Roger de Lacy, Lord Pontefract, Baron of Halton

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=66774116

Roger de Lacy (1172-1212) was commander at Château-Gaillard. Roger de Lacy served John of England the younger brother of Richard I of England and defended the Château against Philip II of France. Amongst his other titles, he was the 7th Baron of Halton. Roger de Lacy is buried in Stanlow Abbey.

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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_de_Lacy_(1170-1211)

Roger de Lacy (1170–1211) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Roger de Lacy

• Born 1170
• Died 1211

Title 6th Baron of Pontefract Tenure after 1194 – 1211

Other titles 7th Lord of Bowland, Lord of Blackburnshire, 7th Baron of Halton

• Predecessor Albreda de Lisours
• Successor John de Lacy, 2nd Earl of Lincoln
• Spouse(s) Maud de Clere

Parents

• John FitzRichard
• Alice Filia[2] Roger fitz Richard

Roger de Lacy (1170–1211), 6th Baron of Pontefract, 7th Lord of Bowland, Lord of Blackburnshire, 7th Baron of Halton and Constable of Chester (formerly Roger le Constable) was a notable English soldier, crusader and baron in the late 12th and early 13th centuries.

Family and Provenance

Roger de Lacy was also known as Roger FitzJohn (son of John, constable of Chester)[3] and during the time that he was hoping to inherit his grandmother's de Lisours lands as Roger de Lisours. He was the son of John FitzRichard (son of Richard), Baron of Halton, Lord of Bowland, Lord of Flamborough and Constable of Chester. Roger became Baron of Pontefract on the death of his paternal grandmother Albreda de Lisours (-aft.1194) who had inherited the Barony in her own right as 1st-cousin and heir to Robert de Lacy (-1193), 4th Baron of Pontefract. In agreements with his grandmother Roger adopted the name of de Lacy, received the right to inherit the Barony of Pontefract and its lands, and the lands of Bowland, and Blackburnshire. He gave up all claims to his grandmother's de Lisours lands. He also gave his younger brother Robert le Constable the Flamborough lands that he had inherited from his father. He married Maud (or Matilda) de Clere (not of the de Clare family).

Service to Kings Henry, Richard and John

Robert de Lacy failed to support King Henry I during his power struggle with his brother and the King confiscated Pontefract Castle from the family during the 12th century.[4] Roger paid King Richard I 3,000 marks for the Honour of Pontefract, but the King retained possession of the castle. He joined King Richard for the Third Crusade.

Accession of King John

At the accession of King John of England, Roger was a person of great eminence, for we find him shortly after the coronation of that prince, deputed with the Sheriff of Northumberland, and other great men, to conduct William, King of Scotland, to Lincoln, where the English king had fixed to give him an interview; and the next year he was one of the barons present at Lincoln, when Davis, of Scotland, did homage and fealty to King John. His successor, King John gave de Lacy Pontefract Castle in 1199, the year he ascended the throne.

Military service

Siege of Acre

Roger was the Constable of Chester, and joined Richard the Lionheart for the Third Crusade. Roger assisted at the Siege of Acre, in 1192 and clearly earned the favour and the trust of King Richard as a soldier and loyal subject as judged by his subsequent service.

Château Gaillard

King Richard reconquered Normandy from King Phillip II of France in 1198, where de Lacy was likely in his retinue. In 1204, de Lacy was the commander of the great English fortress in Normandy, Château Gaillard, when it was retaken by Phillip, marking the loss of mainland English possessions in Normandy. Under de Lacy's command the defence of the castle was lengthy, and it fell only after an eight-month siege on 8 March 1204. After the siege, de Lacy returned to England to begin work reinforcing Pontefract Castle.

Siege of Rothelan

In the time of this Roger, Ranulph, Earl of Chester, having entered Wales at the head of some forces, was compelled, by superior numbers, to shut himself up in the castle of Rothelan (Rhuddlan Castle), where, being closely besieged by the Welsh, he sent for aid to the Constable of Chester. Hugh Lupus, the 1st Earl of Chester, in his charter of foundation of the Abbey of St. Werberg, at Chester, had given a privilege to the frequenters of Chester fair, "That they should not be apprehended for theft, or any other offense during the time of the fair, unless the crime was committed therein."[5] This privilege made the fair, of course, the resort of thieves and vagabonds from all parts of the kingdom.

Accordingly, the Constable, Roger de Lacy, forthwith marched to his relief, at the head of a concourse of people, then collected at the fair of Chester, consisting of minstrels, and loose characters of all description, forming altogether so numerous a body, that the besiegers, at their approach, mistaking them for soldiers, immediately raised the siege. For this timely service, the Earl of Chester conferred upon De Lacy and his heirs, the patronage of all the minstrels in those parts, which patronage the Constable transferred to his steward; and was enjoyed for many years afterwards.[5]

High Sheriff

He was appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland for the years 1204 to 1209.[6]

Death and succession

Roger died in 1211, and was succeeded by his son, John de Lacy, 2nd Earl of Lincoln.

Ancestry

Ancestors of Roger de Lacy (1170–1211)

References

1. Lewis, S (1987), The Art of Matthew Paris in Chronica Majora, California Studies in the History of Art (series vol. 21), Berkeley and Los Angeles: University of California Press, p. 448, ISBN 0-520-04981-0 Accessed via Google Books.
2. Filia = daughter of
3. Some references show Roger de Lacy as Roger FitzEustace but this is not correct as he was not the son of Eustace, his father was, and FitzEustace did not become a surname.
4. "Pontefract Castle Index". www.pontefractus.co.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2008.
5. Burke, John, A general and heraldic dictionary of the peerages of England, Ireland, and Scotland (1831) Pg 301
6. "The History of the Worthies of England , volume 1 by Fuller". Retrieved 2011-07-21.
7. Fitz = son of
8. The Herald's descent of Eustace FitzJohn, that says he is the son of John FitzRichard and grandson of Eustace de Burgh, is fictitious. Ranulf, a rich citizen and moneyer of Caen, 1035, is believed to be his ancestor. Waleram FitzRanulf came over with the Conqueror, but was dead before 1086, the date of Domesday Book, in which occur the names of his son John FitzWaleram and John "nepos (nephew of, but could also mean a more distant relation) Walerami." John "nepos Walerami" had a manor in Saxlingham in Norfolk, which came to Eustace FitzJohn, his son, and was inherited by the Vescis.
9. Roger was the "nepos" of Hugh Bigod, the son of Roger Bigod & Adeliza de Tosney, and the "nepos" of Thomas de Candelent. "Nepos" could mean nephew or a more distant relation. His wife Alice of Essex had also been married previously to Robert of Essex, who was the son of Hugh Bigod's sister Gunnor Bigod, and this could be where the reference to Roger being the "nepos" of Hugh Bigod comes from, a nephew through marriage.

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Roger de Lacy was formerly Roger Fitz-Eustace, Constable of Cheshire. He was the great-grandson of an aunt of Robert de Lacy. On Robert de Lacy's death in 1194 Pontefract Castle passed to Roger Fitz-Eustace on the condition that he adopted the de Lacy name.

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Roger de Lacy (1170-1211)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

On Robert de Lacy's death in 1194 the castle was inherited by his aunt's great-grandson Roger Fitz-Eustace, Constable of Cheshire, on the condition that he adopted the de Lacy name.[citation needed]

He was the constable of Chester. Under the banner of Richard the Lionheart, Roger assisted at the siege of Acon, in 1192 and shared in the subsequent triumphs of that chivalrous monarch. At the accession of John, he was a person of great eminence, for we find him shortly after the coronation of that prince, deputed with the Sheriff of Northumberland, and other great men, to conduct William, King of Scotland, to Lincoln, where the English king had fixed to give him an interview; and the next year he was one of the barons present at Lincoln, when Davis, of Scotland, did homage and fealty to King John. In the time of this Roger, Ranulph, Earl of Chester, having entered Wales at the head of some forces, was compelled, by superior numbers, to shut himself up in the castle of Rothelan, where, being closely besieged by the Welsh, he sent for aid to the constable of Chester. Hugh Lupus, the 1st Earl of Chester, in his charter of foundation of the abbey of St. Werberg, at Chester, had given a privilege to the frequenters of Chester fair, "That they should not be apprehended for theft, or any other offense during the time of the fair, unless the crime was committed therein."[citation needed] This privilege made the fair, of course, the resort of thieves and vagabonds from all parts of the kingdom. Accordingly, the constable, Roger de Lacy, forthwith marched to his relief, at the head of a concourse of people, then collected at the fair of Chester, consisting of minstrels, and loose characters of all description, forming altogether so numerous a body, that the besiegers, at their approach, mistaking them for soldiers, immediately raised the siege. For this timely service, the Earl of Chester conferred upon De Lacy and his heirs, the patronage of all the minstrels in those parts, which patronage the constable transferred to his steward; and was enjoyed for many years afterwards. Roger died in 1211. Roger was succeeded by his son, John.

