William FitzRalph
| William FitzRalph | |
|---|---|
Continental domains of the Angevins, the most northern being the Duchy of Normandy, governed by William FitzRalph.
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| Born | 1140 Derbyshire[1] |
| Died | 1200 |
| Tenure | 1178 - 1200 |
| Other names | Guillaume fils Raoul |
| Years active | 1169 - 1200 |
| Nationality | Anglo-Norman |
| Residence | Caen |
| Offices | Seneschal of Normandy, High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests |
| Predecessor | Richard of Ilchester |
| Successor | Guérin de Glapion |
| Issue | Robert FitzRalph |
William FitzRalph was the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests from 1169 to 1177.[2] After, he was the seneschal of Normandy for 22 years under two dukes of Normandy, Henry II and Richard I, from 1178 to 1200.[3]
Life
Although it is not clear when William FitzRalph was born, he owned land in Derbyshire and was the High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire and the Royal Forests from 1169 until 1177.[2] After that he was appointed the seneschal of Normandy in 1177[4] and was in office from 1178.[5] He took over the position after Richard of Ilchester stepped down from the role he had been acting as since 1176 to become the English exchequer.[5] He resided in, and owned, Caen, where in January 1183 he presided over King Henry II of England's court there.[6][7] Caen was also the home of the Exchequer of Normandy.[7] He also held court in Argentan, Bernai, Longueville, Neufchâtel, Saint-Wandrille, and Rouen.[8] When Richard I of England became duke in 1189, he reconfirmed his father's appointment of William FitzRalph. FitzRalph was the only seneschal of Richard's duchies and counties in France to keep his office; Stephen of Tours was replaced in Anjou by Payn de Rochefort, Peter Bertin was made seneschal of Poitou, and Helie de la Celle was made seneschal of Gascony. Charles Haskins believed that the seneschal of Normandy had enhanced importance during William FitzRalph's tenure in part, at least, due to his personality, as he became second only to the sovereign in all administrative matters.[9] The prestige of the office of seneschal of Normandy increased during his tenure, and began to fulfill the same functions as the Justiciar of England.[1] However, in Jacques Boussard's view the power and eminence of William FitzRalph resulted from Richard of Ilchester's work on reorganising the exchequer.[10]
William FitzRalph was not a soldier, but an administrator. William Marshal stated that FitzRalph was "brave and wise but too old to fight" after a French courtier jokingly suggested that he should be one of King Henry's champions.[11]
At an unknown date, William FitzRalph had a son, Robert FitzRalph, who became Archdeacon of Nottingham circa. 1185 and later became Bishop of Worcester on 1 July 1190.[2][12]
In 1938, the leaden seal-die of William FitzRalph was found at Exton, Rutland.[13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 "British History Online Archdeacons of Nottingham" accessed 2 January 2015.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "L'Histoire de Guillaume le Marechal", ed. P. Meyer, 3 vols, Pris 1891-94, i, lines 7517-28, 7596-604 (iii, 88-90)
- ↑ "British History Online Bishops of Worcester" accessed 2 January 2015.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
