Roger (Vielles) de Beaumont (abt. 1015 - 1094)

Born about 1015 in Beaumont, Eure, Normandie

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 29 Nov 1094 at about age 79 in Calvados, Basse-Normandie

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Caution with Names: The generally accepted principle was to adopt the locality name to what we would know as "surname". This presents confusion with this line. Please take care with families and merging. This person is sometimes seen as Viellies (Vielles, Vieillies), Meulun (Mellent), Beaumont, or Bello Monte (Bellomont). His line is also noticed as Newburgh (Novo Burgo), Meulun (Mellent), Beaumont and Bello Monte.

Biography

Roger de Beaumont (c. 1015 – 29 November 1094), feudal lord (French: seigneur) of Beaumont-le-Roger and of Pont-Audemer in Normandy, was a powerful Norman nobleman and close advisor to William the Conqueror.^[1] He was, by some, "the noblest, the wealthiest, and the most valiant seigneur of Normandy and the greatest and most trusted friend of the Danish family."^[2] He was the son of Humphrey de Vieilles and grandson of Thorald de Pont Audemar.^[3]

In 1035 he appears in a Charter, along with his brothers, Robert and William, where William donates "Turstini villa" to the abbey of Préaux.^[4]

He appears in Charters between 1035 and 1060 and he built the castle of Beaumont-le-Roger on the hill above Vieillies at some time in this period.^[5] He is named as Bellomonte when he participated in the rebellion against Duke Guillaume II. Orderic Vitalis names “...Rogerius de Bellomonte et Rogerius de Monte-Gomerici...” among the leading lords under Guillaume II Duke of Normandy.

1066 - Invasion and Battle of Hastings. He is said to have furnished sixty vessels to the Conqueror's fleet, and is placed on the roll of the Norman chiefs at Hastings.^[6] He is said, by some, to have led the infantry from the front rank but this is disputed on record as he is mentioned as remaining in Normandy by others. It seems likely that Medlands is correct where it states "He remained in Normandy as adviser to Duchess Mathilde during the conquest".^[7]

It seems unlikely he spend much time in England although he was clearly awarded extensive lands comprising "a great barony of ninety manors, lying in Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Wiltshire, and Northamptonshire".^[8] Indeed William of Malmesbury suggests ^[9] "who, being frequently invited by William the First, to come to England, and receive, as a recompense, whatever possessions he chose, always declined."

In 1073 he, appearing as Rotgerius de Bello monte, witnessed a charter under which William, King of England, confirmed the donation by "Nielli filii alterius Nielli" made by "suus pater" of six churches on Guernsey to the abbey of Marmoutie in Normandy. The Domesday Book (1086) records “Roger de Beaumont” holding Stour Provost, Sturminster, Creech, Steeple, Church Knowle and Afflington in Dorset. Shortly after he appears as being granted the fiefdom of Brionne from Robert, Duke of Normandy, after surrendering the castellanship of Ivry.

In 1081 he appears as Count de Meulan after the death of Hugh, thus adopting Meulan (or variant) as his name. This status must be right of his wife and it will be his son, Robert that bears the title in his own right. He is said to have performed homage to Philip I., King of France for the lands to which he succeeded in that kingdom.^[10] Note that there are differences in source material regarding this sequence of events. Some state that it was Robert, the son, that purchased Meulant, when Hugh died.

In 1088/89, "Rogerus de Bellomonte" founded la Sainte-Trinité de Beaumont-le-Roger, with the consent of "liberis meis Roberto comite Mellentensi et Henrico comite de Warwic".^[11]

Orderic Vitalis records that he became a monk at Saint-Pierre de Préaux in c. 1090, which is where he died. Roger died 29 November 1094 was buried at the Abbey of Preaux, Normandy.^{[12] [13]}

Family

Roger de Vieilles, married Adelin de Meulan, daughter of Galeran (Waleran), Comte de Meulan and his first wife, Ode (surname unknown, died 8 Apr 1081 and buried at the Abbey de Bec) and sister of Hugh de Meulan.^[14][15] The prestige of this marriage is not to be underestimated and he later adopted this name as his own.

Most primary sources suggest they had two children:

• Robert de Beaumont-le-Roger, born c. 1045, died 1118. Buried at Préaux, monastery of Saint-Pierre. He inherits the major lands in Normandy. He succeeded his father in 1090 as Count de Meulan, Lord of Beaumont-le-Roger, de Vieilles et de Pont-Audemer. It is most likely Robert that was at Hastings where he is said to be "a novice under arms" although distinguishing himself.

• Henry de Beaumont, born c. 1048, died 1119. Buried at Préaux. He was born at the Castle of Newburg, near Louviers in Normandy, then a part of the Duchy of Normandy.^[16] He will appear under this name (Newburgh or Novo Burgo) in Charters in England. He inherits a number of English lands and became Earl of Warwick.

Another child is noticed in some significant sources:

• Aubrey (Alberée) de Beaumont. Medlands points out that no primary source, which might confirm her parentage, has yet been found. She is said to have been Abbess of St Léger-de-Préaux, later Abbess of Eton.^[17]

Titles

• Lord of Vielles and Pont-Audemer
• Lord of Beaumont-le-Roger

Sources

1. ↑ Roger de Beaumont on Wikipedia
2. ↑ The Battle Abbey roll, Vol 1, page 145
3. ↑ The Battle Abbey roll, Vol 1, page 145
4. ↑ Medlands Count de Meulan, Lords of Beaumont-le-Roger
5. ↑ Medlands Count de Meulan, Lords of Beaumont-le-Roger
6. ↑ The Battle Abbey roll, Vol 1, page 145 also noted in Brevis Relatio de Origine Willelmi Conquestoris
7. ↑ Medlands Count de Meulan, Lords of Beaumont-le-Roger
8. ↑ The Battle Abbey roll, Vol 1, page 145 although there is some confusion on whether these were granted to Roger or his son Robert.
9. ↑ William of Malmesbury's Chronicle of the kings of England page 440
10. ↑ The Battle Abbey roll, Vol 1, page 145
11. ↑ Medlands Count de Meulan, Lords of Beaumont-le-Roger
12. ↑ Medlands - - Roger de Viellies
13. ↑ Medlands Count de Meulan, Lords of Beaumont-le-Roger
14. ↑ Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 106th Edition, Charles Mosley Editor-in-Chief, 1999, Page: 2943
15. ↑ Medlands Count de Meulan, Lords of Beaumont-le-Roger
16. ↑ Beaumonts in History; Edward Beaumont; Chapter 3, page 37
17. ↑ Medlands Count de Meulan, Lords of Beaumont-le-Roger

Publications:

• Medlands - - Roger de Viellies See also Count de Meulan, Lords of Beaumont-le-Roger

• The Battle Abbey Roll, with some account of the Norman lineages; Lady Cleveland; available at archive.org Volume 1 - Beaumont and Volume 2 - Newburgh

• William of Malmesbury's Chronicle of the kings of England. From the earliest period to the reign of King Stephen; William of Malmesbury, available at archive.org

• Beaumonts in History; Edward Beaumont; Chapter 3, page 37. Note pdf download.

• Burke's Peerage & Baronetage, 106th Edition, Charles Mosley Editor-in-Chief, 1999, Page: 2943

Others:

• The Origins of Some Anglo-Norman Families, by Lewis C Loyd, 1999, Page: 13

• The Plantagenet Ancestry, by William Henry Turton, 1968, Page: 100

• Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists, 7th Edition, by Frederick Lewis Weis, additions by Walter Lee Shippard Jr., 1999, Page: 50-24

Links

• Roger de Beaumont on Wikipedia

Acknowledgements

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