Philip (Braose) de Briouse (abt. 1073 - abt. 1139)

Born about 1073 in Bramber, Sussex, England

Ancestors

Descendants

Died about 1139 at about age 66 in Holy Land, Palestine

Biography

Philip was initially the feudal lord of Bramber, Sussex, his father William having been the lord in 1086 at the time of Domesday Book. This was possibly considered a feudal barony.^[1]

He conquered the Welsh lordships of Radnor and Builth before the end of the 11th century.^[2]

Philip also acquired a claim to the baronies of Totnes and Barnstaple, Devon, through his marriage to Aenor, daughter of Juhel of Totnes. Because other claimants existed, in both cases his heirs were holders of half of each of these original baronies.^[3]

Philip confirmed his father's gifts to the abbey of St. Florent in 1096. He was the first Braose Lord of Builth and Radnor, their initial holding in the Welsh Marches. Philip confirmed the gifts of his nephew, Philip de Harcourt, to the newly established Knights Templar. Philip de Harcourt, Bishop of Bayeux, bestowed the manor and church of Shipley on the Templars between 1125 and 1130 and in 1154 added St Mary's, Sompting.

Philip seems to have gone on the 1st Crusade and returned in 1103. He built the Norman church of St Nicolas at Old Shoreham and founded the port of New Shoreham. His lands were confiscated by Henry I in 1110, due to his traiterous support of William, son of Robert Curthose but they were returned in 1112.

Philip was the tenth most wealthy layman in England. Gerald of Wales became the Archdeacon of Brecon in 1175 and wrote colourful accounts of the times until his death in 1223. Gerald knew the Braoses as neighbours and friends, and they personally endorsed his work. Gerald says that some time during the reign of Henry I, the Lord of Radnor and his dogs spent a night in the church of St Afan. They had been hunting near Builth. At first light, Philip woke to find that all his dogs had gone mad and he himself was blind.

After years of "tedium and darkness", Philip grasped an opportunity to redeem his offence against the Church, "for he did not wish his spiritual light to be extinguished as his eyes had been". He armed himself and travelled to Jerusalem on a strong war horse, led by a group of friends. They took him to the front line of battle, where he charged gallantly forward. Philip was immediately struck down by a sword blow and so met an honourable death.

Father: William de Braose, 1st Lord of Bramber Mother: Eve de Boissey (probably)

There are charters where Robert de Harcourt's sons, Philip and Richard, refer to Philip de Braose as "patruus" - paternal uncle. This lends weight to the theory that Robert de Harcourt and Philip de Braose were both sons of Eve de Boissey. In another record dated 1103 (Pipe Roll Soc. Vol 71 no 544) it is stated that Philip de Braose was represented by "his brother Robert, the son of Anketill".

Philip married Aanor (Eleanor), dau of Judael (Johel) of Totnes ^[4]

1. William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber
2. Philip
3. Basilia
4. daughter, married Ralph de Gernon (ref: Collins' Peerage, 1761)

Sources

1. ↑ Sanders, English Baronies, p.108
2. ↑ Sanders, English Baronies, p.21
3. ↑ Sanders, English Baronies, pp.89,104-5.
4. ↑ Cawley, Charles. Medieval Lands: A prosopography of medieval European noble and royal families. Hosted online by the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy (FMG), accessed 2022, Brewes (Briouse/Braose).

• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
• Phillips, Weber, Kirk and Staggs Families of the Pacific Northwest, by Jim Weber, on Rootsweb.com
• Curfman, Robert Joseph. "The Yale Dexcent from Braiose and Clare Through Pigott of Buckinghamshire." The American Genealogist 56: 11 (1980) Link at AmericanAncestors ($)