Ranulph of Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester, son of Ranulph le Meschin, 1st 3rd Earl of Chester and Lucy of Bolingbroke. He was born about 1100 in Normandy, France at the Cheateau Guernon.
Husband of Maud Fitz Robert, the daughter of Robert de Caen, the 1st Earl of Gloucester and the granddaughter of King Henry I of England. They married about about 1141 and had one surviving son, Hugh de Levelioc. Other possible children include Richard of Chester who died at the age of five, and a Beatrice who married Raoul de Malpas. Ranulph also had an illegitimate son, Robert FitzCount who died before 1166.
Both parents were influential landowners, his father having created the Earl of Chester lineage. Ranulf succeeded to the title of Vicomte d'Avranches in Normandy about 1129, then succeeded to the title of 2nd Earl of Chester, and held the office of Constable of Lincoln in 1136 for King Stephen. He also founded an abbey in Wales for the monks from the Norman congregation of Savigny.
When King David of Scotland invaded England during Stephen's reign, he took many parts of Cumberland, including lands once belonging to Ranulph's father. At the Treaty of Durham in 1139, Stephen gave David even more of Ranulph's family lands, Ranulph prepared a revolt to take back his lordship in the north. When Ranulph's plant to capture Matilda's son, Prince Henry, went awry, Ranulph turned to Lincoln Castle, aided by his and his brother's wives dressed in ordinary clothes, escorted by knights. They were able to seize the castle and expel the royal guards. Stephen gave Ranulph control of Lincolnshire and Derby, returned to London only to received pleas from the citizens to imprison the brothers based on the treatment the brothers imposed. Stephen returned to Lincoln with reinforcements, resulting in Ranulph's new fidelity to Empress Matilda and the Battle of Lincoln on 02 February 1141 when Stephen was deposed and Matilda ruled again until she exchanged Stephen and the crown for her brother, Robert. Ranulph was again on the wrong side of the crown.
After the unsuccessful siege of Lincoln Castle, Ranulph switched his loyalties back to Stephen, leaving Ranulph to quarrel directly with King David of Scotland for his properties. Stephen was about to support Ranulph in a campaign against the Welsh when Stephen was warned by his advisors the Earl had planned a conspiracy against Stephen, who instead provoked Ranulph with the demand for all royal properties. Ranulph refused and was imprisoned, seized at court on 29 August 1146 at Northampton. Ranulph was finally released on the condition he would surrender the royal lands and promise to never resist Stephen again. When he was released, Ranulph immediately flew into a raged revolt, this time forcing the Clares of Hertford into the conflict.
Ranulph met with Prince Henry and King David at Carlisle to plan an attack on York against Stephen's son, Eustace, which failed miserably. Eventually, Stephen lost control and soon to be King Henry II granted Staffordshire to Ranulph.
Ranulph was poisoned while a guest in the home of William Peverell in Nottingham, along with three of his men. The men died immediately, Ranulph died an agonizing death late that year, leaving his lands to his son, Hugh. The lands Ranulph held when Stephen took command were honored while remaining lands were revoked. When young Henry became king, he exiled Peverell for the murder.
It was rumored Ranulph's wife, Maud, had a hand in his murder, but nothing was ever proved. Ranulph did grant her a servant on his death bed, and she served as her minor son's guardian for nine years.
Husband of Maud Fitz Robert, the daughter of Robert de Caen, the 1st Earl of Gloucester and the granddaughter of King Henry I of England. They married about about 1141 and had one surviving son, Hugh de Levelioc. Other possible children include Richard of Chester who died at the age of five, and a Beatrice who married Raoul de Malpas. Ranulph also had an illegitimate son, Robert FitzCount who died before 1166.
Both parents were influential landowners, his father having created the Earl of Chester lineage. Ranulf succeeded to the title of Vicomte d'Avranches in Normandy about 1129, then succeeded to the title of 2nd Earl of Chester, and held the office of Constable of Lincoln in 1136 for King Stephen. He also founded an abbey in Wales for the monks from the Norman congregation of Savigny.
