TWELFTH GENERATION

517. AGNES of Ponthieu died after Oct 1100 in Ponthieu, France. Agnes, the sole heir of her father's comte, was treated cruelly by her husband, who kept her shut up for a long time in his castle at Belleme. She escaped with the help of a chamberlain, took refuge with Adela, Countess of Blois, and retired to Ponthieu. She never returned to her husband.

She was married to Robert II de BELLEME (son of Roger de MONTGOMERY and Mabel TALVAS) before 9 Sep 1087. Robert II de BELLEME was born between 1052 and 1056. He died after 8 May 1131 in Wareham Castle, Dorset, England. (124) Third Earl of Shrewsbury, Seigneur of Belleme, Domfront and Alencon.

Encyclopedia Britannica Online, article titled "Robert Of Bellãeme, 3rd Earl Of Shropshire Or Shrewsbury"

"Bellãeme also spelled BELESME, Norman magnate, soldier, and outstanding military architect, who for a time was the most powerful vassal of the English crown under the second and third Norman kings, William II Rufus (died 1100) and Henry I. His contemporary reputation for sadism was extreme, even among the cruel Normans.

"A younger son of Roger de Montgomery, 1st earl of Shropshire or Shrewsbury, Robert inherited lordships in Normandy, among them Bellãeme (in the present French dâepartement of Orne). In the struggle between the two older sons of King William I the Conqueror he originally sided with Duke Robert II Curthose of Normandy, but in 1097 he fought for the other son, William II Rufus, against the Duke and King Philip I of France. Also on behalf of Rufus, he captured Helias (Hâelie), count of Maine, thereby securing the important town of Le Mans for the English. His greatest work of military architecture was the castle of Gisors, on the border between Normandy and the French kingdom.

"After Henry I, who had been Robert's chief rival for power in Normandy, had succeeded Henry's older brother, Rufus, as king of England, Robert rebelled (1101-02). He was deprived of his English lands and earldom (1102) and unsuccessfully fought against Henry in the Battle of Tinchebrai (Sept. 28, 1106). King Louis VI of France sent him (November 1112) as ambassador to Henry I, who quickly arrested Robert and imprisoned him for the rest of his life." AGNES of Ponthieu and Robert II de BELLEME had the following children:

child+612 i. William III TALVAS.

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