Biography of William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber 1144-1211

Paternal Family Tree: Braose

Maternal Family Tree: Ealdgyth Mercia 1024-1066

Before 1144 [his father] William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber (age 28) and [his mother] Bertha Gloucester Baroness Bramber were married. She by marriage Baroness Bramber Feudal. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Miles Gloucester 1st Earl Hereford and [his grandmother] Sibyl Neufmarché Countess Hereford.

In 1144 William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber was born to [his father] William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber (age 29) and [his mother] Bertha Gloucester Baroness Bramber.

Before 1160 [his uncle] William Gloucester died in a house fire at Bronllys Castle [Map] as a result of injuries sustained from falling masonry. Hugh de Beauchamp succeeded Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation although nothing more in known about him. When he died around 1173 [his mother] Bertha Gloucester Baroness Bramber, or rather her husband [his father] William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber (age 44) subsequently succeeded to Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation.

Before 1161 [his brother-in-law] William Ferrers 3rd Earl of Derby (age 24) and [his sister] Sybil de Braose Countess Derby (age 3) were married. She by marriage Countess Derby. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of Robert Ferrers 2nd Earl of Derby and Margaret Peverell Countess Derby.

Around 1166 William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 22) and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber (age 11) were married.

Before 1170 [his brother-in-law] William Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp (age 64) was created 1st Baron Beauchamp of Elmley in Worcestershire. [his sister] Bertha de Braose Baroness Beauchamp by marriage Baroness Beauchamp of Elmley in Worcestershire.

Abergavenny Massacre

Around 25th December 1175, Christmas, William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 31) invited the local Welsh nobles to his Christmas court at Abergavenny Castle [Map] as an act of reconciliation. Seisyll ap Dyfnwal Gwent and his elder son Geoffrey Gwent were murdered. William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and his men then rode to Seisyll's home. There his younger son Cadwalladr Gwent (age 7) was murdered and his wife captured.

In 1179 [his father] William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber (age 64) died. His son William (age 35) succeeded 4th Baron Bramber Feudal, 6th Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation. [his wife] Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber (age 24) by marriage Baroness Bramber Feudal and Baroness Abergavenny Feudal Creation.

Around 1185 [his daughter] Loretta de Braose Countess Leicester was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 41) and [his wife] Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber (age 30). She married 1196 Robert Beaumont 4th Earl of Leicester, son of Robert Beaumont 3rd Earl of Leicester and Petronilla Grandesmil Countess Leicester.

The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy

The Gesta Normannorum Ducum [The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy] is a landmark medieval chronicle tracing the rise and fall of the Norman dynasty from its early roots through the pivotal events surrounding the Norman Conquest of England. Originally penned in Latin by the monk William of Jumièges shortly before 1060 and later expanded at the behest of William the Conqueror, the work chronicles the deeds, politics, battles, and leadership of the Norman dukes, especially William’s own claim to the English throne. The narrative combines earlier historical sources with firsthand information and oral testimony to present an authoritative account of Normandy’s transformation from a Viking settlement into one of medieval Europe’s most powerful realms. William’s history emphasizes the legitimacy, military prowess, and governance of the Norman line, framing their expansion, including the conquest of England, as both divinely sanctioned and noble in purpose. Later chroniclers such as Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni continued the history, extending the coverage into the 12th century, providing broader context on ducal rule and its impact. Today this classic work remains a foundational source for understanding Norman identity, medieval statesmanship, and the historical forces that reshaped England and Western Europe between 800AD and 1100AD.

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In 1187 Walter Devereux's (age 14) lands (including two castles), following the death of his father, were held by the Crown and placed under the care of William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 43).

In 1189 [his son-in-law] Gruffydd ap Rhys Dinefwr Prince Deheubarth and [his daughter] Maud de Braose were married. They were half fourth cousin twice removed.

In 1192 William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 48) was appointed High Sheriff of Hertfordshire.

Around 1196 [his son-in-law] Robert Beaumont 4th Earl of Leicester and [his daughter] Loretta de Braose Countess Leicester (age 11) were married. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. He the son of Robert Beaumont 3rd Earl of Leicester and Petronilla Grandesmil Countess Leicester (age 61).

Around 1200 John Devereux (age 7) was trained for knighthood in the retinue of William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 56).

On 19th November 1200 [his sister] Bertha de Braose Baroness Beauchamp died at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].

Battle of Mirebeau

On 1st August 1202 King John of England (age 35) defeated the army of his nephew Prince Arthur 3rd Duke Brittany (age 15) and Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche (age 19) which was besieging John's mother Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England (age 80) at Mirebeau Castle. King John of England took Arthur Plantagenet 3rd Duke Brittany 1187-1203's army by surprise capturing most. Prince Arthur 3rd Duke Brittany and, probably, his sister Eleanor "Fair Maid of Britanny" 4th Countess of Richmond (age 18), both of whom arguably had better claims to the throne than King John of England were captured.

Prince Arthur 3rd Duke Brittany was imprisoned by William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 58) at Falaise Castle [Map].

In or before 1205 [his son] John de Braose and [his daughter-in-law] Amabel de Limesey were married.

In 1205 [his son] John de Braose died.

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 1206 [his son] William de Braose and [his daughter-in-law] Maud de Clare (age 22) were married. She the daughter of Richard Clare 3rd Earl Hertford (age 53) and Amice Fitzrobert Countess Hertford.

In 1210 [his wife] Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber (age 55) starved to death at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].

In 1210 [his son] William de Braose was starved to death at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].

On 29th December 1210 [his daughter] Maud de Braose died.

On 9th August 1211 William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber (age 67) died at France. His son Giles de jure 7th Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation, 5th Baron Bramber Feudal. He died before he could take possession of his lands.

[his daughter] Flandrina Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber.

[his daughter] Margaret de Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. She married Walter Lacy Lord Meath and had issue.

[his son] Bishop Giles de Braose 7th Baron Braose 5th Baron Bramber was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber.

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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Before 1160 [his son] Reginald de Braose 8th Baron Abergavenny 6th Baron Bramber was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. He married (1) before 1215 Graecia Briwere and had issue (2) 1215 his half fifth cousin once removed Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw, daughter of Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw and Joan Plantagenet.

[his daughter] Maud de Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. She married 1189 her half fourth cousin twice removed Gruffydd ap Rhys Dinefwr Prince Deheubarth and had issue.

[his son] John de Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. He married in or before 1205 Amabel de Limesey.

[his son] William de Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. He married 1206 Maud de Clare, daughter of Richard Clare 3rd Earl Hertford and Amice Fitzrobert Countess Hertford, and had issue.

[his daughter] Eleanor Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. She married before 1227 Hugh Mortimer.