Geoffrey (Mowbray) de Mowbray

Died 2 Feb 1093 in Coutances

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Biography

Bishop of Coutances. Geoffrey is one of the few people who is considered by historians to have been clearly confirmed by contemporary documents as present at the Battle of Hastings.

He was feudal lord of what is now called the barony of Barnstaple, which he passed to his nephew Robert de Mowbray, whose father was probably named Roger and a brother of Geoffrey.

His 1086 Domesday holdings can be seen mapped and listed on several websites.

• PASE profile: http://domesday.pase.ac.uk/Domesday?op=5&personkey=38968 .
• Open Domesday profile: https://opendomesday.org/name/bishop-geoffrey-of-coutances/ .

He was discussed by the Anglo-Norman history writer, Orderic Vitalis. He says for example that he rendered essential services and support at the battle of Senlac.^[1]

He also had a brother named Malger, who helped him gain his bishopric, and he was also related to Nigel de Saint-Saveur.

Sources

1. ↑ Orderic Vitalis (translated by Forester), The ecclesiastical history of England and Normandy, Vol. 2, p.50.

• Keats-Rohan, Domesday People, GOISFRID EPISCOPUS CONSTANTIENSIS, p.228.
• Sanders, English Baronies, BARNSTAPLE, p.104.
• Complete Peerage, 2nd ed., Vol.9, MOWBRAY (p.377, note "j"), and NORTHUMBERLAND (p.705).
• Wikipedia: Geoffrey_de_Montbray
• Foster, William Edward. The Royal Descents of The Fosters of Moulton and The Mathesons of Shinnes & Lochalsh (Phillmore & Co., London, England, 1912) Page 45