in Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
in or before 1247. Sir Roger was in the service of Edmund of Lancaster
Edmund Crouchback, 1st Earl of Lancaster
Edmund of Crouchback, 1st Earl of Leicester and Lancaster , was the second surviving son of King Henry III of England and Eleanor of Provence. In his childhood he had a claim on the Kingdom of Sicily. His nickname refers to his participation in the Ninth Crusade.-Childhood:Edmund was born in London...
from 1275, and through Edmund's patronage he started receiving judicial commissions from the mid-1280s. In 1290, after Ralph de Hengham
Ralph de Hengham
Sir Ralph de Hengham was an English justice. His first employer was Giles of Erdington a justice of the Common Bench, whose service he entered as a clerk before 1255...
had been dismissed from the King's Bench, Brabazon was hired as a junior justice.
In 1291–2, Brabazon took part in hearing the 'Great Cause
Competitors for the Crown of Scotland
With the death of Alexander III of Scotland in 1286 without a male heir, the throne of Scotland had become the possession of the three-year old Margaret, Maid of Norway, the granddaughter of the King...
' concerning Edward I
Edward I of England
Edward I , also known as Edward Longshanks and the Hammer of the Scots, was King of England from 1272 to 1307. The first son of Henry III, Edward was involved early in the political intrigues of his father's reign, which included an outright rebellion by the English barons...
's overlordship over Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, and pronounced the judgement in favour of John Balliol
John of Scotland
John Balliol , known to the Scots as Toom Tabard , was King of Scots from 1292 to 1296.-Early life:Little of John's early life is known. He was born between 1248 and 1250 at an unknown location, possibilities include Galloway, Picardy and Barnard Castle, County Durham...
as heir to the Scottish crown. Upon the death of Gilbert de Thornton in 1295, Brabazon was then appointed Chief Justice of the King's Bench, a position he held until old age and infirmity forced him to resign in 1316.
Brabazon married Beatrice, daughter of Warin of Bassingbourn, at some point between 1281 and 1284. With his own and his wife's inheritance, combined with later acquisitions, he held extensive lands in the county of Leicestershire. He died on either 13 June or 14 June 1317, and as he left no issue, his heir was his brother Matthew. He was buried in St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral
St Paul's Cathedral, London, is a Church of England cathedral and seat of the Bishop of London. Its dedication to Paul the Apostle dates back to the original church on this site, founded in AD 604. St Paul's sits at the top of Ludgate Hill, the highest point in the City of London, and is the mother...
, and his London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
house was sold to Hervey de Stanton
Hervey de Stanton
Hervey de Stanton was an English judge and Chancellor of the Exchequer.-Origins and early career:...
, later a Chief Justice of the King's Bench himself.