Raoul Vexin (abt. 1025 - 1057)

Born about 1025 in Mantes, Vixen, France [uncertain]

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 21 Dec 1057 at about age 32 in Peterborough, Northamptonshire, England

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Biography

1025 Birth and Parents

Raoul de Mantes (French), Ralf (Norman) or Ralph of Hereford (English) was born in the period 1025-1030. He was the second son of Drogo, count of Amiens and the Vexin (also known as Dreux, Comte de Mantes), and Godgifu (or Goda) of Wessex, daughter of Æthelred II and Emma. ^[1]

Complete Peerage refers to Ralph as second son of Dreux and Godifu, since it was his brother Walter who succeeded his father. ^[2]

Godgifu was thus the sister of Edward of Wessex. Edward and Goda were exiled children of Aethelred the deposed and deceased King of England and his wife Emma of Normandy, who was by this time wife of Cnut the Great. ^[3] It is most likely, therefore, that Raoul was born on the Continent, probably at Mantes. His parentage is given by Orderic Vitalis ^[4] Florence of Worcester who calls Raoul the "son of King Edward's sister" ^[5] Simeon of Durham names "earl Rodulph the son of king Eadward's sister Goda" in 1051^[6]

Dreux was Count of the French Vexin, who married Godfigu, sister of King Edward the Confessor, and daughter of Ethelred, King of England, by his second wife Emma, daughter of Richard I, Duke of Normany. ^[2]

Simeon of Durham names "earl Rodulph the son of king Eadward's sister Goda" in 1051^[7]

His parentage is recorded by Orderic Vitalis.^[8]

Siblings

Ralph was one of three sons of his father:

1. Gauthier III de Mantes was born before 29 Mar 1030/10 Apr 1031 and poisoned in Falaise 2 Aug 1063) ^[9] His parentage is given by Orderic Vitalis, who lists him after his brother Raoul ^[10]
2. Ralf (Vexin) of Dreux was known as Ralph the Timid, earl of Hereford ^[11] He was born between 1025 and 1030. ^[9] Earl of Hereford. Ralph, Earl of Hereford died 21 Dec 1057 ^[12] He was buried in Peterborough). ^[9]
3. Foulques (Amiens) d'Amiens is mentioned by Lundy ^[12] and by Wikipedia. ^[11] Foulques de Vexin^[11] but not by Cawley. ^[9]

1035 Childhood and Youth

In 1035 Raoul's father went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem ^[1] with Robert, Duke of Normandy Neither man returned. Ralph's mother then married Eustace II), Count of Boulogne, who died about 1087. Godgifu herself was dead by 1049.^[1]

Cawley reports that "Droco comes Ambianensium" donated property to "Sancti Petri Gismoensis" by undated charter, signed by "Droconis comitis, Eotde comitissæ, Falconis fratris comitis, Rodulfi filiii comitis, Gualterii alterius filii…" ^[13] This suggests that Raoul (Radulfi) had achieved majority while his father was still living, which would move Raoul's birth estimate a decade earlier.

1041 To England with Uncle

In 1041 Edward the Confessor returned to England ahd his nephew Ralph (Raoul) accompanied him. ^[1] Edward had been summoned to England from his exile by the childless Danish King, Harthacnut (son of Cnut and Emma) with the prospect of inheriting the Kingdom.

Marriage

He married Getha (Domesday Book, vol i, f. 148, if "Gethe uor Radulfi omitis" is sufficient identifiation.^[2]

Gytha's parentage has not been determined, Williams writes that the distribution of Ralph's lands "suggests that she was related to the local magnate Burgræd, whose lands lay in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Northamptonshire; like Earl Ralph, he was a benefactor of Peterborough Abbey. Ralph himself held estates in Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Leicestershire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, and Rutland, as well as Berkshire, Gloucestershire, Warwickshire, and Worcestershire; but his full holding cannot now be recovered. Much of it must have come from the king, but he received a life-lease of Cranfield, Bedfordshire, from Ælfwine, abbot of Ramsey.^[1]

