Lady N.N. de Breasey

"LADY BREASEY" OR "LADY BRESSE" ??

Tangible documentation regarding a "Lord Breasey" resident in Northamptonshire in the latter 12th century is notable in its absence, as is tangible documentation related to a birth year of 1172 for "Lady Breasey".

"Bresse" is, however, a district in Burgundy. Within the district of Bresse is the Chateau de Bresse - sur - Grosne, referenced in a Papal Bull issued by Pope Alexander III in 1180 and home of the "de Brecis" or "de Bressis" family. The feudal overlord of Bresse in 1172 was one Renaud III / Seigneur de Bauge et de Bresse (1121 - 1180). Seigneur Renaud's son, Ulrich III (1150 - 1220), married in 1170 Dame Alix de Thiernde Miribel (1140 - 1186). Sole issue of this marriage is documented as Guy de Bauge (born 1175), characterized in the source "il est chevalier". It would seem improbable that Seigneur Renaud and Dame Alix had but one child during the course of a fifteen year marriage.

As with Sir Thomas Andrews II, the lives of both Seigneur Ulrich and Guy de Bauge mesh well with the Third Crusade, in which both English forces under Richard I and Burgundian forces under Duke Hugh III of Burgundy were active participants. Thus, a negotiated marriage en route from the Holy Land to England is within the realm of probability. One notes the birth year of Sir George Andrews (1194 - 1227) would be consonant with Sir Thomas' return from the Third Crusade.

Sources --

"Chateau de Bresse - Sur - Grosne" / fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chateau_de_Bresse_Sur_Grosne

"Renaud III, Seigneur de Bauge et Bresse (1121 - 1180)" / genealogiequebec.info/testphp/info.php?=174615