When King David of Scotland invaded England during Stephen's reign, he took many parts of Cumberland, including lands once belonging to Ranulph's father. At the Treaty of Durham in 1139, Stephen gave David even more of Ranulph's family lands, Ranulph prepared a revolt to take back his lordship in the north. When Ranulph's plant to capture Matilda's son, Prince Henry, went awry, Ranulph turned to Lincoln Castle, aided by his and his brother's wives dressed in ordinary clothes, escorted by knights. They were able to seize the castle and expel the royal guards. Stephen gave Ranulph control of Lincolnshire and Derby, returned to London only to received pleas from the citizens to imprison the brothers based on the treatment the brothers imposed. Stephen returned to Lincoln with reinforcements, resulting in Ranulph's new fidelity to Empress Matilda and the Battle of Lincoln on 02 February 1141 when Stephen was deposed and Matilda ruled again until she exchanged Stephen and the crown for her brother, Robert. Ranulph was again on the wrong side of the crown.
After the unsuccessful siege of Lincoln Castle, Ranulph switched his loyalties back to Stephen, leaving Ranulph to quarrel directly with King David of Scotland for his properties. Stephen was about to support Ranulph in a campaign against the Welsh when Stephen was warned by his advisors the Earl had planned a conspiracy against Stephen, who instead provoked Ranulph with the demand for all royal properties. Ranulph refused and was imprisoned, seized at court on 29 August 1146 at Northampton. Ranulph was finally released on the condition he would surrender the royal lands and promise to never resist Stephen again. When he was released, Ranulph immediately flew into a raged revolt, this time forcing the Clares of Hertford into the conflict.
Ranulph met with Prince Henry and King David at Carlisle to plan an attack on York against Stephen's son, Eustace, which failed miserably. Eventually, Stephen lost control and soon to be King Henry II granted Staffordshire to Ranulph.
Ranulph was poisoned while a guest in the home of William Peverell in Nottingham, along with three of his men. The men died immediately, Ranulph died an agonizing death late that year, leaving his lands to his son, Hugh. The lands Ranulph held when Stephen took command were honored while remaining lands were revoked. When young Henry became king, he exiled Peverell for the murder.
It was rumored Ranulph's wife, Maud, had a hand in his murder, but nothing was ever proved. Ranulph did grant her a servant on his death bed, and she served as her minor son's guardian for nine years.
Ranulph of Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester, son of Ranulph le Meschin, 1st 3rd Earl of Chester and Lucy of Bolingbroke. He was born about 1100 in Normandy, France at the Cheateau Guernon.
Husband of Maud Fitz Robert, the daughter of Robert de Caen, the 1st Earl of Gloucester and the granddaughter of King Henry I of England. They married about about 1141 and had one surviving son, Hugh de Levelioc. Other possible children include Richard of Chester who died at the age of five, and a Beatrice who married Raoul de Malpas. Ranulph also had an illegitimate son, Robert FitzCount who died before 1166.
Both parents were influential landowners, his father having created the Earl of Chester lineage. Ranulf succeeded to the title of Vicomte d'Avranches in Normandy about 1129, then succeeded to the title of 2nd Earl of Chester, and held the office of Constable of Lincoln in 1136 for King Stephen. He also founded an abbey in Wales for the monks from the Norman congregation of Savigny.
When King David of Scotland invaded England during Stephen's reign, he took many parts of Cumberland, including lands once belonging to Ranulph's father. At the Treaty of Durham in 1139, Stephen gave David even more of Ranulph's family lands, Ranulph prepared a revolt to take back his lordship in the north. When Ranulph's plant to capture Matilda's son, Prince Henry, went awry, Ranulph turned to Lincoln Castle, aided by his and his brother's wives dressed in ordinary clothes, escorted by knights. They were able to seize the castle and expel the royal guards. Stephen gave Ranulph control of Lincolnshire and Derby, returned to London only to received pleas from the citizens to imprison the brothers based on the treatment the brothers imposed. Stephen returned to Lincoln with reinforcements, resulting in Ranulph's new fidelity to Empress Matilda and the Battle of Lincoln on 02 February 1141 when Stephen was deposed and Matilda ruled again until she exchanged Stephen and the crown for her brother, Robert. Ranulph was again on the wrong side of the crown.
