Bertha de Hereford

Bertha of Hereford

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Bertha of Hereford, also known as Bertha de Pitres (born c.1130), was the daughter of Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford, and a wealthy heiress. She was the wife of William de Braose, Third Lord of Bramber to whom she brought many castles and Lordships, including Brecknock, Abergavenny, and Hay.

Abergavenny Castle in Monmouthshire, Wales, was one of the castles Bertha of Hereford brought to her husband William de Braose, Third Lord of Bramber

Family

Bertha was born in England in about 1130. She was the second daughter[1] of Miles of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford (1097- 24 December 1143) and Sibyl of Neufmarche. She had two sisters, Margaret of Gloucester, who married Humphrey de Bohun, by whom she had issue, and Lucy of Gloucester, who married Herbert FitzHerbert of Winchester, by whom she had issue. Her five brothers, included Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford, Walter de Hereford, Henry Fitzmiles, William de Hereford, and Mahel de Hereford.[2]

Her paternal grandparents were Walter FitzRoger de Pitres, Sheriff of Gloucester and Bertha de Bateden. Her maternal grandparents were Bernard de Neufmarche, Lord of Brecon, and Nesta ferch Osbern. The latter was a daughter of Osbern FitzRichard of Richard's Castle, and Nesta ferch Gruffydd.[3]Bertha was a direct descendant, in the maternal line, of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn (1007- 5 August 1063) and Edith (Aldgyth), daughter of Elfgar, Earl of Mercia.

Her father Miles served as Constable to King Stephen of England. He later served in the same capacity to Empress Matilda after he'd transferred his allegiance. In 1141, she made him Earl of Hereford in gratitude for his loyalty. On 24 December 1143, he was killed whilst on a hunting expedition.

Marriage and children

In 1150 [MedLands says before 1140 - possibly a contingent betrothal], she married William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber (1112- 1192), son of Philip de Braose, 2nd Lord of Bramber and Aenor, daughter of Judael of Totnes. William and Bertha had three daughters and two sons, including William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber.

In 1173[4], her brothers all having died without issue, she brought the Lordships and castles of Brecknock and Abergavenny, to her husband. Hay Castle had already passed to her from her mother, Sibyl of Neufmarche in 1165, whence it became part of the de Braose holdings.

In 1174, her husband became Sheriff of Hereford.

Her children include:

  1. William de Braose, 7th Baron Abergavenny, 4th Lord of Bramber (1144/1153- 11 August 1211, Corbeil), married Maud de St. Valery, daughter of Bernard de St. Valery, by whom he had 16 children.

2. Roger de Braose
3. Bertha de Braose (born 1151), married c.1175, Walter de Beauchamp (died 1235), son of William de Beauchamp and Joan de Walerie, by whom she had issue, including Walcherine de Beauchamp who married Joane de Mortimer.
4. Sibylla de Braose (died after 5 February 1227), married William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby (1136- 21 October 1190 at Acre on crusade), son of Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby and Margaret Peverel, by whom she had issue.
5. Maud de Braose, married John de Brompton, by whom she had issue.
Legacy

Bertha died on an unknown date. She is the ancestress of the families de Braose, de Beauchamp, and de Ferrers.

References

  1. ^ The Complete Peerage, Vol.1, "Abergavenny"

2. ^ The Complete Peerage, Vol.1 "Abergavenny"
3. ^ ThePeerage.com
4. ^ The Complete Peerage, Vol.1 "Abergavenny"
[Repetitive Wikipedia texts stripped out]

Sir Miles Fitz Walter [b], Constable, Earl of Hereford, b abt 1095, of Gloucestershire, England, d 24 Dec 1143. He md Sibyl de Neufmarche abt May 1121, daughter of Sir Bernard de Neufmarche, Lord of Brecon, and Nesta.

Children of Miles Fitz Walter and Sibyl de Neufmarche were:

Margaret of Hereford abt 1124, of Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England, d 1146. She md Humphrey III de Bohun abt 1137, son of Sir Humphrey II de Bohun, Constable of England, and Maud of Salisbury.

Bertha of Hereford b abt 1128, Gloucestershire, England. She md William de Braose, Lord of Abergavenny, abt Aug 1148, son of Philip de Braose, Lord of Briouze and Bramber, and Aenor de Totnes.

Lucy of Hereford b abt 1132, Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England. She md Herbert Fitz Herbert abt 1160, prob Gloucestershire, England, son of Herbert Fitz Herbert and Sibyl Corbet.

Berthe De Pitres

Birth: 1130 in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England

Death:

Sex: F

Father:

Mother:

Spouses & Children

William De Braose (Husband)

Children:

Bertha De Braose

William De Braose

Sybil De Braose

Susan De Braose

Engeram De Braose

Reginald De Braose

Roger De Braose

Giles De Braose

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Berta of Hereford (1123-) [Pedigree]

Daughter of Miles FitzWalter Earl of Hereford (1097-1143) and Sybil de NEUFMARCH (1090-1143)

   b. LATE 1123, Gloucester, Eng.

Married William de BRAOSE 1st Baron of Gwentland (1112-1179)

Children:

Maud de BRAOSE m(1) William de BEAUCHAMP Baron Elmley (1105-1170)

William de BRAOSE Lord Brecknock 5th Baron de Braiose (1144-1211) m. Matilda (Maud) de ST. VALERIE (1148-1210)

Sibyl de BRAIOSE (1150-1227) m. William de FERRERS 3rd Earl of Derby (1136-1190)

Bertha de BRAOSE (1151-)

References: [CP],[EnglishP],[PlantagenetA],[MRL],[AR7]

Heiress of Brecknock and Upper Gwent.

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bertha_of_Herefordwww.findagrave.com

Bertha Hereford de Braose
BIRTH 1130
Gloucester, City of Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England
DEATH unknown
BURIAL
Burial Details Unknown
MEMORIAL ID 173777352

Family Members
Parents

Miles Fitz Walter
1100–1143
Sibyl Neufmarche Fitz Walter
1100 – unknown

Spouse
William De Braose
1112–1192

Siblings
Mahel de Hereford
unknown–1165
Roger Fitzmiles
unknown–1155
Margaret of Hereford
1122–1187
Henry FitzMiles
1128–1162
Lucy of Hereford FitzHerbert
1136–1220

Children
Bertha de Braose de Beauchamp
1151–1200
William III de Braose
1153–1211
Sybil de Braose de Ferrers
1157–1228

Possibly a child bride, but if so her husband was considerate enough to wait until she was of childbearing age.