THIRTEENTH GENERATION


592. Lord William De Braose was born in 1151 in Bramber, Sussex, England. He died on 9 Aug 1211 in Corbeil, Marne, France. Lord of Brecon, ambitious lesser baron who rose in John's service. Captured John's nephew Arthur of Brittany at Mirebeau in 1202; rewarded with many lands & offices in South Wales, inc. sheriff of Hertfords. (1206). To curb his power John tried to take his sons hostage in 1208; William refused, family fled to Ireland; raised unsuccessful rebellion in Wales 1210, died an exile in France

He was the 5th Baron de Braiose Fifth Baron of Braiose; Fourth Lord of Bramber. He slaughtered Seisyll ap Dyvnwal and many unarmed Welshmen in the castle of Abergavenny in 1175 in revenge for Seisyll's killing of his uncle Henry. Because of his well-known quarrel with King John his lands were forfeited in 1208 and his wife and eldest son were starved in the dungeons of Windsor (or possibly Corfe) in 1210.

Quoted from: Doug Thompson's site, http://freespace.virgin.net/doug.thompson/BraoseWeb/index1.htm:

"William inherited Bramber, Builth and Radnor from his father; Brecknock and Abergavenny through his mother. He was the strongest of the Marcher Lords involved in constant war with the Welsh and other lords. He was particularly hated by the elsh for the massacre of three Welsh princes, their families and their men which took place during a feast at his castle of Abergavenny in 1175. He was sometimes known as the "Ogre of Abergavenny". One of the Normans' foremost warriors, he fought alongside K.Richard at Chalus in 1199 (when Richard received his fatal wound).

"William received Limerick in 1201 from K. John. He was also given custody of Glamorgan, Monmouth and Gwynllwg in return for large payments.

"William captured Arthur, Count of Brittany at Mirebeau in 1202 and was in charge of his mprisonment for King John. He was well rewarded in February 1203 with the grant of Gower. He may have had knowledge of the murder of Arthur and been bribed to silence by John with the city of Limerick in July. His honours reached their peak when he was made Sheriff of Herefordshire by John for 1206-7. He had held this office under Richard from 1192 to 1199.

"His fall began almost immediately. William was stripped of his office as bailiff of Glamorgan and other custodies by K. John in 1206/7. Later he was deprived of all his lands and, sought by K.John in Ireland, he returned to Wales and joined the Welsh Prince Llewelyn in rebellion. He fled to France in 1210 via Shoreham "in the habit of a beggar" and died in exile near Paris. Despite intending to be interred at St. John's, Brecon, he was buried in the Abbey of St. Victoire, Paris by Stephen Langton, the Archbishop of Canterbury, another of John's chief opponents who was also taking refuge there. His wife and son William were murdered by John, possibly starved to death at Windsor Castle."

He was married to Maud de St. Valerie (daughter of Bernard de St. Valery and Alanora) before 1170. (147) Maud de St. Valerie was born in 1155 in Beckley, Oxon, England. She died in 1210 in Windsor Castle, Windsor, Berkshire, England. She was starved to death by King John, who had her walled up alive in her castle with her son, William. Murdered By King John for refusing to send her son hostage for her husband's loyalty. King John had her and her son, William, walled up within the castles's walls and starved to death. Maude de St. Valerie and her eldest son, William, were imprisoned in Windsor Castle and starv ed to death by King John. Maude had refused to allow King John to hold her sons in order to keep her husband obedient to the king. Lord William De Braose and Maud de St. Valerie had the following children:

child+682 i. Joan De Braiose.
child+683 ii. Margaret De Braiose.
child684 iii. Baron William De Braoise "The Younger" was born about 1175 in Bramber, Sussex, England. He died in 1211 in Corfer or windsor castle. Murdered by King John along with his mother, who refused to send him hostage to the King. They were walled up in the castle and starved to death. He was the 4th Baron of Braoise.
child685 iv. Matilda De Braiose was born in 1174.
child+686 v. William de BRAIOSE.
child687 vi. Susan (Maud) de Braiose was born in 1160. She died on 29 Dec 1210. (148)
child688 vii. Giles de Braiose died on 13 Nov 1215 in Gloucester, England. Bishop of Hereford 1200-1215. He seized his brother's (William) Welsh possessions in 1215, confirmed by the King October 21, 1215 on payment of a fine.

From Doug Thompson, http://freespace.virgin.net/doug.thompson/BraoseWeb/index1.htm:

"Bishop of Hereford from 1200 -1215, Giles, along with other bishops, left England in 1208 when the
Pope's interdict came into force. In 1213 Giles and Reginald turned to open war with King John and took the de Braose Lordships in Wales which John had confiscated on the death of their father in 1211. Giles returned to England with Archbishop Langton in 1214 and the situation in Wales was ratified by John (on payment of a fine in Oct 1215). Giles became the Lord of Brecon etc. He built the tower of Brecon Cathedral and is depicted in a window in the North aisle. He may also have built the tower of Hereford
Cathedral. His effigy on the North side of the chancel holds a tower. "
child+689 viii. Reginald de Braiose.
child+690 ix. Eleanor de Braiose.
child+691 x. Laurette de Braiose.
child692 xi. John de Braiose died in 1205.

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