Gilbert de Lacy

Notes:

From the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography:

"[S]on of the Roger de Lacy disinherited and banished in 1096. He had succeeded his father on the family's Norman estates of Lassy and Campeaux by 1133. He returned to England and was with King Stephen at Easter 1136, but was disappointed of any hope of recovering those of his father's extensive lands in the Welsh borders [...]

"In the civil war Lacy sided with the empress: in 1138 his kinsman Geoffrey Talbot fortified Weobley (one of Lacy's chief castles) unsuccessfully against Stephen; the two then led an army which attacked Bath. [...H]e profited from the anarchy which prevailed in the southern marches and in the end recovered most of his father's lands. [...]

"In 1158 or 1159 Lacy resigned his lands to his eldest son, Robert (who was himself succeeded by his brother Hugh de Lacy in 1162), and joined the templars. At Whitsuntide 1160 he was in France with the templars who guaranteed the peace treaty between Henry II and Louis VII. Later in 1160 or 1161 he had reached Jerusalem and he became preceptor of his order in the county of Tripoli, where in 1163 he was among the leaders of a crusader army resisting Nur-ad-Din."

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: 26 Jul 1186, Durrow, Westmeath, Ireland

Notes:

Justiciar of Ireland. Major Anglo-Norman magnate. Participant in the Norman invasion of Ireland, subsequent to which Henry II granted him the lands of the Kingdom of Meath (Mide). The resulting Lordship of Meath was the most extensive seignorial liberty in Ireland.

Henry's reasons for so empowering de Lacy had as much to do with checking the power of Strongbow and the Geraldines as anything else. De Lacy and Henry were not themselves the best of friends.

"Hugh de Lacy was assassinated at Durrow on 26 July 1186. He was beheaded with an axe by Gillaganinathair Ó Miadaig of Bregmuine at the direction of In Sinnach Ua Ceithernaig, king of Tethba, perhaps to avenge the killing of the latter's son in battle against the Anglo-Normans eight years earlier. The annals of Loch Cé describe Lacy at the time of his death as 'king of Mide and Bréifne, and Airgialla', and further state that 'it was to him that the tribute of Connacht was paid' (Annals of Loch Ce?, 1.173). Roger of Howden and William of Newburgh claim that news of Lacy's death was welcomed by Henry II, while Newburgh adds that the king intended to send John back to Ireland to seize Lacy's lands and castles." [Oxford Dictionary of National Biography]

Note that there is persistent doubt whether Hugh de Lacy was in fact the son of Gilbert de Lacy as shown here, and also about the exact shape of his descent from the de Lacys of the Norman Conquest. We are following the model put forth in W. E. Wightman's 1966 volume The Lacy Family in England and Normandy 1066–1194, published by Oxford University Press. Unsurprisingly, this is also the model followed by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography.

Hugh married Rohese de Monmouth before 1155. Rohese (daughter of Baderon de Monmouth and Rohese fitz Gilbert) was born between 1135 and 1140; died about 1180. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

(Unknown) married William Fitz Alan about 1175. William (son of William fitz Alan and Isabel de Say) was born about 1154 in of Oswestry, Shropshire, England; died in 1210. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate birth: Bef 1173, of Ewyas, Herefordshire, England
• Alternate death: Feb 1241
• Alternate death: Bef 24 Feb 1241

Notes:

Died after going blind. "He was one of the great land holders in Ireland and was constantly involved in the disturbances of that province. The 13th century historian Matthew Paris calls him 'the most eminent of all the nobles in Ireland' and in the Annals of the Four Masters he is called 'the bountifullest foreigner in steeds, attire, and gold, that ever came to Erin.'" [The Ancestry of Dorothea Poyntz]

Walter married Margaret de Briouze before 19 Nov 1200. Margaret (daughter of William de Briouze and Maud de St. Valéry) was born about 1181; died after 25 Jun 1245. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Abt Feb 1242

Notes:

Earl of Ulster.

Family/Spouse: Emeline de Ridelisford. Emeline (daughter of Walter de Ridelisford and Annora) was born in of Bray, Berkshire, England; died between 18 May 1275 and 19 Jul 1276. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Hugh married Lesceline de Verdun about 1195. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

John married Isabel d'Aubigny before 1223. Isabel (daughter of William d'Aubigny and Mabel of Chester) died before 1240. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Aft 1288
• Alternate death: Aft 9 Mar 1290

Notes:

Also called Petronilla de Lacy.

Pernel married Ralph VI de Tony between 1232 and 1233. Ralph (son of Roger de Tony and Constance de Beaumont) was born about 1189 in of Flamstead, Hertfordshire, England; died about 29 Sep 1239 in At sea. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Aft 22 Feb 1247

Notes:

Also called Egidia de Lacy.

Gille married Richard de Burgh before 21 Apr 1225. Richard (son of William de Burgh and (Unknown)) was born about 1193; died in 1242. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Alternate death: Bef 1230
• Alternate death: 1230

Family/Spouse: Isabel le Bigod. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]