Anschitil, Vicomte of Bessin

Medilands update 24 Mar 2022 for Normandy Nobility: Avranches, Bayeux, Cotentin

ANSCHITIL, son of ---. Vicomte. His name suggests a Viking origin. "…Anschitillus Baiocacensis vicecomes…" witnessed the charter dated to [1030] under which Robert II Duke of Normandy confirmed rights of Mont Saint-Michel[404]. m ---. The name of Anschitil's wife is not known. Anschitil & his wife had [three] children:

1. RANULF (? - killed in battle Val-es-Dunes 1047).
Guillaume II Duke of Normandy donated "nostras insulas Serc et Aurrene, propter medietatem Grenere" to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel, supported by "Rannulfo filio Anschitilli", by charter dated to [1042][405].
Vicomte du Bessin (Bayeux).
Guillaume de Poitou records that "Randulfum Baiocensium vicecomitem" supported "Guido filius Burgundionum comitis" in his rebellion, dated to [1047][406].
"…Rannulfi filii Ascelini" witnessed the charter dated to [1047 or before] under which Guillaume II Duke of Normandy confirmed the donation by "Adelelmi…Beatricis uxor eius…Rotberti filius eius" to the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel[407].
Orderic Vitalis records that "Ranulfum Bajocensem ac Haymonem Dentatum et Nigellum de Constantino" rebelled against Guillaume II Duke of Normandy at the battle "apud Vallesdunas"[408].
m ALIX de Normandie, illegitimate daughter of RICHARD III Duke of Normandy & his mistress ---.
Robert of Torigny names "Nicolaum…duas filias Papiam…uxorem Walterii de Sancto Walerico et Aeliz uxorem Ranulfi vicecomitis de Baiocis" as the children of "Ricardo secundo duce Normannum filio primi Ricardi"[409].
Vicomte Ranulf & his wife had one child:

a) RANULF [Ralph] (? - after [1098]). Vicomte du Bessin (Bayeux) "…Ranulfus vicecomes Baiocensis…" witnessed the charter dated 1064 under which Guillaume II Duke of Normandy settled a claim in favour of the monks of Marmoutier relating to property donated by "Guido de Valle"[410]. "…Rannulfus filius Rannulfi vicecomitis…Rannulfus vicecomes" witnessed the charter dated 24 Apr 1089 under which Robert III Duke of Normandy donated property to Bayeux cathedral[411]. The Liber Vitæ of Durham names "Rannulfus Mahald uxor eius Ricardus Rannulfus de Mesc filii eorum Lucia uxor Rann"[412]. m MARGUERITE (Mathilda) d'Avranches, daughter of RICHARD Vicomte d'Avranches & his wife --- (? - after [1098]). She is named "Mathilda soror Hugonis comitis" by Orderic Vitalis, who also names her son[413]. Her husband is named in another passage, as father of his son Guillaume[414]. The Liber Vitæ of Durham names "Rannulfus Mahald uxor eius Ricardus Rannulfus de Mesc filii eorum Lucia uxor Rann"[415]. Vicomte Ranulf & his wife had four children:

• i) RICHARD (after [1098]). The Liber Vitæ of Durham names "Rannulfus Mahald uxor eius Ricardus Rannulfus de Mesc filii eorum Lucia uxor Rann"[416]. As Richard is named in this source together with his brother’s wife, his date of death is estimated based on his brother’s estimated marriage date. “R de Meschin, Richerio vicecomiti Karleoli” donated property to Wetherall priory, Cumberland, for the soul of “…Richard fratris mei…et uxoris meæ Luciæ…”, by undated charter, witnessed by “Osberto vicecomite, Walteof filio Cospatricii comitis, Forno Sigulfi filio, Chetello Ectredi filio…”[417].
• II) RANULF du Bessin "le Meschin" (? - 17 or 27 Jan 1129, bur Chester, Abbey of St Werburgh). Orderic Vitalis names him and his mother[418]. "…Rannulfus filius Rannulfi vicecomitis…Rannulfus vicecomes" witnessed the charter dated 24 Apr 1089 under which Robert III Duke of Normandy donated property to Bayeux cathedral[419]. The Liber Vitæ of Durham names "Rannulfus Mahald uxor eius Ricardus Rannulfus de Mesc filii eorum Lucia uxor Rann"[420]. He succeeded his father as Vicomte du Bessin (Bayeux). He was appointed Vicomte d'Avranches in 1120 after the death of his first cousin Richard d'Avranches, and also obtained the grant of the county palatine of Chester thereby becoming Earl of Chester (upon which he surrendered the lordship of Carlisle). - Earls of Chester.
• III) WILLIAM FitzRanulf (? - [1130/35]). The Cronicon Cumbriæ records that William I King of England granted “totam terram de comitatu Cumbriæ” to “Ranulpho de Meschines, et Galfrido fratri eiusdem…et Willielmo fratri eorundem terram de Copland”[421]. - see below.
• iv) GEOFFROY of Gillesland. The Cronicon Cumbriæ records that William I King of England granted “totam terram de comitatu Cumbriæ” to “Ranulpho de Meschines, et Galfrido fratri eiusdem Ranulphi totum comitatum Cestriæ, et Willielmo fratri eorundem terram de Copland”, adding that Geoffroy died without heirs and was succeeded by his brother Ranulf[422].

2. [HONFROI (? - after [1060]). "…Ingulfus dapifer, Rogerius filius Toraldi, Unfredus filius Ansquitilli, Rainaldus Foliot, Ricardus de Sturavilla, Gosfridus filius Rotberti Venatoris, Nigellus de Glanvilla, Rodulfus camerarius…Serlus filius Alveredi, Ricardus Britesonis filius" witnessed the charter dated to [1060] under which "Niellus vicecomes" donated six churches on Guernsey to the abbey of Marmoutier[423]. It is not certain that Honfroi was the brother of Ranulf son of Anschitil, but no other person with the latter name has yet been identified.]

3. [FREDESENDE. Henry II King of England confirmed the possessions of the abbey of la Trinité de Caen, including the donation by "Fredesend amite Ran[nulfi] vicecomitis" of "Osbertivillam", by charter dated to [1180/82][424]. If "amita" is interpreted strictly in this document, Frédésende would have been Ranulf’s paternal aunt, but this is not beyond doubt.]

Anschitil de Bayeaux died after 1031.

See "My Lines" ( http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/p338.htm#i7108 ) -- from Compiler: R. B. Stewart, Evans, GA ( http://homepages.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cousin/html/index.htm )