Hugh Pierrepont (abt. 950)

Born about 0950 in France

Descendants

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Biography

The earliest lord of the castle of whom we have knowledge was Sir Hugh de Pierrepont, who flourished about 980 A.D. He was succeeded by his son Sir Godfrey de Pierrepont, who left two sons, Sir Godfrey and Sir Robert.

The approximate location of the "Pierrepont Castle" can be inferred from "The Annals of Flodoard of Reims, 919-966": for the year 940, "The king (King Louis IV) came to the Champagne pagus of Reims, and when he had crossed the river Aisne he advanced on Laon. When Hugh (the Great) and (Count) Heribert (of Vermandois) learned of this, they gave up the siege of Laon and hurried by night to the munitio(castrum/castle) of Pierrepont, and [from there] they set out to meet King Otto (of Germany)." Therefore, the castle must be East, or North-East of Laon, towards Germany, within one nights ride.

Sources

• Knight, Henry Gally. An Architectural Tour In Normandy (John Murray, London, 1836) Page 89.

Pierrepont derives its name from a stone bridge with which Charlemagne supplied the place of a ferry, and which, in his days, was considered a great achievement. (I can't find any older evidence of this story. Pierpont-94 06:49, 12 June 2013 (EDT))

• Flodoard of Reims. Flodoardi Chronicon (Regnier, Reims, 1855)
• William Smith Ellis Esq., "Manor of Hurst Pierpoint" Sussex Archaeological Society. Sussex Archaeological Collections (Sussex Archaeological Society, H.Wolff, Lewes, England, 1859)

• Vol. 11, Page 84: "Hugh, Bishop of Coutances, 990; living 1120" married "Niece of Gunnors, wife of Richard I., Duke of Normandy" Three of his grandsons were: Robert de Pierpoint, 1059-1086; Godfrey de Pierpoint, 1059-1086, his property descended to his brother Robert's heirs; Rainald de Pierpont, 1086. Mesne tenant in Suffolk."

• Marks, Edward J. A Genealogical Abstract of Descent of the Family of Pierrepont (Hoggson & Robinson, Printers, 1881) Page 5.

"Sir Hugh de Pierrepont, A.D. 980, lord of "the Castle of Pierrepont in the south confines of Picardy, and diocese of Laon," a branch of the Pierreponts who were lords of Castle Pierrepont, two leagues from S. Saveur, Normandy, whence they derived their name. The place derived its name from a stone bridge, with which Charlemagne supplied the place of a ferry."

• Darling, Charles William. Memorial To My Honored Kindred (Fierstine & Gifford, Utica, N.Y., 1888) Page 40.
• Moffat, R. Burnham. Pierrepont Genealogies from Norman times to 1913 (L. Middleditch Co., 1913) Page 15.
• Genealogical and Family History of Southern New York and the Hudson River (1913), Page 340

The Pierrepont family is of Norman origin, antedating the Conquest. The castle of Pierrepont, which derived its name in the time of Charlemagne from a stone bridge built nearby to take the place of a ferry, lay in the southerly portion of Picardy, diocese of Laon, about six mile from St. Sauveur, Normandy. The earliest lord of the castle was Sir Hugh de Pierrepont, who live about 980 A.D.

• Kraft, Robert. Pierpont Genealogy

Hugh occupied the castle Pierrepont in the southern part of Picardy, diocese of Laon, 2 leagues (6 miles) from S. Saveur, Normandy. The castle supposedly derived its name from a stone bridge built nearby to take the place of a ferry, by Charlemagne or during his time. [This location is contradictory; Laon/Picardy has a town of Pierrepont but there does not seem to be a "castle" or manor house in 1988. S. Saveur is in Normandy below Cherbourg, with Pierrepont sites nearby.]

Historical References

• Charlemagne c. 742 - January 28, 814 at Aachen) AKA: Charles the Great or Charles I
• Charlemagne was the first Roman Emperor in Western Europe since the collapse of the Western Roman Empire three centuries earlier.
• Charlemagne, the oldest son of Pepin the Short and Bertrada of Laon, became king in 768 following the death of his father.
• Charlemagne reached the height of his power in 800 when he was crowned as "Emperor" by Pope Leo III on Christmas Day.
• Charlemagne's empire united most of Western Europe for the first time since the Roman Empire.
• Charlemagne died in 814. He was laid to rest in his imperial capital of Aachen in today's Germany.
• Charlemagne's son, Louis the Pious, succeeded him as Emperor.