Baldwin de Meules, Viscount of Brionne

BAUDOUIN de Brionne

From Medlands:=== [updated July 2017]

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/normacre.htm

3rd son of GILBERT de Brionne "Crespin" ([979/1000]-murdered [Mar] [1040]), comte d'Eu.

BAUDOUIN de Brionne (-[Feb] 1090). Guillaume de Jumièges names "Richardum et Balduinum” as the two sons of “Gislebertus...filius Godefridi comitis Aucensis”[776]. He and his brother are named as sons of Gilbert de Brionne by Orderic Vitalis, recording that they took refuge in Flanders after their father was murdered[777]. Seigneur de Sap et de Meules, Normandy, after Guillaume II Duke of Normandy restored them to him after being requested to do so by his father-in-law Baudouin V Count of Flanders[778]. Orderic Vitalis names “...Balduinus et Ricardus Gisleberti comitis filii...” among the leading lords under Guillaume II Duke of Normandy[779]. Orderic Vitalis records that William I King of England built a castle within the walls of Exeter, after he suppressed the town’s rebellion, and appointed “Balduinum de Molis filium Gisleberti comitis” as custodian, dated to early 1067[780]. After the Norman conquest of England, William I King of England gave Baudouin about 160 lordships in Devon, Dorset and Somerset, among which he became Lord of Okehampton, Devon. “…Halduini [Balduini?] filii comitis Gilberti…” witnessed the charter dated 1082 under which William I King of England granted land at Covenham to the church of St Calais[781]. Sheriff of Devon 1080 to 1086. The necrology of Saint-Nicaise de Meulan records the death of "Baldoinus filius comitis", undated but listed among deaths recorded in Feb[782]. m ALBERADE, daughter of ---. Orderic Vitalis describes Alberade as the daughter of the amita of William II King of England[783]. The Fundationis et Fundatorum Historia of Forde Abbey records that “dominus Baldewinus de Brionis” married “Albredam neptem domini Willelmi Bastardi…ducis Normanniæ”[784]. Her precise parentage has not yet been ascertained.

Baudouin & his wife had six children:

i) ROBERT (-after Dec 1101). Guillaume de Jumièges names “tres filios Richardum, Robertum et Willelmum et totidem filias” as the children of "Balduinum”, son of “Gislebertus...filius Godefridi comitis Aucensis”[785]. Orderic Vitalis names “Rodbertum et Guillelmum, Richardum, nothumque Guigerium” as the children of “Gisleberti comitis [filius]...Balduinus”[786]. Named as son of Baudouin by Orderic Vitalis, who describes him as castellan of Brionne when he defended his right to the castle in [1090/94] after Robert de Beaumont claimed it from Robert III Duke of Normandy. The castle was subsequently stormed by Duke Robert's troops and returned to Robert de Beaumont[787]. He inherited his brother's English honours in 1096. "Robti filii Henrici Regis" confirmed the donation of "totam vineam quam Robtus fil Baldewini et Ricardus frater eius" made to Exeter St Nicholas, with the consent of "Matillidis filiæ Roberti de Avrenchis et heredis Ricardi filii Baldewini", undated[788].

ii) WILLIAM (-1096). Guillaume de Jumièges names “tres filios Richardum, Robertum et Willelmum et totidem filias” as the children of "Balduinum”, son of “Gislebertus...filius Godefridi comitis Aucensis”[789]. Orderic Vitalis names “Rodbertum et Guillelmum, Richardum, nothumque Guigerium” as the children of “Gisleberti comitis [filius]...Balduinus”[790]. He succeeded his father as Lord of Okehampton, Sheriff of Devon.

iii) RICHARD (-[Jun] 1137, bur 25 Jun 1137 Brightley Abbey, Devon, transferred to Forde Abbey). Guillaume de Jumièges names “tres filios Richardum, Robertum et Willelmum et totidem filias” as the children of "Balduinum”, son of “Gislebertus...filius Godefridi comitis Aucensis”[791]. Orderic Vitalis names “Rodbertum et Guillelmum, Richardum, nothumque Guigerium” as the children of “Gisleberti comitis [filius]...Balduinus”[792]. The Fundationis et Fundatorum Historia of Forde Abbey names “Ricardum et…Adeliciam” as two of the children of “dominus Baldewinus de Brionis” and his wife “Albredam neptem domini Willelmi Bastardi…ducis Normanniæ”[793]. He succeeded his brother as Lord of Okehampton. The Fundationis et Fundatorum Historia of Forde Abbey records the burial “VI Kal Jul 1137” of “domino Ricardo” and the subsequent transfer of his body “de Brightley apud Fordam”, adding that he died childless[794]. "Robti filii Henrici Regis" confirmed the donation of "totam vineam quam Robtus fil Baldewini et Ricardus frater eius" made to Exeter St Nicholas, with the consent of "Matillidis filiæ Roberti de Avrenchis et heredis Ricardi filii Baldewini", undated[795].

iv) ADELA (-24 Aug 1142, bur Forde Abbey, Devon). Guillaume de Jumièges names “tres filios Richardum, Robertum et Willelmum et totidem filias” as the children of "Balduinum”, son of “Gislebertus...filius Godefridi comitis Aucensis”[796]. The Fundationis et Fundatorum Historia of Forde Abbey names “Ricardum et…Adeliciam” as two of the children of “dominus Baldewinus de Brionis” and his wife “Albredam neptem domini Willelmi Bastardi…ducis Normanniæ”[797]. The Fundationis et Fundatorum Historia of Forde Abbey records that “Adeliciæ…sorori suæ” inherited the lands of “vicecomes Ricardus”, was thereafter called “vicecomitissa” and died “1142 IX Kal Sep” and was buried “apud novum monasterium de Ford”[798]. m ---. One child:

