Beaumont, Count of Meulan Robert De

Notes:

First Earl of Leicester

1st Earl of Leicester

Eldest son of Roger de Beaumont, Lord Pont Audemer and Adeline de Meulan. Grandson of Humphrey de Vielles and Aubreye de Haye, Waleran I Count de Meulent and his wife, Liegard. Older brother of Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick. Born between 1040 and 1050 at Normandy, France.

Husband of Elizabeth (Isabel) de Vermandois, daughter of Hughes Magnus and Adelaide, Countess of Vermandois. There was easily a thirty year difference in their ages. They were married in 1096 and had three sons and six daughters:
* Waleran IV de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Worcester, twin
* Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester, twin
* Hugh de Beaumont. 1st Earl of Bedford
* Emma de Beaumont
* Adeline, wife of Hugh de Montfort & Richard de Granville
* Aubree, wife of Hugh de Chateauneuf
* Agnes, a nun
* Maud, wife of William Lovell
* Isabel, wife of Sir Gilbert de Clare and Herve de Montgomery

Sir Robert de Beaumont, described as being "the wisest man in his time between London and Jerusalem", and aged over fifty was determined to marry Isabel, aged about eleven. Bishop Ivo dismissed their request based on their being within a few degrees of kindred. Isabel's father was able to sway Bishop Ivo, and saw his daughter married by April of 1096 when he left on a crusade.

"A powerful English and French nobleman, honored as one of the wisest men of his age. Chroniclers speak highly of his eloquence, his learning, and three kings of England valued his counsel."

He accompanied William the Conqueror to England in 1066, where his service earned him more than 91 lordships and manors. When his mother died in 1081, Robert inherited the title of Count of Meulan in Normandy, also the title of Viscount Ivry and Lord of Norton. He did homage to Philip I of France for these estates and sat as French Peer in the Parliament held at Poissy. At the Battle of Hastings Robert was appointed leader of the infantry on the right wing of the army.

He and his brother Henry were members of the Royal hunting party in the New Forest, when William Rufus received his mysterious death wound, 2 August 1100. He then pledged allegiance to William Rufus' brother, Henry I of England, who created him Earl of Leicester in 1107.

On the death of William Rufus, William, Count of Evereux and Ralph de Conches made an incursion into Robert's Norman estates, on the pretense that they had suffered injury through some advice that Robert had given to the King; their raid was very successful for they collected a vast booty.

In 1115, Isabel was either carried away or willingly abducted by William de Warrene, revealing they had been lovers for some time. They were unable to marry until the death of Sir Robert, which occurred in 1118. According to Henry of Huntingdon, Robert died of shame after "a certain earl carried off the lady he had espoused, either by some intrigue or by force and stratagem."

Robert married Vermandois, Isabel (Elizabeth) De in 1096 in France. Isabel (daughter of France, COUNT OF VERMANDOIS Hugues "Le Grand" De and Vermandois, COUNTESS Adelaide of) was born about 1085 in Of, ValoisFrance; died on 17 Feb 1131 in St. Nicaise, Meulan, D-Sens, France; was buried in Lewes, Lewes District, East Sussex, England. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Beaumont, Isabel (Elizabeth) De was born in in Of, Leicester, Leicestershire, England; died about 1147.
2. Beaumont, Miss De was born in in Leicester, Leicestershire, England.
3. Beaumont, Aubreye De was born about 1099 in Of, Beaumont, Normandy, France.
4. Beaumont, EARL OF LEICESTER [TWIN] Robert "Bossu" De was born in 1104 in , Leicester, Leicestershire, England; died on 5 Apr 1168 in St Mary's De Pre, Leicester, Leics, England; was buried in Leicester Abbey, Leicester, Leicestershire, England.
5. Meulan, Earl of Worcester Waleran Count of was born in 1104 in Of, Meulan, Ile De France, France; died on 10 Apr 1166 in Abbey, Preaux, Normandy, France; was buried in Abbey, Preaux, Normandy, France.
6. Beaumont, EARL OF BEDFORD Hugh De was born about 1106 in Of, Leicester, Leicestershire, England.
7. Beaumont, Havoise De was born about 1110 in Of, Leicester, Leicestershire, England.
8. Beaumont, Amicade De was born about 1112 in Of, Leicester, Leicestershire, England.
9. Beaumont, Maud De was born about 1114 in Of, Leicester, Leicestershire, England.
10. Beaumont, Adeline (Gundrea) De (Bellmont) was born about 1152 in Of, Kilkhampton, Cornwall, England.

Robert married Breteull, Emma De about 1070. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Roger married Meulent, COUNTESS OF MEULENT Adeliza (Adeline) in 1040 in Of, Ile De France, France. Adeliza (daughter of Beaumont, COUNT OF MEULAN Waleran and Conteville, Oda De) was born about 1014 in Of, Ponteaudemer, Normandy, France; died in 1081. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Humphrey married Haie, Aubreye De La about 1010 in Of, France. Aubreye was born about 984 in Of, Pontaudemer, Normandy, France; died on 20 Sep 1045. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Waleran married Conteville, Oda De about 1017 in Of, France. Oda (daughter of Conteville, Jean De and Conteville, Mrs-Jean De) was born about 994 in Of, Mellent, Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Tourude married Crepon, Wevia (Duceline) De about 979 in Of, France. Wevia (daughter of Crepon, Herbastus De and Crepon, Mrs-Herbastus De) was born about 942 in Of, Pont-Audemer, Eure, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Robert married Vexin, Alix De in 989. Alix (daughter of Vexin, Gauthier Ii "Le Blanc" Count of and Senlis, Alix or Adele) was born about 970 in Of, Mellent, Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Jean married Conteville, Mrs-Jean De. Mrs-Jean was born about 974 in Of, Mellent, Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]