Biography of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1056-1130

Paternal Family Tree: Montgomery

Around 1044 [his father] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and [his mother] Mabel de Bellême (age 9) were married.

Around 1056 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury was born to [his father] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and [his mother] Mabel de Bellême (age 21).

14th October 1066 Battle of Hastings

                    On 14th October 1066 the Norman army led by King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 38) defeated the English army of King Harold II of England (age 44) at the 14th October 1066 Battle of Hastings fought at Senlac Hill Hastings. Aimery Thouars (age 42), Ralph de Gael 2nd Earl East Anglia (age 24), Eustace II Count Boulogne (age 51), William Fitzosbern 1st Earl Hereford (age 46), Geoffrey Chateaudun II Count Mortain III Count Perche, William Warenne 1st Earl of Surrey, Raoul Tosny, Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan (age 26), Hugh Grandesmil (age 34), [his father] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury (possibly), Robert Mortain Count Mortain 1st Earl Cornwall (age 35) and Bishop Odo of Bayeux fought for William.
                
                    King Harold II of England was killed. Earl Wessex, Earl Hereford extinct.
                
                    Leofwine Godwinson 2nd Earl Kent (age 31) was killed. Earl Kent extinct.
                
                    His brothers Gyrth Godwinson Earl East Anglia (age 34) and Engenulphe Aigle (age 56) were killed.

In November 1071 [his father] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury was created 1st Earl of Shrewsbury 1C 1071. Adelaide du Puiset Countess Shrewsbury by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury.

After 1079 [his father] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Adelaide du Puiset Countess Shrewsbury were married.

On 2nd December 1079 [his mother] Mabel de Bellême (age 44) was murdered.

Before 9th September 1087 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 31) and Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (age 7) were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years. She the daughter of Guy aka Wido I Count of Ponthieu (age 67). He the son of Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Mabel de Bellême.

Around 1093 [his son] William "Talvas" Montgomery III Count Ponthieu was born to Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 37) and [his wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (age 13). He married 1115 his fourth cousin once removed Helie Burgundy Countess Ponthieu, daughter of Odo "Red" I Duke Burgundy and Sybilla Ivrea Duchess Burgundy, and had issue.

In 1094 [his father] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury died. His son [his brother] Hugh (age 36) succeeded 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury 1C 1071. His son Robert (age 38) succeeded 2nd Count Ponthieu. [his wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (age 14) by marriage Countess Ponthieu.

Chronicle of Geoffrey le Baker of Swinbroke

Baker was a secular clerk from Swinbroke, now Swinbrook, an Oxfordshire village two miles east of Burford. His Chronicle describes the events of the period 1303-1356: Gaveston, Bannockburn, Boroughbridge, the murder of King Edward II, the Scottish Wars, Sluys, Crécy, the Black Death, Winchelsea and Poitiers. To quote Herbert Bruce 'it possesses a vigorous and characteristic style, and its value for particular events between 1303 and 1356 has been recognised by its editor and by subsequent writers'. The book provides remarkable detail about the events it describes. Baker's text has been augmented with hundreds of notes, including extracts from other contemporary chronicles, such as the Annales Londonienses, Annales Paulini, Murimuth, Lanercost, Avesbury, Guisborough and Froissart to enrich the reader's understanding. The translation takes as its source the 'Chronicon Galfridi le Baker de Swynebroke' published in 1889, edited by Edward Maunde Thompson.

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In 1098 [his brother] Hugh Montgomery 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 40) died.

In 1098 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 42) succeeded 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1C 1071. [his wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (age 18) by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury.

On 13th October 1100 [his father-in-law] Guy aka Wido I Count of Ponthieu (age 80) died. His daughter [his wife] Agnes (age 20) succeeded I Countess Ponthieu. Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 44) by marriage Count Ponthieu.

Bridgnorth Castle [Map]. Around 1101 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 45) founded Bridgnorth Castle [Map].

1101. Bridgnorth Bridge [Map] was commissioned around 1101 by Robert de Belleme (age 45), when the town of Bridgnorth was established in Shropshire. The fortified bridge had a gatehouse and a chapel, and was a key crossing over the River Severn. It was rebuilt in 1823, and only fragments of masonry now survive.

In 1102 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 46) forfeit his Earldom of Shrewsbury for having rebelled against King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 34) and supported Robert Curthose (age 51).

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1102. In this year at the Nativity was the king Henry (age 34) at Westminster, and at Easter in Winchester, Hampshire [Map]. And soon thereafter arose a dissention between the king and the Earl Robert of Belesme (age 46), who held in this land the earldom of Shrewsbury, that his father, Earl Roger, had before, and much territory therewith both on this side and beyond the sea. And the king went and beset the castle at Arundel [Map]; but when he could not easily win it, he allowed men to make castles before it, and filled them with his men; and afterwards with all his army he went to Bridgenorth, and there continued until he had the castle [Map], and deprived the Earl Robert (age 51) of his land, and stripped him of all that he had in England. And the earl accordingly went over sea, and the army afterwards returned home. Then was the king thereafter by Michaelmas at Westminster; and all the principal men in this land, clerk, and laity.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1104. Afterwards were reconciled the Earl Robert (age 53) of Normandy and Robert de Belesme (age 48), whom the King Henry (age 36) had before deprived of his lands, and driven from England; and through their reconciliation the King of England and the Earl of Normandy became adversaries. And the king sent his folk over sea into Normandy; and the head-men in that land received them, and with treachery to their lord, the earl, lodged them in their castles, whence they committed many outrages on the earl in plundering and burning.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1105. And then before Christmas came Robert de Belesme (age 49) hither to the king (age 37). This was a very calamitous year in this land, through loss of fruits, and through the manifold contributions, that never ceased before the king went over [to Normandy], or while he was there, or after he came back again.

After 1105 [his former wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (deceased) died. Her son [his son] William (age 12) succeeded Count Ponthieu.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1106. In this year was the King Henry (age 38) on the Nativity at Westminster, and there held his court; and at that season Robert de Belesme (age 50) went unreconciled from the king out of his land into Normandy. Hereafter before Lent was the king at Northampton [Map]; and the Earl Robert (age 55) his brother came thither from Normandy to him; and because the king would not give him back that which he had taken from him in Normandy, they parted in hostility; and the earl soon went over sea back again.

Battle of Tinchebray

                    On 28th September 1106 King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 38) defeated his older brother Robert Curthose III Duke Normandy (age 55) at the Battle of Tinchebray at Tinchebray, Orne.
                
                    William Warenne 2nd Earl of Surrey and Robert Beaumont 1st Earl of Leicester Count Meulan (age 66). Elias I Count Maine commanded the reserve. The following fought for Henry:
                
                    William Brito de Albini.
                
                    Alan Canhiart IV Duke Brittany (age 43).
                
                    Raoul Tosny (age 26).
                
                    William "Pincerna aka Butler" D'Aubigny (age 42).
                
                    Robert Grandesmil (age 28), and.
                
                    William Normandy I Count Évreux.
                
                    Robert Curthose III Duke Normandy was captured and spent the next twenty-eight years in prison; never released.
                
                    William Mortain Count Mortain 2nd Earl Cornwall (age 22) was also captured. He spent the next thirty or more years in prison before becoming a monk. Earl Cornwall forfeit.
                
                    King Edgar Ætheling II of England (age 55) was captured and subsequently released; Henry had married to Edgar's niece Edith aka Matilda Dunkeld Queen Consort England (age 26) in 1100.
                
                    Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 50) escaped.
                
                    Robert Stuteville was captured.

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Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1106. After this, and before August, went the king (age 38) over sea into Normandy; and almost all that were in that land submitted to his will, except Robert de Belesme (age 50) and the Earl of Moretaine (age 22), and a few others of the principal persons who yet held with the Earl of Normandy (age 55). For this reason the king afterwards advanced with an army, and beset a castle of the Earl of Moretaine, called Tenerchebrai.¹³⁶ Whilst the king beset the castle, came the Earl Robert of Normandy on Michaelmas eve against the king with his army, and with him Robert of Belesme, and William, Earl of Moretaine, and all that would be with them; but the strength and the victory were the king's. There was the Earl of Normandy taken, and the Earl of Moretaine, and Robert of Stutteville, and afterwards sent to England, and put into custody. Robert of Belesme was there put to flight, and William Crispin was taken, and many others forthwith. Edgar Etheling (age 55), who a little before had gone over from the king to the earl, was also there taken, whom the king afterwards let go unpunished. Then went the king over all that was in Normandy, and settled it according to his will and discretion.

Note 136. Now Tinchebrai.

Abbot John Whethamstede’s Chronicle of the Abbey of St Albans

Abbot John Whethamstede's Register aka Chronicle of his second term at the Abbey of St Albans, 1451-1461, is a remarkable text that describes his first-hand experience of the beginning of the Wars of the Roses including the First and Second Battles of St Albans, 1455 and 1461, respectively, their cause, and their consequences, not least on the Abbey itself. His text also includes Loveday, Blore Heath, Northampton, the Act of Accord, Wakefield, and Towton, and ends with the Coronation of King Edward IV. In addition to the events of the Wars of the Roses, Abbot John, or his scribes who wrote the Chronicle, include details in the life of the Abbey such as charters, letters, land exchanges, visits by legates, and disputes, which provide a rich insight into the day-to-day life of the Abbey, and the challenges faced by its Abbot.

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Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1112. All this year remained the King Henry (age 44) in Normandy [Map] on account of the broils that he had with France, and with the Earl of Anjou (age 23), who held Maine [Map] against him. And whilst he was there, he deprived of their lands the Earl of Evreux, and William Crispin, and drove them out of Normandy. To Philip of Braiose (age 42) he restored his land, who had been before deprived of it; and Robert of Belesme (age 56) he suffered to be seized, and put into prison. This was a very good year, and very fruitful, in wood and in field; but it was a very heavy time and sorrowful, through a severe mortality amongst men.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1113. In this year was the King Henry (age 45) on the Nativity and at Easter and at Pentecost in Normandy. And after that, in the summer, he sent hither Robert of Belesme (age 57) into the castle at Wareham, Dorset [Map], and himself soon¹⁴² afterwards came hither to this land.

Note 142. "Mense Julio".-Flor.

Around 1115 [his son] William "Talvas" Montgomery III Count Ponthieu (age 22) and [his daughter-in-law] Helie Burgundy Countess Ponthieu (age 35) were married. She by marriage Countess Ponthieu. She the daughter of Odo "Red" I Duke Burgundy and Sybilla Ivrea Duchess Burgundy. He the son of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 59) and [his former wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury. They were fourth cousin once removed.

After 1130 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (deceased) died. His son William (age 37) succeeded III Count Ponthieu.

Biography of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1056-1130

Royal Descendants of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1056-1130
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Ancestors of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1056-1130

Biography of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1056-1130

Royal Descendants of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1056-1130Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.

Ancestors of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1056-1130

Royal Descendants of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1056-1130
Number after indicates the number of unique routes of descent. Descendants of Kings and Queens not included.