Miles of Gloucester (? – Dec 24 1143)
AKA Miles
FitzWalter; Miles de Pitres
Miles is my 25th great grandfather and is known
as the 1st Earl of Hereford. He was the son of Walter of Gloucester
and therefore is also known as Miles FitzWalter of Gloucester .
Walter’s wife was known as Berta. Some references refer to her as a
relative of Hamelin de Balun, Lord of Abergavenny, but does not confirm de
Balun as her family name. Walter’s father was Roger de Pitres, who was the Sheriff
of Gloucester, from about 1071 to about 1083. At that time Roger’s brother
became Sheriff and remained so until about 1096. The title then passed to
Walter, Roger’s son, who had the favor of King Henry I.
A charter dated to (1123) records that "Walt de
Gloec" gave Little Hereford in fee to "Willo de Mara nepoti
suo". "Walter de Gloecestria, Milo
fili ei…Willelm de Mara" witnessed the charter dated to (1127) (Round:
Ancient Charters. Part 1, 11 p.19) This
charter establishes that Walter of Gloucester gave Little Hereford to his nephew
(nepoti suo), William de Mara or William de la Mare, whose mother was Walter’s
sister. This does establish a family connection, yet “nepot suo” could mean
grandson. However the dates are more in line with William being Walter’s
nephew. There are other, earlier, charters (1101) that mention Walter and his
wife Bertha donated Westwode in Jerchenfeldf (Erchenfeld), for the memory of Walter’s
mother and father and for his brother, Herbert.
Walter’s son, Miles married Sybil de Neufmarché, daughter of
Bernard de Neufmarché. Sybil was the great granddaughter of Gruffydd ap
Llywelyn, King of Wales and his wife Edith of Mercia. King Stephen of England
granted to Miles the honor of Gloucester and Brecknock
in 1136 and appointed him Constable of Gloucester Castle. Miles met Empress
Matilda on her arrival in England
in 1139, acting as her Constable. He was created Earl of Hereford at Oxford 25 Jul 1141, by
Empress Matilda. He was also granted the castle of Abergavenny
Miles was Sheriff of Gloucester by about 1128 and Sheriff of
Staffordshire by 1130. Together with Pain FitzJohn, who was Sheriff of
Herefordshire and Shropshire , they ruled the
entire Welsh border. By 1137 Miles had contributed property to Llanthony Abbey.
When Miles was killed in a hunting accident on Dec. 24 1143, he was laid to
rest at this abbey. His wife and others of his family were also buried there.
Ruins of Llanthony Abbey
Miles and Sybil had 5 sons and three daughters. All five
sons died without issue.
Of the three daughters, Margaret married Humphrey de Bohun
III, Bertha married William de Braose and Lucy married Herbert FitzHerbert.
When Miles’ son Roger died (d.s.p.) in 1155, the Earldom
became extinct. In 1200, Henry de Bohun (1176-1220), grand nephew and heir of
Earl Roger FitzMiles, was granted the Earldom by King John.
Miles’ sister, Margaret, had a son, also named Humphrey (IV)
after his father. This Humphrey married Margaret of Huntingdon, daughter of
Henry of Scotland
3rd Earl of Huntingdon and granddaughter of David I, King of Scotland.
Their son was Henry de Bohun who was restored to the Earldom
in 1200. He married Maud de Mandeville and they had Humphrey (V). This Humphrey
was married twice, first to Maud de Lusignan of Normandy ,
France
and then later to Maud d’Avenbury. Next
the son of Humphrey (V) and his first wife, Maud of Lusignan, Humphrey (VI)
married Eleanor de Braose. This marriage connects two of the daughters of Miles
of Gloucester, Margaret and Bertha, as Humphrey (VI) is the 3x gt.
grandson of Miles and Eleanor is his 3x gt. granddaughter. This would make
Humphrey and Eleanor 4th cousins.
This continues on with the de Bohun’s who eventually married
into the Plantagenet family, children of various Royal branches.
Bertha’s son, William de Braose (2nd) has become
a rather infamous historical figure. He lured three Welsh Princes to a
Christmas feast at Abergavenny
Castle Normandy .
When King Richard died, he then supported King John’s claim to the throne.
Standing in the way was Arthur, the son of John’s older, deceased brother,
Geoffrey. Prince Arthur disappeared when he was 16 and the mystery of who, how,
what, when and where is still to be solved. William de Braose has been
suspected of dealing the same fate to Arthur as he did to the three Welsh
Princes, but nothing has ever been found to prove it. It is believed that, if
nothing else, he was aware of the who, how and when. He received lands from
King John and the speculation has been that these were rewards for his service
and his silence. However, he fell out of favor and was soon being hunted,
diligently, by King John’s men. William’s wife, Maud de St. Valery and their
son, William, were starved to death in 1210, while being held prisoner, in Corfe Castle France .
Although William and his mother died in the castle, William had been married
and had four sons, John de Braose being the eldest son. John’s mother was Maude
de Clare. John married Margaret ferch Llewelyn ap Iowerth, the granddaughter of King John, by his daughter,
Joan of England.
I have browsed many documents, books and other information
concerning the de Braose family. It seems they became more obscure after the
1300’s and some lines may have daughtered out. To be sure there are
descendants, but they may not carry the name de Braose. I have several lines to
different de Braose families, most of whom are women. I will leave the sorting
out to those who have the interest.
Ruins of Abergavenny Castle
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