Norman Knight

People of 1066AD - Roger de Beaumont

⚜️ Roger de Beaumont — Normandy Holdings (1066)

Roger de Beaumont (c.1015–1094), called 'le Barbu' (the Bearded), Lord of Beaumont-le-Roger and Pont-Audemer. Powerful Norman magnate, counsellor of Duke William, entrusted with the defence of Normandy during the Conquest.¹

️ 1. Core lordship — Beaumont-le-Roger

Seigneurie de Beaumont-le-Roger

Location: Beaumont-le-Roger (Eure), Normandy. The town bears his name.²
Inheritance: Son of Onfroy de Vieilles (d. c.1050), who had constituted the honour around Beaumont-le-Roger.³
Castle of Beaumont-le-Roger: Roger built a castle at Beaumont, surrounded the Bourg-Dessus with walls.⁴

2. Pont-Audemer — ancestral honour

Pont-Audemer (Eure): Ancestral seat of the family. His grandfather Torf and father Onfroy de Vieilles were based at Pont-Audemer. Roger inherited this lordship.⁵

⛪ 3. Religious patronage — Normandy

✝️ Abbey of Saint-Pierre de Préaux: Founded by his father Onfroy de Vieilles. Roger continued the family's patronage.⁶

Église Saint-Nicolas, Beaumont-le-Roger: Founded by Roger.⁷

Prieuré de la Trinité, Beaumont-le-Roger: Founded by Roger.⁸

️ 4. Ducal administration

Regent of Normandy (1066): Charged with the defence of the duchy alongside Queen Mathilde while Duke William was in England.⁹
Counselor: Familier de Guillaume le Conquérant (close associate of William the Conqueror).¹⁰

5. Succession

Robert de Beaumont (d. 1118): His eldest son, who became Count of Meulan and 1st Earl of Leicester.¹¹

Henri de Beaumont (d. 1123): His younger son, created 1st Earl of Warwick.¹²

REFERENCES
1. Crouch, D. The Beaumont Twins (1986), p. 3.
2. Mairie de Beaumont-le-Roger, 'Histoire de Beaumont-le-Roger'.
3. Gazeau, V. Monachisme et aristocratie au XIe siècle: la famille de Beaumont (1987), pp. 67-73.
4. Beaumont-le-Roger town history.
5. Crouch, p. 5.
6. Gazeau, p. 72.
7. Beaumont-le-Roger town history.
8. Beaumont-le-Roger town history.
9. Crouch, p. 8.
10. French Wikipedia: 'Famille de Beaumont (Normandie)'.
11. Complete Peerage, vol. VII, p. 526.
12. Complete Peerage, vol. XII/2, p. 358.

⏺️ FOOTNOTES: Beaumont-le-Roger, Pont-Audemer, Saint-Nicolas, and the Trinité are confirmed Norman holdings. Roger did not fight at Hastings; he remained in Normandy as regent. English estates excluded.