(a) ALICE . The Fundationis et Fundatorum Historia of Forde Abbey records that “domina Alicia uxor domini Randolphi Avenell filia sua” succeeded “vicecomitissa Adelicia” in “dominio de Okehampton…et castrum Exoniæ”[799]. m RANDULF Avenell, son of ---.

v) EMMA . Guillaume de Jumièges names “tres filios Richardum, Robertum et Willelmum et totidem filias” as the children of "Balduinum”, son of “Gislebertus...filius Godefridi comitis Aucensis”[800]. The primary source which confirms her parentage and marriage has not yet been identified. m HUGH de Waft, son of ---.

vi) daughter . Guillaume de Jumièges names “tres filios Richardum, Robertum et Willelmum et totidem filias” as the children of "Balduinum”, son of “Gislebertus...filius Godefridi comitis Aucensis”[801].

Baudouin had one illegitimate child by an unknown mistress:

vii) WIGER (-[1133]). Orderic Vitalis names “Rodbertum et Guillelmum, Richardum, nothumque Guigerium” as the children of “Gisleberti comitis [filius]...Balduinus”, adding that Wiger became a monk at Bec where he lived for about 40 years under abbots Guillaume and Boson[802].

SOURCES

• [776] Willelmi Gemmetencis Historiæ (Duchesne, 1619), Liber VIII, XXXVII, p. 312.
• [777] Orderic Vitalis (Chibnall), Vol. IV, Book VIII, p. 209.
• [778] Orderic Vitalis (Chibnall), Vol. IV, Book VIII, p. 209.
• [779] Orderic Vitalis (Prévost), Vol. II, Liber III, XI, p. 121.
• [780] Orderic Vitalis (Prévost), Vol. II, Liber IV, IV, p. 181.
• [781] Dugdale Monasticon VI.2, Covenham Priory, Lincolnshire, I, p. 993.
• [782] Obituaires de Sens Tome II, Prieuré de Saint-Nicaise de Meulan, p. 238.
• [783] Orderic Vitalis (Chibnall), Vol. IV, Book VIII, p. 209.
• [784] Dugdale Monasticon V, Forde Abbey, Devonshire I, p. 377.
• [785] Willelmi Gemmetencis Historiæ (Duchesne, 1619), Liber VIII, XXXVII, p. 312.
• [786] Orderic Vitalis (Prévost), Vol. III, Liber VIII, XIII, p. 344.
• [787] Orderic Vitalis (Chibnall), Vol. IV, Book VIII, p. 209.
• [788] Collectanea Topographica Genealogica, Vol. I, XLVI, List of charters in the cartulary of St Nicholas Priory, at Exeter, 151, p. 188.
• [789] Willelmi Gemmetencis Historiæ (Duchesne, 1619), Liber VIII, XXXVII, p. 312.
• [790] Orderic Vitalis (Prévost), Vol. III, Liber VIII, XIII, p. 344.
• [791] Willelmi Gemmetencis Historiæ (Duchesne, 1619), Liber VIII, XXXVII, p. 312.
• [792] Orderic Vitalis (Prévost), Vol. III, Liber VIII, XIII, p. 344.
• [793] Dugdale Monasticon V, Forde Abbey, Devonshire I, p. 377.
• [794] Dugdale Monasticon V, Forde Abbey, Devonshire I, p. 378.
• [795] Collectanea Topographica Genealogica, Vol. I, XLVI, List of charters in the cartulary of St Nicholas Priory, at Exeter, 151, p. 188.
• [796] Willelmi Gemmetencis Historiæ (Duchesne, 1619), Liber VIII, XXXVII, p. 312.
• [797] Dugdale Monasticon V, Forde Abbey, Devonshire I, p. 377.
• [798] Dugdale Monasticon V, Forde Abbey, Devonshire I, p. 378.
• [799] Dugdale Monasticon V, Forde Abbey, Devonshire I, p. 378.
• [800] Willelmi Gemmetencis Historiæ (Duchesne, 1619), Liber VIII, XXXVII, p. 312.
• [801] Willelmi Gemmetencis Historiæ (Duchesne, 1619), Liber VIII, XXXVII, p. 312.
• [802] Orderic Vitalis (Prévost), Vol. III, Liber VIII, XIII, p. 344.

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After his father was murdered he and his brother, Richard Fitz Gilbert, took refuge at the court of the Count of Flanders. William Duke of Normandy (later King William I of England) afterwards restored to Baldwin, the lordships of Meules and Sap, a portion of his father's lands. Baldwin received from William I some 160 lordships in Devon, Hemington, Porlock, and Apley, Somerset, and Iwerne, Dorset: Okehampton was the capital seat of his Barony. He was Sheriff of Devon from 1080 to at least 1086 and probably until his death. In the Domesday Book Baldwin is refered to as Baldwin of Exeter or Baldwin the Sheriff. Emma, his wife was a first cousin to King William the Conqueror.

Keats-Rohan, K.S.B. Domesday People: A Prosopography of Persons Occurring in English Documents 1066-1166. The Boydell Press, 1997. p. 162.

Baldwin de Brion, who accompanied his relative, William of Normandy, to England, and became high sheriff of Devonshire. He m. Lady Albreda, daughter of Richard-goz d'Abrancis, Viscount d'Auveran-chez (who accompanied the Conqueror and was granted the Earldom of Chester, in 1086), and his wife, Lady Emme, half-sister of King William the Conqueror, and had:

Title: A Baronial Family in Medieval England: The Clares, 1217-1314, by Michael Altschul, 1965

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