fbpx
Wikipedia

William Malet (companion of William the Conqueror)

January 01, 1970

For other people named William Malet, see William Malet (disambiguation).

William Malet (French: Guillaume Malet de Graville, died 1071) held senior positions within the Norman forces that occupied England from 1066. He was appointed the second High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1068. Of the so-called companions of William of Normandy, Malet is one of about a dozen for whom there is evidence of their presence at the Battle of Hastings of 14 October 1066. For example, the contemporary chronicler William of Poitiers recorded that Malet was present at the battle.

According to apocryphal accounts, Malet was related to both William of Normandy and King Harold of England. Some accounts claim that Malet took charge of Harold's body following the Norman victory at Hastings.[a] However, there is no evidence confirming such claims.

Malet held substantial property in Normandy – chiefly in the Pays de Caux, with a castle at Graville-Sainte-Honorine [fr] (now a suburb of Le Havre). After 1066, he held many properties in England as well, most of them in Yorkshire and East Anglia.

Biography edit

Early life edit

According to unverifiable, apocryphal accounts, Malet had significant, multiple ties to the Anglo-Saxon elite before the Norman Conquest.

  • Malet's mother was said to be English.
  • In or about January 1066, King Harold married Ealdgyth, often known as Edith (the dowager of Welsh king Gruffydd ap Llywelyn) and a daughter of Ælgifu and Ælfgar of Mercia. If Malet was a biological uncle of the queen consort of England in 1066, he would probably have been pivotal to Norman-English relations at around the time of the Battle of Hastings.

Battle of Hastings edit

There is evidence that Malet fought on the Norman side at Hastings, regardless of any divided loyalties that may have been caused by family ties. For instance, William of Poitiers wrote of King Harold's remains: "His corpse was brought into the Duke's camp and William [of Normandy] gave it for burial to William, surnamed Malet, and not to Harold's mother, who offered for the body of her beloved son its weight in gold."[2] If Malet was at the Norman headquarters, immediately after the battle, it would be strong evidence that he played a significant role in the Norman victory.

High Sheriff of Yorkshire edit

Malet's activities during the first few years of the Norman conquest of England are not known. Early on he was granted the great honour of Eye, with vast lands in Suffolk and several other shires. It was in fact the largest lordship in East Anglia. He made Eye his caput, his main headquarters, built a motte and bailey castle there, and started a highly successful market. He is credited with initiating the urbanization of Eye.

After the Danish stronghold York was captured in 1068, he was appointed the second High Sheriff of Yorkshire. William was in charge of the garrisons defending the shire, and built a timbered castle fortress on a motte in York and another wooden castle across the River Ouse. His efforts at defending the shire from Danish raids were, in the end, a terrible failure, for the next year the city was burned and the garrison slaughtered. Malet, his wife, and two of their children were held as hostages, and finally released when the Danes were driven off.

Malet was relieved of his duties in the north, but his efforts to defend the kingdom did not go unappreciated. He stayed in the king's favour and was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk about 1069/70, and appointment that passed to his son Robert upon his death.

In historical literature & the media edit

The Domesday Book of 1086 also mentions a Durand Malet, who held land in Lincolnshire[3] and possibly some neighbouring shires. This may be William Malet's brother, but this is not certain.

On screen, Malet has been portrayed by Peter Halliday in the two-part BBC TV play Conquest (1966), part of the series Theatre 625, and by Gawn Grainger in the TV drama Blood Royal: William the Conqueror (1990).

Family edit

While still in Normandy, about 1050, William married Hesilia (Helise or Elisee), daughter of Gilbert de Brionne. Hesilia was the second cousin of William the Conqueror and possibly the widow of Balderic Teutonicus (Balderic de Courcy; Balderic de Bacqueville). William and Hesilia had two sons and a daughter:[4]

Death edit

William Malet died around 1071, probably during the rebellion of Hereward the Wake. He was succeeded by his son Robert as Lord of Eye and Sheriff of Suffolk.