Thie Domesday Book records, in relation to land in Waddesdon Hundred, Buckinghamshire which "Ambrose holds of William Adstock", that “this manor Gytha wife of Earl Ralph held and could sell”, and “William himself holds Haversham...this manor Countess Gytha held”, as well as “Drogo holds of William Stoke Goldington...this manor Countess Gytha held”^[14]

Gytha's name suggests English (or at least Danish) origin. It is of course the name of the widow of Earl Godwin, but as the birth of Godwin’s first child is dated to [1020/22] his widow would have been in her late 40s when her husband died so unlikely to have married Earl Ralph as her second husband and given birth to a child by him. Earl Ralph’s wife could have been an otherwise unrecorded daughter of Earl Godwin and his wife Gytha, named after her mother, although on the basis of the limited information available in the document ANGLO-SAXON NOBILITY it was unusual for the child of an Anglo-Saxon noble family to be named after a parent. A connection with Godwin’s family would explain the introduction of the name Harold into the Ewias family.

1052 Conflict with Godwin

In 1051 when Godwine, Earl of Kent, rebelled and collected an army at Tetbury, Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and Siward, Earl of Northumbria, went to the aid of the King at Gloudceswter, with "Radulfus comes.^[2]

In August 1051 Ralph had aided the King at Gloucester against the regellious Godwine and his sons. Soon afterwards he was appointed to command the fleet. "Thereis nothing to show from what dsirection Ralph came to Gloucester; and Sweyn, godwine's eldest son, had been reappointed Earl of Hereford at Mid-Lent 1050 so that Ralph certainly was not Earl of Hereford at the time. ^[2]

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records that “earl Ralph” rallied to the support of Edward "the Confessor" King of England “throughout his earldom” in Sep 1051 when Godwin Earl of Wessex and his sons were threatening force against the king, and “came to Gloucestershire to the king’s assistance...willing to attack Godwine’s levies if the king had wished it”^[15]

The real power in the country was, however, in the hands of Godwin, Earl of Wessex and his formidable sons. The other Earls could not stay Godwin's power unless they banded together and the opportunity came in 1051 when Godwin abused his authority and was driven with his sons from the Kingdom but Godwin soon returned in triumph. However the Earl's son, Swein Godwinsson died the following year and Ralph was granted his Earldom of Hereford. ^[1]

"Ralph's tenure of the east midlands would have brought him into contact with Harald Godwinsson, earl of East Anglia, and it is noteworthy that he named his son Harold. When, however, Earl Godwine and his family fell out with the king in 1051, Ralph raised the levies of his earldom for his uncle. In 1052 he and Earl Odda commanded the royal fleet assembled against Godwine at Sandwich, but they could not prevent the earl's triumphant return. Godwine and his sons were reinstated in lands and office, but Swein Godwineson died on pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1052, and it was probably then that Ralph received Swein's earldom of Hereford, which included Oxfordshire (AS chart., S 1105). There was already a Norman presence in the shire, and at least one castle, at Hereford itself, though its builder, Osbern Pentecost, was driven out on Godwine's return." ^[1]

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records in 1052 that “the king and his council decided that ships should be sent out to Sandwich [as defence against the return of Earl Godwin], and earl Ralph and earl Odda were put in command”^[16]

1055 Welsh Invasion: Ralph the Timid

The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records in 1055 that “ Earl Ælfgar son of earl Leofric...went to Ireland and to Wales and raised there a great force and marched on Hereford; but earl Ralph came against him with a great host, and after a brief encounter they were put to flight and many were slain in that rout”, manuscript C clarifying that “earl Ralph gathered great levies to oppose them at Hereford, and they came together there: but before a spear was thrown, the English fled, because they had been made to fight on horseback”, adding that “earl Harold had an earthwork built around the town [of Hereford]”^[17]

In 1055 he was sent with a numerous army to protect Hereford against Alfgar, the rebel Earl of Chester, and Griffin, his Welsh ally; but he and his horsemen fled before the battle was effectively joined, and Herefored was burnt by the Welsh. ^[2]

