⚜️ 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.