After the unsuccessful siege of Lincoln Castle, Ranulph switched his loyalties back to Stephen, leaving Ranulph to quarrel directly with King David of Scotland for his properties. Stephen was about to support Ranulph in a campaign against the Welsh when Stephen was warned by his advisors the Earl had planned a conspiracy against Stephen, who instead provoked Ranulph with the demand for all royal properties. Ranulph refused and was imprisoned, seized at court on 29 August 1146 at Northampton. Ranulph was finally released on the condition he would surrender the royal lands and promise to never resist Stephen again. When he was released, Ranulph immediately flew into a raged revolt, this time forcing the Clares of Hertford into the conflict.
Ranulph met with Prince Henry and King David at Carlisle to plan an attack on York against Stephen's son, Eustace, which failed miserably. Eventually, Stephen lost control and soon to be King Henry II granted Staffordshire to Ranulph.
Ranulph was poisoned while a guest in the home of William Peverell in Nottingham, along with three of his men. The men died immediately, Ranulph died an agonizing death late that year, leaving his lands to his son, Hugh. The lands Ranulph held when Stephen took command were honored while remaining lands were revoked. When young Henry became king, he exiled Peverell for the murder.
It was rumored Ranulph's wife, Maud, had a hand in his murder, but nothing was ever proved. Ranulph did grant her a servant on his death bed, and she served as her minor son's guardian for nine years.
Husband of Maud Fitz Robert, the daughter of Robert de Caen, the 1st Earl of Gloucester and the granddaughter of King Henry I of England. They married about about 1141 and had one surviving son, Hugh de Levelioc. Other possible children include Richard of Chester who died at the age of five, and a Beatrice who married Raoul de Malpas. Ranulph also had an illegitimate son, Robert FitzCount who died before 1166.
Both parents were influential landowners, his father having created the Earl of Chester lineage. Ranulf succeeded to the title of Vicomte d'Avranches in Normandy about 1129, then succeeded to the title of 2nd Earl of Chester, and held the office of Constable of Lincoln in 1136 for King Stephen. He also founded an abbey in Wales for the monks from the Norman congregation of Savigny.
When King David of Scotland invaded England during Stephen's reign, he took many parts of Cumberland, including lands once belonging to Ranulph's father. At the Treaty of Durham in 1139, Stephen gave David even more of Ranulph's family lands, Ranulph prepared a revolt to take back his lordship in the north. When Ranulph's plant to capture Matilda's son, Prince Henry, went awry, Ranulph turned to Lincoln Castle, aided by his and his brother's wives dressed in ordinary clothes, escorted by knights. They were able to seize the castle and expel the royal guards. Stephen gave Ranulph control of Lincolnshire and Derby, returned to London only to received pleas from the citizens to imprison the brothers based on the treatment the brothers imposed. Stephen returned to Lincoln with reinforcements, resulting in Ranulph's new fidelity to Empress Matilda and the Battle of Lincoln on 02 February 1141 when Stephen was deposed and Matilda ruled again until she exchanged Stephen and the crown for her brother, Robert. Ranulph was again on the wrong side of the crown.
After the unsuccessful siege of Lincoln Castle, Ranulph switched his loyalties back to Stephen, leaving Ranulph to quarrel directly with King David of Scotland for his properties. Stephen was about to support Ranulph in a campaign against the Welsh when Stephen was warned by his advisors the Earl had planned a conspiracy against Stephen, who instead provoked Ranulph with the demand for all royal properties. Ranulph refused and was imprisoned, seized at court on 29 August 1146 at Northampton. Ranulph was finally released on the condition he would surrender the royal lands and promise to never resist Stephen again. When he was released, Ranulph immediately flew into a raged revolt, this time forcing the Clares of Hertford into the conflict.
Ranulph met with Prince Henry and King David at Carlisle to plan an attack on York against Stephen's son, Eustace, which failed miserably. Eventually, Stephen lost control and soon to be King Henry II granted Staffordshire to Ranulph.
Ranulph was poisoned while a guest in the home of William Peverell in Nottingham, along with three of his men. The men died immediately, Ranulph died an agonizing death late that year, leaving his lands to his son, Hugh. The lands Ranulph held when Stephen took command were honored while remaining lands were revoked. When young Henry became king, he exiled Peverell for the murder.
It was rumored Ranulph's wife, Maud, had a hand in his murder, but nothing was ever proved. Ranulph did grant her a servant on his death bed, and she served as her minor son's guardian for nine years.
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