The de Lacy Origins introduces you to the remarkable de Lacy family., On the second page, the Marcher Lords established themselves first on the English Welsh border before becoming Barons, opening Ireland to the Norman conquest. After the end of the de Lacy barons era, de Lacy dependents continued to prosper as the de Lacy family of Limerick up to the days when the Tudors were on the throne of England. Ruined by the English in 1691, They were part of the so-called “Wild Geese” who became leading Generals in many European wars. Moving back in time to the eleventh century you will find the even more impressive page sharing with you Baron Walter's brother Ilbert de Lacy, founding the Barons of Pontefract castle leaders in English wars and Royal politics. If you are related to the de Lacy family you will find the de Lacy family tree page answering many of your questions.

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​The ninth century was a turbulent time for Norway. To larger a population fighting over too few resources from the sparse land. Out of this chaos, Harald Fairhair on taking the throne decided that rather than fight each other those brave enough should make a fresh start beyond Norway.​

 

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​Over 700 longboats left Norway that year. Eventually, 350 Longboat's crews decided to stay in the North of Scotland. Rollo and his men sailed south. He knew there were ​Over 700 longboats that left Norway that year. Eventually, 350 Longboat's crews decided to stay in the North of Scotland. Rollo and his men sailed south. He knew there were greener lands further to the south.

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​They sacked the French town of Rouen and sailed up the river until they neared Paris, where they found stiff resistance from the French Army. Rather than lose men, Rollo withdraws, knowing their prospect back downstream would be better. They found an ideal riverside base between the coast and Paris, with high mountains on either side of the river.

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​Here, they were able to see all boats passing up and down the river while guarding their own defences. All French attempts to move them from this strong position failed. Life was good,   and they were in no hurry to move.​​

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​The new King, Phillip III, knew that force was not the answer   to the problem. Weighing up the costs of all French losses     from  these Norse raiders. He decided to tempt them out.

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​The Norsemen were delighted. Here was the land they had sailed so far from home to find.
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​The Red square below donates the land Yarl Lassy, and his kinfolk were to settle and start a new life. In turn, Lassy gave Manors and farms to all who had sailed with him.

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​The area was fertile farmland, and the Lassy Kinsmen prospered. They followed Rollo's lead and married local French girls. Adapting the men into a more civilised French way of life. The name Lassy gave way to a mix of French/Latin to become Lassi and then de Lacy

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​William, the Duke of Normandy, had been promised the Throne of England by the childless Edward the Confessor, his first cousin once removed. However, on Edward's death, the Throne of England was taken by ​the powerful English Earl Harold Godwinson. William was determined to go to war to gain what he thought was due to him.

Walter de Lacy and his son Roger led their men to the centre of the action, the heart of the hand-to-hand fighting. Ilbert de Lacy led his cavalry in charge after charge on the flanks of the battle.  Follow the outcome of the battle on this amusing animated video version of the Bayeux Tapestry.

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​"Walter de Lacy and son Roger your role now is to defend the English Welsh boarder"

"Ilbert de Lacy you will stay here and build defences to defend the south from rebelling Northumbrian

​With mountains and thick forest to the West the Humber estuary to the East leaving Castleford the only way to the South.  Use Fire arrows to defend against Viking longships. The best position to make a stand.

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​The Normans were able to conquer England faster by the use of Motte and Bailey castles. More Motte and Bailey castles, were built on the Welsh border than in the whole of the rest of England. ​A motte and bailey castle is made up of a huge mound of earth (called a motte). Often a wooden tower was built on this, giving a good view of the surrounding countryside. A courtyard (called a bailey) is surrounded by a ditch, a bank and a wooden palisade (strong fence). In this, the horses, supplies and weapons were safe.
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To continue the story of Ilbert de Lacy and his dependants go now to the ​'Pontefract and Politics'. page. You can find all about Walter de Lacy and his son Roger on the 'Marcher War Lord's' page

