Ralph the Staller (or Ralf the Englishman (died 1069/70) was a noble and landowner in both Anglo-Saxon and post-ConquestEngland. He first appears in charters from Brittany, where he was described as Ralph / Ralf the Englishman, and it was in Brittany that his son Ralph de Gaël held a large hereditary lordship.
St Benet's Abbey, NorfolkAbbaye-de-Saint-Riquier-DSC 0307
The exact nature of his connections to England and Brittany are uncertain. Although he was clearly present in England before 1066 his name Ralph (Radulphus, Ralf, Rauf, Raoul etc) was continental, and not English. The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle contrasts him with his un-named wife, which it describes as a Breton, saying that he was born in Norfolk, while both the Norman writer William of Malmesbury and the chronicle of the abbey of Saint-Riquier in France, where he made a grant, described Ralph the staller as a Breton. Modern historians such as Ann Williams have suggested that his father came to England with Emma of Normandy when she married Aethelred II in 1002. She suggest that his mother was English, thus accounting for relatives with Anglo-Saxon names, mentioned in Domesday Book.
Ralph was part of the court of Edward the Confessor, and is sometimes referred to as "squire", a generic title for important members of the royal court at the time, he is also designated as seneschal and courtier. He held the military post of staller, roughly equivalent to the continental constable, under King Edward the Confessor.
He is recorded as witnessing charters, for instance in 1053,[1] as a staller, and in 1053-55 he attested a charter between Earl Leofric and Godiva, endowing a monastery at Stowe, St Mary in Lincolnshire.[2] Ralph was a patron to the Abbey of Saint-Riquier [fr] in county Ponthieu, and also a patron to the Abbey of St Benet de Holme in Norfolk.[3]
He survived partaking in the Conquest of 1066 and gained the favour of William the Conqueror, who made him Earl of East Anglia. He married and had several children, including his heir, Ralph Guader, who succeeded to his earldom and Hardouin (French) or Hardwin (in English). He is also believed to be related to Hereward the Wake who had connections with Peterborough Abbey in Norfolk and Abbot Brand.[4]
Williams, Ann (2008). The World Before Domesday: The English Aristocracy, 900-1066. London: Continuum.
Williams, Ann (2004). "Ralph the Staller, earl of East Anglia (d. 1068x70)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/52354. Retrieved 5 April 2010. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
Williams, Ann (1995). The English and the Norman Conquest. Woodbridge: Boydell.
Keats-Rohan, Katharine S.B (2016). "Raoul l'Anglais et Raoul de Gaël: un réexamen des données anglaises et bretonnes" Mémoires de la Société d'Histoire et d'Archéolgie de Bretagne. pp. 63–93. https://www.academia.edu/26605351
August 24, 2023
ralph, staller, ralf, englishman, died, 1069, noble, landowner, both, anglo, saxon, post, conquest, england, first, appears, charters, from, brittany, where, described, ralph, ralf, englishman, brittany, that, ralph, gaël, held, large, hereditary, lordship, ea. Ralph the Staller or Ralf the Englishman died 1069 70 was a noble and landowner in both Anglo Saxon and post Conquest England He first appears in charters from Brittany where he was described as Ralph Ralf the Englishman and it was in Brittany that his son Ralph de Gael held a large hereditary lordship Earl Ralph the StallerEarlPersonal detailsDied1069NationalityEnglishChildrenRalph de GaelHardwinProfessionNoble Staller Constable Thane Royal Officer Earl St Benet s Abbey NorfolkAbbaye de Saint Riquier DSC 0307The exact nature of his connections to England and Brittany are uncertain Although he was clearly present in England before 1066 his name Ralph Radulphus Ralf Rauf Raoul etc was continental and not English The Anglo Saxon Chronicle contrasts him with his un named wife which it describes as a Breton saying that he was born in Norfolk while both the Norman writer William of Malmesbury and the chronicle of the abbey of Saint Riquier in France where he made a grant described Ralph the staller as a Breton Modern historians such as Ann Williams have suggested that his father came to England with Emma of Normandy when she married Aethelred II in 1002 She suggest that his mother was English thus accounting for relatives with Anglo Saxon names mentioned in Domesday Book Ralph was part of the court of Edward the Confessor and is sometimes referred to as squire a generic title for important members of the royal court at the time he is also designated as seneschal and courtier He held the military post of staller roughly equivalent to the continental constable under King Edward the Confessor He is recorded as witnessing charters for instance in 1053 1 as a staller and in 1053 55 he attested a charter between Earl Leofric and Godiva endowing a monastery at Stowe St Mary in Lincolnshire 2 Ralph was a patron to the Abbey of Saint Riquier fr in county Ponthieu and also a patron to the Abbey of St Benet de Holme in Norfolk 3 He survived partaking in the Conquest of 1066 and gained the favour of William the Conqueror who made him Earl of East Anglia He married and had several children including his heir Ralph Guader who succeeded to his earldom and Hardouin French or Hardwin in English He is also believed to be related to Hereward the Wake who had connections with Peterborough Abbey in Norfolk and Abbot Brand 4 References Edit Source S1476 Electronic Sawyer URL https www british history ac uk vch norf vol2 pp330 336 Hereward the Wake 1908 Further reading EditWilliams Ann 2008 The World Before Domesday The English Aristocracy 900 1066 London Continuum Williams Ann 2004 Ralph the Staller earl of East Anglia d 1068x70 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 52354 Retrieved 5 April 2010 Subscription or UK public library membership required Williams Ann 1995 The English and the Norman Conquest Woodbridge Boydell Keats Rohan Katharine S B 2016 Raoul l Anglais et Raoul de Gael un reexamen des donnees anglaises et bretonnes Memoires de la Societe d Histoire et d Archeolgie de Bretagne pp 63 93 https www academia edu 26605351 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ralph the Staller amp oldid 1167548550, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