Williams writes that "In 1055 Ralph defended Herefordshire against the exiled Earl Ælfgar and his ally Gruffudd ap Llywelyn, but their encounter on 24 October was a disaster: 'before any spear had been thrown the English army fled because they were on horseback, and many were killed there—about four or five hundred men—and they killed none in return' (ASC, s.a. 1055, text C). The invaders sacked Hereford, burning down St Æthelberht's minster. Later sources accuse Ralph and his Frenchmen of starting the flight. It was this engagement which later earned Ralph his opprobrious nickname ‘the timid’ or, more properly, ‘timorous’ (timidus), in contrast to the ‘vigorous’ (strenuus) Earl Harold, who chased the invaders into Wales. Ralph probably lost Hereford to Earl Harold at this juncture." ^[1]

Florence of Worcester records that he assembled an army to defend Hereford against Earl Ælfgar and Gruffydd Prince of South Wales but fled 24 Oct 1055, describing Ralph as “cowardly” ^[18]

The statement that Earl Harold had an earthwork built around the town of Hereford suggests that Earl Ralph was removed from the government of Hereford, although the later entry which records his death still accords him the comital title. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle records in 1057 that “on 21 December earl Ralph passed away and was buried at Peterborough”^[19]

In 1055 he was sent with a numerous army to protect Hereford against Alfgar, the rebel Earl of Chester, and Griffin, his Welsh ally; but he and his horsemen fled before the battle was effectively joined, and Herefored was burnt by the Welsh. ^[2]

1057 Death

Two years later, Ralph died on 21 December 1057 and was buried in the abbey at Peterborough. ^[20][21]

He died 21 December 1057 and was buried at Peterborough. ^[2]

Florence of Worcester states that Raoul de Mantes, son of Dreux Comte de Mantes & his wife Godgifu [Goda] of England ([1025/30]-21 Dec 1057, was buried at Peterborough ^[22]

His elder brother Count Walter died in 1063, allegedly poisoned by Duke William of Normandy.

Ralph held Sudeley Toddington, county Cloucester, and Chilvers Coton, count Warwick. ^[2]

Issue

Ralph's only child Harold, a minor in 1066 in the care of his great-aunt, Edith, received part of his father's estate and later acquired the castle and honour of Ewias Harold, which preserves his name. His descendants are the Sudeleys of Toddington, Gloucestershire (for the early history of whom [see Sudeley]).^[1]

Research Notes

Was Ralph Earl of Hereford?

Cawley states that Ralph was created Earl of Hereford. ^[3]

Williams writes that Ralph attested three charters of 1050 as earl (AS chart., S 1020–22). It is likely that he married about the same time; Ralph's sphere of authority was probably the east midlands, the region where the lands of his wife, Gytha, are to be found. ^[1]

Complete Peerage raises doubts about Ralph's status as Earl of Hereford. It has been customery to describe Ralph as Earl of Hereford, on the authority of William of Malmesbury; Ralph's flight before the Welsh took place in 1055 and it is only in that year that his name is connected with Hereford. ^[2]

Complete Peerage adds that "Ralph is invariably referred to as "comes" (Earl) but without designation of territory."^[2]

Is he the same person as Ralph de Gael?

A review of the biography of Ralph de Gael will reveal that they are different people.

Is he connected to the Drake Family?