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Roger DE LACY Constable of Chester, Lord of Pontefract and Halto (John 'de Lacy' Constable of Chester, Ancestor Lacy of Pontefract 1) was born circa 1176 in Halton Castle, Runcorn, Cheshire, England, died 1 Oct 1211 of Pontefract, West Riding, Yorkshire, England at age 35, and was buried in Stanlaw Abbey, Chestershire, England. Roger married Maud 'Matilda' DE CLARE daughter of Richard DE CLARE 3rd Earl of Hertford and Amicia FITZ ROBERT Countess of Gloucester, circa 1200. Maud was born circa 1181 in Clare, Risbridge, Suffolk, England and died about 1213 about age 32.

http://washington.ancestryregister.com/FITZ_RICHARD200006.htm#c2079

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Sir Roger de Lacy, Sheriff of Lancashire, Baron Halton, Constable of Chester & Baron of Pontefract1,2,3,4

M, #5727, b. circa 1165, d. 1 October 1211

Father John de Lacy, Constable of Chester5 b. c 1145, d. 11 Oct 1190

Mother Alice FitzRoger5 b. c 1150, d. b 1211

    Sir Roger de Lacy, Sheriff of Lancashire, Baron Halton, Constable of Chester & Baron of Pontefract married Maud de Clere; They had 2 sons (Sir John, Constable of Chester, Earl of Lincoln; & Roger) & 2 daughters ((unnamed), wife of Alan FitzRoland, Lord of Galloway; & (unnamed), wife of Geoffrey FitzRobert, Deal of Whalley). VCH Lancashire, 1.299–304 · J. C. Holt, The northerners: a study in the reign of King John, new edn (1992) · S. Painter, The reign of King John (1949) · K. Norgate, John Lackland (1902) · W. Farrer and others, eds., Early Yorkshire charters, 12 vols. (1914–65), vol. 3 · Chronica magistri Rogeri de Hovedene, ed. W. Stubbs, 4 vols., Rolls Series, 51 (1868–71) · Rogeri de Wendover liber qui dicitur flores historiarum, ed. H. G. Hewlett, 3 vols., Rolls Series, [84] (1886–9) · Pipe rolls · Paris, Chron. · Chancery records (RC) · Kirkstead cartulary, BL, Cotton MS Vespasian E.xviii · Whalley cartulary, BL, Egerton MS 3126 · Kirkstall coucher, TNA: PRO, duchy of Lancaster MS Misc. BKs 7 · Pontefract Priory cartulary, W. Yorks. AS, M. E. Wentworth papers.6,2,3 Sir Roger de Lacy, Sheriff of Lancashire, Baron Halton, Constable of Chester & Baron of Pontefract was born circa 1165 at of Lincoln, Lincolnshire, England.3 He died on 1 October 1211 at of Halton, Cheshire, England; Buried in Stanlaw Abbey.3

Family

Maud de Clere d. a 1238

Children
(Miss) de Lacy+3,4 d. b 1209

(Miss) de Laci+

Roger de Lacy

Sir John de Lacy, Magna Carta Surety, 7th Earl of Lincoln+2,3 b. c 1192, d. 22 Jul 1240

Citations

1) [S1366] Unknown author, Some Early English Pedigrees, by Vernon M. Norr, p. 82; Magna Charta by Wurts, p. 59.

2) [S16] Douglas Richardson, Magna Carta Ancestry, 2nd Edition, Vol. II, p. 514-515.

3) [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 463-464.

4) [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. IV, p. 443-445.

5) [S4] Douglas Richardson, Royal Ancestry, Vol. III, p. 462.

6) [S11639] Unknown author, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

http://our-royal-titled-noble-and-commoner-ancestors.com/p191.htm#i...

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Constable of Chester. 1192 at siege of Acre with King Richard.

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https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/66774116/roger_de-lacy

"Roger FitzJohn de Lacy of Pontefract, Yorkshire. 6th Baron of Pontefract, 7th Lord of Bowland, Lord of Blackburnshire, 7th Baron of Halton, hereditary Constable of Cheshire.

Son of John FitzRichard, Baron of Halton, Lord of Bowland, Lord of Flamborough and Constable of Chester and Alice de Vere Mandeville. Grandson of Richard FitzEustace Clavering and Albreda de Lisoures, Geoffrey de Mandeville and Rohese de Vere.

Husband of Maud de Clere, possible daughter of Richard and Lady Amice de Muellent. They had two sons; John, the Earl of Lincoln and Magna Carta Baron and Roger.

His paternal grandmother was Albreda de Lisours, who had inherited the Barony in her own right as 1st-cousin and heir to Robert de Lacy (d 1193), the 4th Baron of Pontefract. In an agreement with her, Roger adopted the name of de Lacy in order to receive the right to inherit the Barony of Pontefract and its lands, and the lands of Bowland, and Blackburnshire, and he gave up all claims to his grandmother's de Lisours lands.

Roger was Constable of Chester when the Ranulph, the Earl of Chester sent word he was besieged at Rothelan Castle, Wales, and looking to Roger for rescue. Roger was at the Chester Faire, who had been given the privilege of the faire, and who had ordered that all attendees, thieves or scallywags, had the rite of safe passage to the faire, unless they committed a crime at the faire. Roger gathered together attendees and they marched to Rothelan, such a large group the Welsh mistook them for soldiers and fled. Ranulph was so pleased he granted the patronage of all the minstrels of the area to Roger, who in turn, granted them to his steward. It is said the delights of the minstrels was enjoyed for many years.

Roger attended the Siege of Acon under Richard the Lion Hearted's banners, and enjoyed the laurels for the victory. Roger was proclaimed the Sheriff of Northumberland to conduct William, King of Scotland, to Lincoln for his interview with John Lackland, King of England.

From an unknown source: Roger became immortalized in the annals of medieval warfare for his bravery, fortitude and endurance. He was stated by many accounts to be the most remarkable man of his day and by the Welsh, his inveterate foes, was styled "Roger Hell" for his fierce spirit during his Castle-Defiance against the King of Normandy, Philip Augustus. Roger de Lacy obtained Pontefract in 1194 after Robert II de Lacy, his grand-uncle, and then John de Lacy, his father has passed, it was not until 1204, that Roger de Lacy officially was confirmed with the Honour of Pontefract, after the Normandy Campaign in which Roger held the Castle Gaillard at bay from the Norman army of King Philip of France. Upon the death of his father John, Roger accepted his rightful claims to the honors of Pontefract with great pride and upon this inheritance."

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http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ENGLISHNOBILITYMEDIEVAL3T-Z.htm#Rog...

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Roger de Lascy represents a new family and a new race. The
grandson of Albreda, the daughter of the eldest child of Robert de
Lascy, his name was by descent Fitz Eustace. His great-grandmother
had married Robert de Lisours, lord of Sprotborough, in 1131; and
her daughter, his grandmother Albreda, had had two husbands, Richard
Fitz Eustace, constable of Chester, and William Fitz Godric; by each of
whom she had issue. By Fitz Eustace she had John, who inherited
the constableship ; and by her second husband she was the ancestress
of the Fitzwilliams, who have been seated in Yorkshire till the
present day.

Her son, John the constable (sometimes incorrectly called John
de Lascy, and so confused with his grandson John de Lascy, constable
of Chester and Earl of Lincoln), was in 1181 selected by Henry II. in
the course of his conquest of Ireland to take command of Dublin,
and at the close of the decade he went on a Crusade, and died at
Tyre in 1190. His son Roger, who succeeded him as constable,
was of an able, capable, and dauntless character, and of such a semi-
independent position, that during the king's absence from England in
1 191, he was entrusted by the chancellor, William, bishop of Ely,
with the command of the castles of Nottingham and Tickhill. These
fortresses were treacherously surrendered to John, the king's brother ;
which when Roger the constable heard, he seized his deputies, Alan
de Lee and Peter de Bevencourt, and hanged both : a high-handed
act, which caused him to incur John's violent indignation at the time,
though it does not seem to have entailed on him any very serious
consequences. But in 1193, after the death of her cousin Robert,
when Albreda found herself in possession of the estates both of Lascy
and Lisours, she made an agreement: with Roger the constable, her

XXIV. INTRODUCTION.

grandson, which is extant in Leicester's Historical Antiquities, p. 268,
under which, adopting the name of de Lascy, he took full possession
of the Lascy lands, leaving as much of his grandmother's paternal
inheritance as was falling to her to pass with the name of Fitz
William to her children by William Fitz Godric, her second husband.
Their descendants were thenceforward known as Fitzwilliams.

The king returned from his captivity in Austria in the spring of
1 1 94, and as it was considered that his kingly character was in some
way vitiated by his captivity, it was judged necessary to restore it by a
second coronation, which took place at Winchester on Low Sunday,
April 17th, the agreement between Roger de Lascy and his grandmother
being entered in the king's court the following Thursday. Six weeks
afterwards Roger the constable, under his new name of de Lascy,
granted his charter to the burgesses of Pontefract. The charters 19
and 20 were also granted shortly afterwards, as is evident ; though
not immediately, since the name at the head of the witnesses is that
of abbot Richard of Selby, who was not appointed to that office till
the following year. The two are of the same date, since each is
witnessed by the same witnesses (except three) whose names are
ranged in the same order.https://archive.org/stream/chartularyofstjo01pont/chartularyofstjo0...

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