Preceded by
New Creation
After Norman Conquest
 High Sheriff of Yorkshire
1068–1069 		Succeeded by
Hugh FitzBaldric
Preceded by
New Creation
After Norman Conquest
 High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk
1070–1071 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
New Creation
After Norman Conquest
 Lord of Eye
The Honour of Eye
-1071 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
 Lord of Graville (Normandy)
-1071 		Succeeded by

Notes edit

  1. ^ For example William of Poitiers in his account, describes how the body of Harold "[he] was carried into the camp of the duke , who entrusted his burial to William surnamed Malet." [1]

References edit

  1. ^ William of Poitiers 1998, pp. 140–141.
  2. ^ Wm. of Poitiers, Gesta Guillelmi II Ducis Normannorum, quoted in David C.Douglas & George W. Greenaway (Eds.), English Historical Documents 1042–1189, London, 1959, p.229.
  3. ^ Domesday Book
  4. ^ Dictionary of National Biography, Volume XXXV by Sir Leslie Stephen (1885 edition), p. 421; https://archive.org/details/dictionarynatio35stepgoog/page/n433/mode/1up

Sources edit

  • Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis, Line 234A-25
  • Hollister, C. Warren (1973). "Henry I and Robert Malet". Viator. 4: 115–32. doi:10.1484/J.VIATOR.2.301643.
  • Hurt, Cyril. "William Malet and His Family". Anglo-Norman Studies XIX.
  • Lewis, C. P. (1989). "The King and Eye: A Study in Anglo-Norman Politics". English Historical Review. 104: 569–87. doi:10.1093/ehr/CIV.CCCCXII.569.
  • William of Poitiers (1998). Davis, R.H.C.; Chibnall, Marjorie (eds.). ,The Gesta Guillelmi of William of Poitiers. Translated by R.H.C. Davis; Marjorie Chibnall. Oxford: OUP. ISBN 0-19-820553-8.

