Roger Bigod (1245 - 1306)

Born 1245 in Thetford, Norfolk, England

Ancestors

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Biography

Roger was the 7th Earl of Norfolk overall, and the 5th of the second creation.^[1]

Roger succeeded to his father's lands in 1266, and to the earldom of Norfolk when his uncle, Roger (III) Bigod, died in 1270. He was twice married, first in 1271 to Aline Basset, widow of Hugh Despenser, who died in 1281, and second in 1290 to Alice, daughter of the count of Hainault.

He left no issue with either wife.^[2][3]

Roger held important lands in the Welsh marches, notably the lordship of Chepstow, as well as substantial estates in Norfolk and highly profitable lands in Ireland. Many of his manorial accounts survive. He was responsible for major works at Chepstow Castle, where he built the present gatehouse and front, as well as luxurious domestic accommodation. He also built at Bungay in Suffolk, receiving a license to crenellate in 1294.

He had the Barony of Beckley, previously a possession of Richard of Cornwall, for his life.^[4] His heir was his brother John, but due to financial problems Roger transferred most of his lands and titles to the crown before dying.^[5] Sanders seems to have believed that John did have the barony of Framlingham for his life, and possibly that of Chepstow/Striguil. (Perhaps he overlooked the special events.)^[6]

Sources

1. ↑ G E Cokayne. Complete Peerage, revised edition, Vol. IX, St Catherine Press, 1936, pp. 593-596, NORFOLK VII, viewable on Familysearch
2. ↑ Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. I, p. 204.
3. ↑ Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. I, p. 366-367.
4. ↑ Sanders, English Baronies, p.10
5. ↑ Complete Peerage, 2nd ed., Vol.9, pp.595-6.
6. ↑ Sanders, English Baronies, p.47 and p.111.

• http://www.thepeerage.com/p43905.htm#i439045
• Brown, William. Yorkshire Inquisitions, "The Yorkshire Archaeological Society: Record Series" (The Society, 1892) Page 166: "Roger Le Bygod, Earl of Norfolk and Marshal of England"
• Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Smith, Elder & Co., 1885-1900)
• Wikipedia: Roger Bigod, 5th Earl of Norfolk
• Marlyn Lewis
• Calendar of Inquisitions Post Mortem and Other Analogous Documents preserved in the Public Record Office (H.M. Stationery Office, London, 1904) Henry III. Vol. 1, Page 272: #807

• Page 239-41: #744. Roger le Bygod, Earl of Norfolk. Writ, 6 July, 54 Hen. III. "Sir Roger Bigot alias de Bygot, son of the late Sir Hugh le Bigot alias Bigod brother of the said earl, age variously stated as 24 and more, 25 and more and 26 and more, is his heir."

• Beth Hartland, "English Lords in Late Thirteenth and Early Fourteenth Century Ireland: Roger Bigod and the de Clare lords of Thomond," English Historical Review, Vol. CXXII, No. 496 (2007), pp.318-348:
  • https://www.academia.edu/3229725