Hugh I Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk

1095 - 1176  (~ 81 years)

• Name	Hugh I Bigod
  Suffix	1st Earl of Norfolk
  Born	ca 1095	Norfolk, England
  Gender	Male
  Died	1176	Palestine
  Notes	Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hugh_Bigod,_1st_Earl_of_Norfolk He was the second son of Roger Bigod (also known as Roger Bigot) (d. 1107), sheriff of Norfolk and royal advisor, and Adeliza, daughter of Robert de Tosny. After the death of his elder brother William, who perished without issue in the sinking of the White Ship on 26 November 1120, Hugh was allowed to inherit his brother's office of royal steward and many estates in East Anglia. He also succeeded his aunt Albreda, heiress of her brother Berengar de Tosny, with lands in Yorkshire and in Normandy. Hugh became Constable of Norwich Castle in 1122. Hugh initially supported Stephen of Blois as king of England. On the death of Henry I in 1135, his nephew Stephen usurped the throne, despite the oath Stephen and the barons had sworn to accept Henry's daughter Empress Matilda as his successor. It was Bigod who asserted that, in his last days, Henry I had named Stephen to become king at the expense of his daughter Matilda. Civil war resulted when, in 1139 Matilda, commanded the military strength necessary to challenge Stephen within his own realm. Bigod fought on Stephen's side in the First Battle of Lincoln, after which the Earl deserted the captured king. In July of that year he was granted the earldom of Norfolk by the Empress Matilda but he appears to have assumed a position of armed neutrality during the civil war, rather than actively siding with the supporters of the empress. Five years later, in 1153, when Henry, Duke of Normandy, soon to be King Henry II (r. 1154-1189), landed in England to assert his claim to the throne, Bigod held out in Ipswich against Stephen's forces, while Henry II, on the other side, laid siege to Stamford. Both places fell to Stephen. In the critical state of his fortunes, however, Stephen was in no position to punish the rebel earl. Negotiations between the two parties resulted in Henry's recognition as Stephen's heir and Hugh eluded retaliation. On Henry II's accession to the throne in December 1154, Bigod received confirmation of the possession of his earldom and office of royal steward. It was not before long that Bigod became agitated under the rule of law initiated by Henry and he grew restless. In 1157 Henry II marched into the eastern counties and received the earl's submission. In 1173 the young Crown Prince Henry (also known as Henry the Young King), raised a revolt against his father, Henry II. This gave Hugh Bigod yet another chance for rebellion, along with the league of the English barons and the kings of France and Scotland in his favour. He at once became a leader in the cause, perhaps eager to revive the feudal power, which Henry II had curtailed. Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester (d.1190) landed at Walton, in Suffolk, on 29 September 1173 and marched to Framlingham, joining forces with Hugh. Together they besieged and took the castle of Hagenet, but the Earl of Leicester was defeated and taken prisoner setting out from Framlingham at the Battle of Fornham. Other barons then turned their arms against Earl Hugh, who, not being strong enough to fight, opened negotiations with his assailants. It is said he bought them off, and at the same time secured a safe passage home for the Flemish mercenaries in his service. Though defeated and compelled to surrender his castles, Bigod kept his lands and his earldom, and lived at peace with Henry II until his death reportedly in 1177 in the Holy Land. It should be noted, however, that on 1 March 1177, his son Roger Bigod appealed to the king on a dispute with his stepmother. Hugh being dead at the time of Roger's appeal, the date of his father's death is fixed 'ante caput jejunii', (i.e. before 9 March). If, then, he died in Palestine, his death must have taken place in the preceding year, 1176, to allow time for the arrival of the news in England. Henry II took advantage of Roger's appeal to seize upon the late Earl's treasure. Earl Hugh had possessed vast estates, which he inherited, and was also the recipient of the third penny of judicial fines levied in the county of Norfolk by right of his earldom. Bigod married first Juliane de Vere (died c. 1199), probably born in Essex, England. She was the daughter of Aubrey de Vere II and Adeliza de Clare, the daughter of Gilbert Fitz Richard de Clare, 2nd Earl of Clare. The marriage was dissolved before 1156. They had one son, Roger Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk. He married second Gundreda (c.1135-1200), daughter of Roger de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Warwick. They had two children: 1. Hugh Bigod (b. c. 1156) 2. William Hugh Bigod (b. 1168)
  Person ID	I36225	Master File
  Last Modified	3 Oct 2016

  
  

  Family	Juliane de Vere,   b. Essex, England ,   d. ca 1199, Norfolk, England
  Children	1. Roger Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk,   b. ca 1144/1150, Norfolk, England ,   d. 1221, England  (Age ~ 71 years)
  Last Modified	3 Oct 2016
  Family ID	F14947	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart