22G Grandparents (Continued)
24281090 Roger Bigod 2nd Earl of Norfolk.  b. about 1150.355 d. before August 2, 1221.355

Steward of England in 1186; attended the corronation of Richard I in 1189; Baron of the Exchequer1195; Magna Charta Surety in 1215 671

He m. Countess Ida _____.355

They had the following children:
12140545 i. Mary
ii. Hugh (-1225)
iii. William
iv. Ralph
v. Roger

24281091 Countess Ida _____.

from GEN-MEDIEVAL-L Archives:

From: "R Phair" <rwphair@myfastmail.com> Subject: Countess Ida, Bigod, Longespee Date: Wed, 3 Jul 2002 17:06:16 +0000

After he was created an earl, William Longespee issued two charters for Bradenstoke priory, Wiltshire, in which countess Ida was described as his mother; as the editor observed, this offers a reason why he named one of his daughters Ida [1].

While there were several countesses named Ida in 12th c. France, the only one known occurring in England at this time was the wife of Roger Bigod, earl of Norfolk, leading to the guess that she was William's mother [2].

As it turns out there is evidence that Ida countess of Norfolk was William's mother. Among the prisoners captured at the battle of Bouvines, Flanders, in 1214 was Ralph Bigod, described as a brother of William (Longespee) earl of Salisbury [3].

Two Ralph Bigods have been found in the records, but the older one was already an adult by 1156-62 and thus unlikely to have fought in a battle over 50 years later [4]. The other Ralph was a younger son of Roger Bigod, earl of Norfolk, whom the editors identify as still living in 1219 [5, 6]. This later Ralph seems very likely to have been the half-brother of earl William.

The French compilers of the prisoners list would probably have had a greater interest in his connection to William earl of Salisbury, one of the commanders in the battle, than to his father who is not known to have participated [7].

It may turn out to be only coincidence, but another Bradenstoke charter of earl William, dated by London as 1198x1199, was witnessed by, among others, Hugh Bigod and William Bigod [1]. These happen to be the names of both earl Roger Bigod's half-brothers and two of his sons. Both of the half-brothers were living at this time; Hugh was the older one [8]. It is not clear if both sons would have been old enough to witness a charter of their half-brother, nor is it certain that earl Roger's son William was still alive. London did not attempt to identify the witnesses.

[1] "The cartulary of Bradenstoke priory", ed. V.C.M. London, 1979, pp.8-9, nos.481, 645, 646.

[2] G.B. Roberts, "The royal descents of 500 immigrants", 1993, pp.vi, 348-364, credits Douglas Richardson with the identification of countess Ida as the wife of earl Roger Bigod, although no proof was provided. The subject of earl William's mother has generated numerous postings. See the archives.

[3] "Les registres de Philippe Augustus", ed. J.W. Baldwin, 1992, miscellanea no.13.

[4] "Recueil des actes de Henri II", ed. L. Delisle & E. Berger, 1:no. 4 (1); see also no.75 (spurious).

[5] "Complete Peerage", 9:586-7n, 589n (1936, repr. 1982), ed. G.H. White & E. Stokes; "Rotuli litterarum clausarum", ed. T.D. Hardy, 5:1 (1). This might refer to his ransom after his capture at Bouvines.

[6] The name Ralph seems to have made its first appearance in the Bigod family with Roger and Ida's son, perhaps introduced from Ida's family. No link has been found, so far, between the older Ralph Bigod and the comital family.

[7] Rolls series no.57, 7v, 1872-83, ed. H.R. Luard, 2:578-9. Cf. J. Bradbury, "Philip Auguste: king of France 1180-1223", 1998, chapter 10; W.L. Warren, "King John", 1978, pp.223-4; G. Duby, "The legend of Bouvines", transl. C. Tihanyi, 1990. Duby confused earl William Longespee with his father-in-law.

[8] Earl William Longespee witnessed many charters of king John; one of these was a confirmation of the marriage of William Bigod, earl Roger's half-brother [Pipe Roll Society 55:no.234 (1939)].
Ray Phair
Copyright 2002 by R. W. Phair

24281098 Robert de Lascelles.672  d. before 1245.

Children:
12140549 i. Avice (-<1261)
ii. Roger (-<1253)

Previous * Next
Contents * Index * Surnames * Contact