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Finally, for anyone who wishes to research deeper into the Lasse, history ​ dispelling some of their origin myths. Were the Lacy's Norman or Franks?   Was Lasse the ancient name of the de Lacy's?  Was the village of Lassy in Calvados there long before the de Lacy Family?
An in-depth look at the de Lacy origin
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Ninth Century Norway, which comprised many small kingdoms crowded upon the Western and Southern Coast with constant feuds and bitter fighting between Clans (Tribes) for fishing or farming land? The primary food source was fish from the Fiord inlets or the open sea. The Norse people became adept fisherman tackling the stormy Norwegian Seas. From their mastery of the waters came a whole new era. The development of the Longboat.
King Harald Fairhair  (Haraldr Hálfdanarson) Born 850 Died 933.  First King of Norway from 875 to 930
Following bitter fighting over land, safe harbours and best fishing areas. War-torn Norway in 872AD found peace following the crowning of King Harald Fairhead as the first high King to rule over all of Norway. Over the next two years, he developed his plan for the betterment of Norway. Then, in 875AD, he called together his chief Jarl’s.

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​Lasse A medieval Scandinavian name reaching back to the 2nd-century known right across Scandinavia including Norway, Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Iceland and the far northern coastal Germanic people of Europe. Together with the name Lars, it derives from Laurentius a Latin given name or surname meaning 'From Laurentum (a city near Rome), or “Laurelled” derived from the Old Greek word Lavrenti meaning “bright one, shining one“. The modern-day derivative of Laurentius is Laurence.

A Jarl was an aristocrat of Norwegian society, a title gained from power some were even past kings. If there was wealth, the Jarls held most of it. They soon realised that the longboat could be a weapon of war. To them, wealth came not only from Norwegian land but from trading Silver and Slaves their Longboats took them to find both. A single foray to a European coast could be worth more to the Jarl and his men than all the farming and fishing for a whole year. A Jarl within his controlled region offered protection and security to the smaller clans who had sworn allegiance to him. 
Rollo The Ganger. Jarl Gaange Rolf. c. 860–c. 930 AD The next level of Norwegian medieval society was made up by the many Norsemen who belonged to the middle class, known as Karls. This included the Clan Lasse, These people were freemen and landowners. Farmers, fishermen and artisans. Extended Karl families banded together, forming a local clan living in clusters of two or more longhouses supplemented by barns and workshops. Karl clans were not necessarily rooted in one area like the Scottish clans that followed them four hundred years later. Like the Jarls but still, under their patronage, there were larger Karl clans. The lowest level of Norway's society was the þræll (Thrall) made up of slaves and bondsmen. If a Norseman of any class, could not pay his debts, he had to become a bondsman and work for the lender until they paid the debt. However, the three social levels were not as rigid as in other parts of Europe. Mechanisms existed so that a person could move from one class to another. There was poorer Jarls and richer Karls. I know of no history where Karl Lasse was placed between the first two classes other than he owed allegiance to Roll

The Lacy family had been granted 200 sq miles of land (128,000 acres) to be held by the Norman law of Parage the area to be known as Lassy also known as the Lacicu Latius estates in the county of Calvados. It also linked Vire with Lassy being only 20kms away, well within the land grant. On receiving their lands the descendants and extended family of Karl Lasse also followed the pattern of taking Frankish brides, adapting to the rules of the Catholic church to become prosperous Norman landowners. Their prosperity gained them further estates in and around Normandy. By, the fourth generation we arrive at Hugh de Laci now Lord of Lassy. Father of our two de Lacy brothers. The Elder Ilbert de Lacy and younger (half brother?) Gauthier or anglicised as Walter. Under Norman feudal laws the de Lacy family were under-lords to the Bishop of Beaux. However, Walter became an under lord to William FitzOsbern cousin to Duke William’s the de Lacy family were under-lords to the Bishop of Beaux. However, Walter became an under lord to William FitzOsbern cousin to Duke William. Two explanations are whether Walter was managing new distant de Lacy estates or by marriage into the FitzOsbern family could bring about a change of tutelage.

The research used to collect this version of the early origins of the de Lacy family follows the most accepted history. Credible knowledge is hard to find before the tenth century, Often vague, leading to facts relating beyond royal or paple records being only monastery hearsay or folklore. In this environment,  not surprising historians or researchers will sometime offer alternative origins. Here within this website. Within my de Lacy book.   Or the popular “de Lacy Chronicles” Facebook page my research “The Origins” has on occasions been challenged at best as containing incorrect facts, at worst as a nice piece of fiction. My project this year was to dig even deeper and wider to at least show the merit of the version I use.

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