1071 Deaths - William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford (Paperback)

Chapters: William Fitzosbern, 1st Earl of Hereford. Source: Wikipedia. Pages: 52. Not illustrated. Free updates online. Purchase includes a free trial membership in the publisher's book club where you can select from more than a million books without charge. Excerpt: William FitzOsbern (c. 1020 22 February 1071), Lord of Breteuil, in Normandy, was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror. William FitzOsbern became one of the great magnates of early Norman England. He was created Earl of Hereford before 22 February 1067, one of the first peerage titles in the English peerage. He was the son of Osbern the Steward, a nephew of Duchess Gunnor, the wife of Duke Richard I of Normandy. Osbern became the steward of his cousin Duke Robert I of Normandy, and when Robert left the Duchy to his young son William, Osbern was one of Duke William's guardians. Osbern was killed defending the person of Duke William against an assassination attempt, sometime around 1040. Osbern had married Emma, a daughter of Count Rodolf of Ivry, who was a half-brother of Duke Richard I of Normandy. Through her he inherited a large property in central Normandy, including the honours of Pacy and Breteuil. William fitzOsbern was probably raised at the court of his cousin and namesake Duke William, and like his father, became one of the ducal stewards. He was one of the earliest and most vigorous advocates of the invasion of England, and tradition holds that he convinced the doubters amongst the Norman barons of the feasibility of the invasion. FitzOsbern's younger brother Osbern was one of Edward the Confessor's chaplains, and possessed the rich church of Bosham in Sussex, and was well-placed to pass along intelligence on the situation in England. He later became Bishop of Exeter. As Duke William took control of England (becoming William I of England), fitzOsbern was given charge of the Isle of Wight, and then before 22 February 1067 he was made...More: http: //booksllc.net/?id=44057