William I de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey

Notes:

Wikpedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_de_Warenne,_1st_Earl_of_Surrey

He was a Norman nobleman who was created Earl of Surrey under William II "Rufus." He was one of the few who was documented to have been with William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. At the Domesday Survey he held extensive lands in thirteen counties including the Rape of Lewes in Sussex (now East Sussex).

William was a younger son of Ranulf I de Warenne and his 1st wife Beatrice (whose mother was probably a sister of duchess Gunnor, wife of duke Richard I).

At the beginning of Duke William of Normamdy's reign [the Conqueror], his father was not a major landholder and, as a second son, William de Warenne did not stand to inherit the family?s small estates. During the rebellions of 1052-1054, the young William de Warenne proved himself a loyal adherent to the Duke and played a significant part in the Battle of Mortemer for which he was rewarded with lands confiscated from his uncle, Roger of Mortimer, including the Castle of Mortimer and most of the surrounding lands. At about the same time he acquired lands at Bellencombre including the castle which became the center of William de Warenne's holdings in Normandy.

William was among the Norman barons summoned to a council by Duke William when the decision was made to oppose King Harold II's accession to the throne of England. He is one of the very few proven companions of William the Conqueror known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, and was well rewarded with numerous holdings, including several manors in Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex.

He fought against rebels at the Isle of Ely in 1071, where he showed a special desire to hunt down Hereward the Wake who had killed his brother-in-law Frederick the year before.

Sometime between 1078 and 1082, William and his wife Gundred traveled to Rome visiting monasteries along the way. They visited Cluny Abbey and were impressed with the monks and their dedication. William and Gundred decided to found a Cluniac priory on their own lands in England. The house they founded was Lewes Priory, the first Cluniac priory in England.

William was loyal to William II, and it was probably in early 1088 that he was created Earl of Surrey. He was mortally wounded at the First Siege of Pevensey Castle and died 24 June 1088 at Lewes, Sussex, and was buried next to his wife Gundred at the Chapterhouse of Lewes Priory.

He married first, before 1070, Gundred, and they had the following children:

1. William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey (d. 1138), who married Elisabeth (Isabelle) de Vermandois, widow of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester.

2. Edith de Warenne, who married firstly Gerard de Gournay, lord of Gournay-en-Bray, and secondly Drew de Monchy.

3. Reynold de Warenne, who inherited lands from his mother in Flanders and died c. 1106.

4. An unnamed daughter, who married Ernise de Coulonces.[

Buried:
Grave location, stained glass window, and photo of crypt:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69111381

William married Gundred of Flanders, Countess of Surrey. Gundred was born ca 1051, Flanders; died 27 May 1085, Castle Acre, Norfolk, England; was buried , Southover Parish Church of St John the Baptist, Lewes, East Sussex, England. [Group Sheet]

1. William II de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey was born ca 1065, East Sussex, England; died 11 May 1138, England; was buried , Lewes Priory Lewes Lewes District East Sussex, England.