William Fitzalan (rebel)
Encyclopedia
William Fitzalan was a rebel.
Fitzalan was the son and heir of Alan fitz Flaad, by Aveline or Adeline, sister of Ernulf de Hesding. His younger brother, Walter fitz Alan (d. 1177), was 'the undoubted ancestor of the royal House of Stuart
'. His father had received from Henry I of England
, about the beginning of his reign, extensive fiefs in Shropshire
and Norfolk
.
William was born about 1105 and succeeded his father about 1114. His first appearance is as a witness to King Stephen's charter to Shrewsbury Abbey
in 1136. He is found acting as castellan of Shrewsbury and High Sheriff of Shropshire
in 1138, when he joined in the revolt against Stephen, being married to a niece of the Earl of Gloucester. After resisting the king's attack for a month, he fled with his family (August 1138), leaving the castle to be defended by his uncle Ernulf, who, on his surrender, was hanged by the king. He is next found with the Empress Matilda
at Oxford in the summer of 1141 (Eyton, vii. 287), and shortly after at the siege of Winchester Castle
. He again appears in attendance on her at Devizes, witnessing the charter addressed to himself by which she grants Aston to Shrewsbury Abbey. It was probably between 1130 and 1138 that he founded Haughmond Abbey
. In June 1153 he is found with Henry II
, then Duke of Normandy
, at Leicester.
With the accession of Henry as king he regained his paternal fief on the fall of Hugh de Mortimer in July 1155. He is found at Bridgnorth with the king at that time, and on 25 July received from his feudal tenants a renewal of their homage. His first wife, Christiana, being now dead, he received from Henry the hand of Isabel de Say, heiress of the barony of Clun, together with the shrievalty of Shropshire, which he retained till his death which took place in 1160, about Easter. Among his benefactions he granted Wroxeter Church to Haughmond in 1155, and, though not the founder of Wombridge Priory, sanctioned its foundation.
He was succeeded by William Fitzalan the second, his son and heir by his second wife. By his first he left a daughter, Christiana, wife of Hugh Pantulf.
Fitzalan was the son and heir of Alan fitz Flaad, by Aveline or Adeline, sister of Ernulf de Hesding. His younger brother, Walter fitz Alan (d. 1177), was 'the undoubted ancestor of the royal House of Stuart
House of Stuart
The House of Stuart is a European royal house. Founded by Robert II of Scotland, the Stewarts first became monarchs of the Kingdom of Scotland during the late 14th century, and subsequently held the position of the Kings of Great Britain and Ireland...
'. His father had received from Henry I of England
Henry I of England
Henry I was the fourth son of William I of England. He succeeded his elder brother William II as King of England in 1100 and defeated his eldest brother, Robert Curthose, to become Duke of Normandy in 1106...
, about the beginning of his reign, extensive fiefs in Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
and Norfolk
Norfolk
Norfolk is a low-lying county in the East of England. It has borders with Lincolnshire to the west, Cambridgeshire to the west and southwest and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the North Sea coast and to the north-west the county is bordered by The Wash. The county...
.
William was born about 1105 and succeeded his father about 1114. His first appearance is as a witness to King Stephen's charter to Shrewsbury Abbey
Shrewsbury Abbey
The Abbey of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, commonly known as Shrewsbury Abbey, was a Benedictine monastery founded in 1083 by the Norman Earl of Shrewsbury, Roger de Montgomery, in Shrewsbury, the county town of Shropshire, England.-Background:...
in 1136. He is found acting as castellan of Shrewsbury and High Sheriff of Shropshire
High Sheriff of Shropshire
The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1138, when he joined in the revolt against Stephen, being married to a niece of the Earl of Gloucester. After resisting the king's attack for a month, he fled with his family (August 1138), leaving the castle to be defended by his uncle Ernulf, who, on his surrender, was hanged by the king. He is next found with the Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda
Empress Matilda , also known as Matilda of England or Maude, was the daughter and heir of King Henry I of England. Matilda and her younger brother, William Adelin, were the only legitimate children of King Henry to survive to adulthood...
at Oxford in the summer of 1141 (Eyton, vii. 287), and shortly after at the siege of Winchester Castle
Winchester Castle
Winchester Castle is a medieval building in Hampshire, England. It was founded in 1067. Only the Great Hall exists now; it houses a museum of the history of Winchester.-Great Hall:...
. He again appears in attendance on her at Devizes, witnessing the charter addressed to himself by which she grants Aston to Shrewsbury Abbey. It was probably between 1130 and 1138 that he founded Haughmond Abbey
Haughmond Abbey
Haughmond Abbey at Haughmond Hill in Shropshire, otherwise known as the Abbey of Saint John the Evangelist, was founded in about 1100 AD. A statue of St John with his emblem can be found carved into the arches of the chapter house. His image also appeared on the Abbey's great seal.-History:The...
. In June 1153 he is found with 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...
, then Duke of Normandy
Duke of Normandy
The Duke of Normandy is the title of the reigning monarch of the British Crown Dependancies of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The title traces its roots to the Duchy of Normandy . Whether the reigning sovereign is a male or female, they are always titled as the "Duke of...
, at Leicester.
With the accession of Henry as king he regained his paternal fief on the fall of Hugh de Mortimer in July 1155. He is found at Bridgnorth with the king at that time, and on 25 July received from his feudal tenants a renewal of their homage. His first wife, Christiana, being now dead, he received from Henry the hand of Isabel de Say, heiress of the barony of Clun, together with the shrievalty of Shropshire, which he retained till his death which took place in 1160, about Easter. Among his benefactions he granted Wroxeter Church to Haughmond in 1155, and, though not the founder of Wombridge Priory, sanctioned its foundation.
He was succeeded by William Fitzalan the second, his son and heir by his second wife. By his first he left a daughter, Christiana, wife of Hugh Pantulf.