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William de Warenne

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William de Warenne

Birth
France
Death
24 Jun 1088 (aged 52–53)
Lewes, Lewes District, East Sussex, England
Burial
Lewes, Lewes District, East Sussex, England Add to Map
Plot
Gundrada Chapel
Memorial ID
View Source
William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, he was one of the Norman nobles who fought at the Battle of Hastings and became great landowners in England.

He was a son of Rodulf II de Warenne and Emma and a grandnephew of duchess Gunnor, wife of duke Richard I of Normandy. The de Warenne surname derives from the hamlet named Varenne located on the river Varenne, which flows through the territory William acquired in Upper Normandy in the region today called Bellencombre.

As a young man, William played a prominent role in protecting the Norman realm of the future William the Conqueror's from a major invasion by the King of France in February 1054 at the Battle of Mortemer. After this battle Roger de Mortemer forfeited most of his lands, and the duke gave them to William. William was one of the nobles who advised duke William when the decision to invade England was being considered. He is said to have fought at Hastings, and afterwards received the Rape of Lewes in Sussex, and subsequently lands in twelve other shires. He built castles at Lewes (Sussex), Reigate (Surrey), Castle Acre (Norfolk) and Conisbrough in Yorkshire. By the time of the Domesday survey he was one of the wealthiest landholders in England with holdings in 12 counties.

He fought against rebels at the Isle of Ely in 1071 where he showed a special desire to hunt down Hereward the Wake who had murdered his brother the year before.
William was loyal to William II, and it was probably in early 1088 that he was created Earl of Surrey. He died shortly afterwards of wounds he received while helping suppress the rebellion of 1088.

He married twice:
First in Normandy before 1070 or in 1077, Gundred or Gundreda, sister of Gerbod the Fleming, 1st Earl of Chester

Second, to a sister of Richard Gouet.
Children of William and Gundred
William II de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey (d. 1138) married Isabelle de Vermandois, widow of Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester

Edith de Warenne who married 1) Gerard de Gournay and 2) Drogon (Dreux), Lord of Moncy.
Reynold de Warenne, who inherited lands from his mother in Flanders and died before 1118
an unnamed daughter who married Ernise de Coulonces
Gundred?

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William de Warenne is also remembered on the Lewes Priory.
William de Warenne, 1st Earl of Surrey, he was one of the Norman nobles who fought at the Battle of Hastings and became great landowners in England.

He was a son of Rodulf II de Warenne and Emma and a grandnephew of duchess Gunnor, wife of duke Richard I of Normandy. The de Warenne surname derives from the hamlet named Varenne located on the river Varenne, which flows through the territory William acquired in Upper Normandy in the region today called Bellencombre.

As a young man, William played a prominent role in protecting the Norman realm of the future William the Conqueror's from a major invasion by the King of France in February 1054 at the Battle of Mortemer. After this battle Roger de Mortemer forfeited most of his lands, and the duke gave them to William. William was one of the nobles who advised duke William when the decision to invade England was being considered. He is said to have fought at Hastings, and afterwards received the Rape of Lewes in Sussex, and subsequently lands in twelve other shires. He built castles at Lewes (Sussex), Reigate (Surrey), Castle Acre (Norfolk) and Conisbrough in Yorkshire. By the time of the Domesday survey he was one of the wealthiest landholders in England with holdings in 12 counties.

He fought against rebels at the Isle of Ely in 1071 where he showed a special desire to hunt down Hereward the Wake who had murdered his brother the year before.
William was loyal to William II, and it was probably in early 1088 that he was created Earl of Surrey. He died shortly afterwards of wounds he received while helping suppress the rebellion of 1088.

He married twice:
First in Normandy before 1070 or in 1077, Gundred or Gundreda, sister of Gerbod the Fleming, 1st Earl of Chester

Second, to a sister of Richard Gouet.
Children of William and Gundred
William II de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey (d. 1138) married Isabelle de Vermandois, widow of Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester

Edith de Warenne who married 1) Gerard de Gournay and 2) Drogon (Dreux), Lord of Moncy.
Reynold de Warenne, who inherited lands from his mother in Flanders and died before 1118
an unnamed daughter who married Ernise de Coulonces
Gundred?

---------

William de Warenne is also remembered on the Lewes Priory.

Gravesite Details

He was buried beside his wife, Gundred (Gundrada), in the Chapter House of Lewes Priory (ex Pancras Priory) which he had founded



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