January 01, 1970
william, malet, companion, william, conqueror, other, people, named, william, malet, william, malet, disambiguation, william, malet, french, guillaume, malet, graville, died, 1071, held, senior, positions, within, norman, forces, that, occupied, england, from,. For other people named William Malet see William Malet disambiguation William Malet French Guillaume Malet de Graville died 1071 held senior positions within the Norman forces that occupied England from 1066 He was appointed the second High Sheriff of Yorkshire in 1068 Of the so called companions of William of Normandy Malet is one of about a dozen for whom there is evidence of their presence at the Battle of Hastings of 14 October 1066 For example the contemporary chronicler William of Poitiers recorded that Malet was present at the battle According to apocryphal accounts Malet was related to both William of Normandy and King Harold of England Some accounts claim that Malet took charge of Harold s body following the Norman victory at Hastings a However there is no evidence confirming such claims Malet held substantial property in Normandy chiefly in the Pays de Caux with a castle at Graville Sainte Honorine fr now a suburb of Le Havre After 1066 he held many properties in England as well most of them in Yorkshire and East Anglia Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Battle of Hastings 1 3 High Sheriff of Yorkshire 2 In historical literature amp the media 3 Family 4 Death 5 Notes 6 References 7 SourcesBiography editEarly life edit According to unverifiable apocryphal accounts Malet had significant multiple ties to the Anglo Saxon elite before the Norman Conquest Malet s mother was said to be English He was said to be the brother of AElgifu wife of AElfgar Earl of Mercia and therefore daughter in law of Lady Godiva In or about January 1066 King Harold married Ealdgyth often known as Edith the dowager of Welsh king Gruffydd ap Llywelyn and a daughter of AElgifu and AElfgar of Mercia If Malet was a biological uncle of the queen consort of England in 1066 he would probably have been pivotal to Norman English relations at around the time of the Battle of Hastings Battle of Hastings edit There is evidence that Malet fought on the Norman side at Hastings regardless of any divided loyalties that may have been caused by family ties For instance William of Poitiers wrote of King Harold s remains His corpse was brought into the Duke s camp and William of Normandy gave it for burial to William surnamed Malet and not to Harold s mother who offered for the body of her beloved son its weight in gold 2 If Malet was at the Norman headquarters immediately after the battle it would be strong evidence that he played a significant role in the Norman victory High Sheriff of Yorkshire edit Malet s activities during the first few years of the Norman conquest of England are not known Early on he was granted the great honour of Eye with vast lands in Suffolk and several other shires It was in fact the largest lordship in East Anglia He made Eye his caput his main headquarters built a motte and bailey castle there and started a highly successful market He is credited with initiating the urbanization of Eye After the Danish stronghold York was captured in 1068 he was appointed the second High Sheriff of Yorkshire William was in charge of the garrisons defending the shire and built a timbered castle fortress on a motte in York and another wooden castle across the River Ouse His efforts at defending the shire from Danish raids were in the end a terrible failure for the next year the city was burned and the garrison slaughtered Malet his wife and two of their children were held as hostages and finally released when the Danes were driven off Malet was relieved of his duties in the north but his efforts to defend the kingdom did not go unappreciated He stayed in the king s favour and was appointed High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk about 1069 70 and appointment that passed to his son Robert upon his death In historical literature amp the media editThe Domesday Book of 1086 also mentions a Durand Malet who held land in Lincolnshire 3 and possibly some neighbouring shires This may be William Malet s brother but this is not certain On screen Malet has been portrayed by Peter Halliday in the two part BBC TV play Conquest 1966 part of the series Theatre 625 and by Gawn Grainger in the TV drama Blood Royal William the Conqueror 1990 Family editWhile still in Normandy about 1050 William married Hesilia Helise or Elisee daughter of Gilbert de Brionne Hesilia was the second cousin of William the Conqueror and possibly the widow of Balderic Teutonicus Balderic de Courcy Balderic de Bacqueville William and Hesilia had two sons and a daughter 4 Robert Malet c 1050 by 1130 Gilbert Malet founder of the Malets of Shepton Mallet in Somerset Beatrice Death editWilliam Malet died around 1071 probably during the rebellion of Hereward the Wake He was succeeded by his son Robert as Lord of Eye and Sheriff of Suffolk Preceded byNew CreationAfter Norman Conquest High Sheriff of Yorkshire1068 1069 Succeeded byHugh FitzBaldric Preceded byNew CreationAfter Norman Conquest High Sheriff of Norfolk and Suffolk1070 1071 Succeeded byRobert Malet Preceded byNew CreationAfter Norman Conquest Lord of Eye The Honour of Eye 1071 Succeeded byRobert Malet Preceded by Lord of Graville Normandy 1071 Succeeded byRobert MaletNotes edit For example William of Poitiers in his account describes how the body of Harold he was carried into the camp of the duke who entrusted his burial to William surnamed Malet 1 References edit William of Poitiers 1998 pp 140 141 Wm of Poitiers Gesta Guillelmi II Ducis Normannorum quoted in David C Douglas amp George W Greenaway Eds English Historical Documents 1042 1189 London 1959 p 229 Domesday Book Dictionary of National Biography Volume XXXV by Sir Leslie Stephen 1885 edition p 421 https archive org details dictionarynatio35stepgoog page n433 mode 1upSources editAncestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis Line 234A 25 Hollister C Warren 1973 Henry I and Robert Malet Viator 4 115 32 doi 10 1484 J VIATOR 2 301643 Hurt Cyril William Malet and His Family Anglo Norman Studies XIX Lewis C P 1989 The King and Eye A Study in Anglo Norman Politics English Historical Review 104 569 87 doi 10 1093 ehr CIV CCCCXII 569 William of Poitiers 1998 Davis R H C Chibnall Marjorie eds The Gesta Guillelmi of William of Poitiers Translated by R H C Davis Marjorie Chibnall Oxford OUP ISBN 0 19 820553 8 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Malet companion of William the Conqueror amp oldid 1175037955, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.