Some popular genealogies show Ralph associated with the Drake flamily and some show him with a Drake surname. No evidence has been found to support these assertions. See Space: Drake Fabrication.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 1.9} Ann Williams. Ralph (called Ralph the Timid) The Oxford Dictionary of National Biography Biography of Ralph, Earl of Hereford (d. 1057) Published 23 September 2004. Accessed 29 May 2023 jhd
2. ↑ ^{2.00 2.01 2.02 2.03 2.04 2.05 2.06 2.07 2.08 2.09 2.10} Complete Peerage, Volume 1.1 (1953), page 421. Geoffrey H. White, editor. The Complete Peerage Or a History of the House of Lords And All Its members from the Earliest Times. Refer to Volume 12.1 "Sudeley", Page 411; Requires Family Search Account. London: St. Catherine Press, 1953. Revision of George Edward Cockayne. The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom. Accessed 4 June 2023. jhd
3. ↑ ^{3.0 3.1} Charles Cawley. Medieval Lands: A Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families, Online at Foundation for Medieval Genealogy Website.Medieval Lands: Earls of Hereford: Mantes
4. ↑ RHGF, Tome X, L, p. 622. Cited by Cawley, Dreux.
5. ↑ Florence of Worcester, 1055, p. 157. Cited by Cawley, Dreux
6. ↑ Simeon of Durham, p. 535. Cited by Cawley, Dreux
7. ↑ Simeon of Durham, Vol. I, p. 535. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.
8. ↑ Orderic Vitalis, Vol. IV, Book VII, p. 77. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3} Charles Cawley. Medieval Lands: A Prosopography of Medieval European Noble and Royal Families, Online at Foundation for Medieval Genealogy Website.Dreux [Drogo de Mantes]. Accessed 28 May 2023 jhd
10. ↑ Orderic Vitalis (Chibnall), Vol. IV, Book VII, p. 77. Cited by Cawley
11. ↑ ^{11.0 11.1 11.2} Wikipedia:Drogo_of_Mantes Cites Hinde, Thomas (ed). The Domesday Book: England's History Then and Now. (1995) Accessed 28 May 2023 jhd
12. ↑ ^{12.0 12.1} Darryl Lundy. The Peerage Entry for Drogo, Comte de Mantes et la Vexin Accessed 28 May 2023 jhd
13. ↑ Chartres Saint-Père, Vol. I, Cap. XLVI, p. 173. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.
14. ↑ Domesday Translation, Buckinghamshire, XVI, pp. 407-8. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.
15. ↑ Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, D, 1052 [1051]. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.
16. ↑ Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, E, 1052. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.
17. ↑ Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, C, D, 1055. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.
18. ↑ Florence of Worcester 1055, p. 157. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.
19. ↑ Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, D, 1057. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.
20. ↑ The Anglo-Saxon Chronicles Translated and edited by Michael Swanson. Phoenix Press ISBN 1 84212 003 4 D The Worcester Manuscript Page 188
21. ↑ Medieval Lands: Earls of Hereford: Mantes
22. ↑ Florence of Worcester 1057, pp. 159-60. Cited by Cawley, Mantes.

Sources referenced by ODNB

• ASC, s.a. 1051, 1055, 1057 [text D]; s.a. 1052 [text E]; s.a. 1055 [text C]
• A. Farley, ed., Domesday Book, 2 vols. (1783), vol. 1
• F. E. Harmer, ed., Anglo-Saxon writs (1952)
• D. Bates, ‘Lord Sudeley's ancestors: the family of the counts of Amiens, Valois and the Vexin in France and England during the eleventh century’, The Sudeleys: lords of Toddington, The Manorial Society (1987), 34–48
• A. Williams, ‘The king's nephew: the family, career, and connections of Ralph, earl of Hereford’, Studies in medieval history presented to R. Allen Brown, ed. *C. Harper-Bill, C. J. Holdsworth, and J. L. Nelson (1989), 327–43
• S. Keynes, An atlas of attestations in Anglo-Saxon charters, c.670–1066 (privately printed, Cambridge, 1993)
• P. A. Clarke, The English nobility under Edward the Confessor (1994)

John of Worcester, Chron.

• The chronicle of Hugh Candidus, a monk of Peterborough, ed. W. T. Mellows (1949)
• Ordericus Vitalis, Eccl. hist., vol. 2
• W. D. Macray, ed., Chronicon abbatiae Rameseiensis a saec. x usque ad an. circiter 1200, Rolls Series, 83 (1886)

See also

• Æthelred II [Ethelred; known as Ethelred the Unready] (c. 966x8–1016), king of England
• Emma [Ælfgifu] (d. 1052), queen of England, second consort of Æthelred II, and second consort of King Cnut
• Eustace (II) [Eustace aux Gernons], count of Boulogne (d. c. 1087), magnate
• Sudeley family (per. c. 1050–1336), barons in Gloucestershire
• Abbey, Matilda. Genealogy of the Family of Lt. Thomas Tracy, of Norwich, Connecticut (D.S. Harkness & Co., Milwaukee, 1888) Page 3-4
• This person and his parentage are recorded in the Sudeley entry in the Complete Peerage. The Complete Peerage is normally considered to be a very reliable source.