Counts of Beaumont

Roger de Beaumont-le-Roger was son of Humphrey de Vielles (himself a great-nephew of the Duchess Gunnora of Normandy) and his wife Albreda de la Haye Auberie. Roger de Beaumont, Lord of Beaumont-le-Roger and Pont-Audemer, Viscount of Hiesmes, was thus a second cousin once removed of the Conqueror. He was nicknamed Barbatus or La Barbe because he wore a moustache and beard while the Normans usually were clean shaven. This peculiarity is recognized in the forty-first panel of the Bayeux Tapestry where he is depicted sitting at a feast with Duke William on his left hand, Odo, brother of William and Bishop of Bayeux, in the centre.

Planché tells us that "he was the noblest, the wealthiest, and the most valiant seigneur of Normandy, and the greatest and most trusted friend of the Danish family." There is an explanation for this - as an older cousin who had never rebelled against the young Duke, he was part of the kinship group of noblemen that William relied upon in governing Normandy and fighting off frequent rebellion and invasions. The historian Frank McLynn notes that William relied on relatives descended via his mother (namely his half-brothers and brothers-in-law) and on relatives descended from the Duchess Gunnora's sisters, since his own paternal kin had proved unreliable. ..... more


Collegiate Church of St Mary, Warwick, dates back nearly a thousand years and was founded by Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick in 1123.
  • A1 ~ Thorold de Pont-Audemer, m. Awelina;
    • B1 ~ Humphrey, Seigneur de Vieilles, m. Aubrey de la Haye Auberie;
      • C1 ~ Roger, Sn de Beaumont et de Pont-Audomer. d:1094, m. Adeliza of Meulan;
        • D1 ~ Robert de Beaumont, Count of Meulan. 1st Earl of Leicester, lvd:1050/1108, m. Isabel de Vermandois;  ==>  House of Capet
          • E1 ~ Isabel de Beaumont, lvd:1130, m. Gilbert de Clare;  <==  de Clare family
          • E2 ~ Waleran IV de Beaumont, Earl of Worcester, lvd:1104:1166, m. Agnes de Montfort;  ==>  Montfort family
            • F1 ~ Robert de Beaumont, Count of Meulan, d:1204, m. Maud of Cornwall;
              • G1 ~ Mabel de Beaumont, d:1204, m. William de Redvers, Earl of Devon;
          • E3 ~ Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, lvd:1104/1168, m. Amicie de Waer;
            • F1 ~ Roger de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester, d:1190, m. Petronil de Grentemesnil;
              • G1 ~ Margaret de Beaumont, d:1235, m. Saier de Quincy;  <==  de Quincy
              • G2 ~ Amicie de Beaumont, d:1215, m. Simon de Montfort;  <==  Montfort family

Back to Main Page