Nele (Aubigny) d'Aubigny (abt. 1072 - 1129)

Born about 1072 in Aubigny, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 21 Nov 1129 at about age 57 in Thirsk Slingsby,Hovingham,Yorkshire,England

Nigel Aubigny was a member of the aristocracy in Europe.

Biography

At some time between Domesday and the Lindsey Survey of 1115-1118 Gilbert Tison lost his tenancy-in-chief over all his Domesday lands. Clear evidence is lacking, but it has been suggested by Stapleton that he probably lost it due to siding with Robert earl of Northumberland in his rebellion of 1095. The tenancy-in-chief of all of Gilbert Tison's manors in the East Riding and Nottinghamshire, Swinton in the West Riding, and South Ferriby in Lincolnshire came to Nigel d'Aubigny, becoming a part of the Mowbray fee through Nigel's son, Roger de Mowbray, although Gilbert Tison's heirs general or descendents held under-tenancies in almost all of these.

Closely associated with Henry I, who made over to him following his victory of Tinchebrai 1106 the possessions in England of Robert de Stuteville, a follower of Henry's defeated elder brother Robert, Duke of Normandy. [Burke's Peerage]

The Albinis, who were maternally from the house of Mowbray, came into England with the Conqueror and obtained large possessions after the victory of Hastings. Nigel's grants lay in the cos. of Bucks, Bedford, Warwick, and Leicester, and comprised several extensive lordships. In the reign of Rufus, he was bow-bearer to the king; and, being girt with the sword of knighthood by King Henry I, had, of that monarch's gifts, the manor of Egmanton with diverse parks inthe forest of Sherwood, which lordship, however, he transferred to his particular friend, Robert Davil.

Sir Nigel m. 1st, Maud, dau. of Richard de Aquila, by permission of Pope Paschall, her husband, Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland being then alive and in prison for rebellion against William Rufus; from this lady he was, however, divorced, on account of consanguinity (Robert, it has been suggested, may have been 1st cousin to Nigel through the latter's mother, sister of Roger de Mowbray, father of Robert), and by her he had no issue. He m.2ndly, in 1118, Gundred, dau. of Gerald de Gourney, by the special advice of King Henry I, and had two sons, Roger, his successor, and Henry, who had the lordship and barony of Camho, and was ancestor of the Albinis, feudal lords of that place. This great feudal baron d. at an advanced age and was buried with his ancestor in the abbey of Bec, in Normandy. He was s. by his elder son, Roger de Mowbray. [Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant,Abeyant, Forfeited, and Extinct Peerages, Burke's Peerage, Ltd., London,1883, p. 386, Mowbray, Earls of Nottingham, Dukes of Norfolk, Earls-Marshal, Earls of Warren and Surrey]

Research Notes

Numerous sources, eg Cockayne, Complete Peerage, Vol. IX, pp.368-69, http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3.htm#_Toc389040775, do not mention any other children of Nele D'Aubigny and his second wife other than Roger.

Note

Ancestry.com: From St. Martin d'Aubigny near Coutances. Eldest son took name of Mowbray, ancestor of dukes of Norfolk. Large holdings in Bedfordshire, Buckighamshire, Leicestershire, Warwickshire. Knighted by King Henry I.

Robert de Mowbray (died 1125) was a son of a Roger de Mowbray of Normandy. For his participation in a rebellion, Mowbray forfeited his estates and was imprisoned, either dying in prison or becoming a monk. His wife, Matilda, was granted an annulment of her marriage; she then married Nigel d'Aubigny, who was granted her former husband's lands. The couple remained childless and in 1118 d'Aubigny divorced Matilda and married Gundred de Gournay , daughter of Gerard de Gournay and Edith de Warenne. They had a son, Roger who inherited the estates originally forfeited by Robert Mowbray. On receiving his inheritance Roger changed his name to Mowbray at the instruction of Henry I. Thus the name Mowbray was continued, but with no blood line from Robert de Mowbray.

Sources

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nigel_d%27Aubigny
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/House_of_Mowbray
• http://www.tribwatch.com/avranches.htm - Frame Family Origins
• Tudor Place website
• http://www.thepeerage.com/p46842.htm#i468420
• Foster, William Edward. The Royal Descents of The Fosters of Moulton and The Mathesons of Shinnes & Lochalsh (Phillmore & Co., London, England, 1912) Page 45