Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester

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Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester

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Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester (1094–25 November 1120), was the son of Hugh, 1st Earl of Chester and Ermentrude of Clermont.

Early life

He was seven years old when his father, known as Hugh the Fat, was killed. He probably came into his inheritance in 1107. He married Lucia-Mahaut, daughter of Stephen, Count of Blois.

Military career

At the age of twenty, in 1114, Richard was on military campaign and was styled the Earl of Chester. Together with King Alexander of Scotland, he led an Anglo-Norman army into Gwynedd as part of a three-pronged campaign organised by Henry I of England against Gwynedd, and Gruffydd ap Cynan. Gruffydd, rather than risk battle, satisfied the King with an oath of homage and a suitable fine. The campaign soon fizzled out, and Richard returned to Chester.

White Ship

The line of the d'Avranches as Earls of Chester failed when Richard, with his illegitimate half-brother Ottuel, joined the young William Adelin, heir to the English King Henry aboard the doomed White Ship. The ship went down, drowning all but one boy, in the year 1120. Richard died aged twenty-six, leaving no issue.

The earldom then passed through his father Hugh's sister Maud to Richard's first cousin Ranulph I, in 1121.

Preceded by

Hugh d'Avranches Earl of Chester

1107 — 1120 Succeeded by

Ranulf I