William II de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey

Notes:

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_de_Warenne,_2nd_Earl_of_Surrey

He was the son of William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey and his first wife Gundred. He was more often referred to as Earl Warenne or Earl of Warenne than as Earl of Surrey.

His father, the 1st Earl, was one of the Conqueror's most trusted and most rewarded barons who, at his death in 1088, was the 3rd or 4th richest magnate in England. In 1088 William II inherited his father's lands in England and his Norman estates including the castles of Mortemer and Bellencombre in Normandy. But William II was not as disposed to serve the king as his father was.

When Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy invaded England 1101 William joined him. But when Curthose promptly surrendered to Henry I, William lost his English lands and titles and was exiled to Normandy. There he complained to Curthose that he had expended great effort on the duke's behalf and in return lost all of his English possessions. Curthose's return to England in 1103 was apparently made to convince his brother, the king, to restore William's earldom.

In 1118 William finally acquired the royal-blooded bride he desired when he married Elizabeth de Vermandois. She was a daughter of count Hugh of Vermandois, a granddaughter of Henry I, King of France, and was the widow of Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester.

By Elizabeth his wife he had three sons and two daughters:

1. William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey

2, Reginald de Warenne, who inherited his father's property in Normandy, including the castles of Bellencombre and Mortemer.

3. Ralph de Warenne

4. Gundred de Warenne, who married first Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick and second William, lord of Kendal, and is most remembered for expelling king Stephen's garrison from Warwick Castle.

5. Ada de Warenne, who married Henry of Scotland, 3rd Earl of Huntingdon, the mother of two Scottish kings, she made many grants to the priory of Lewes.

William's death is recorded as 11-May-1138 in the register of Lewes Priory and he was buried at his father's feet at the Chapter house there. His wife, the countess Elizabeth, survived him, dying before July 1147.

Buried:
Grave location, biography, and priory photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69126335

William married Isabel de Vermandois. Isabel was born ca 1081, Normandy, France; died 17 Feb 1131, England; was buried , Lewes Priory Lewes Lewes District East Sussex, England. [Group Sheet]

1. William de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey was born ca 1119, Lewes, East Sussex, England; died 1148, Battle of Mount Cadmus, Anatolia,Turkey; was buried , Unknown.

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]

Notes:

Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gundred,_Countess_of_Surrey

She was the Flemish-born wife of an early Norman baron, William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey. She and her husband established Lewes Priory in Sussex. She was a sister of Gerbod the Fleming, 1st Earl of Chester.

Gundred married before 1070 William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey (d. 20 June 1088), who rebuilt Lewes Castle, making it his chief residence. Sometime between 1078 and 1082, Gundred and her husband set out for 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. Gundred died in childbirth 27 May 1085 at Castle Acre, Norfolk, one of her husband's estates, and was buried at the Chapter house of Lewes Priory.

The children of William de Warenne and Gundred were:

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, biography, stained glass and crypt photo:
http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=69110904