de Lacy Marcher Lords
Marcher Lords
In 1086, the name "March of Wales" appeared in the doomsday book to define the Welsh-English border. The Marches were a frontier border long used to territorial battles between Britons ruling the Welsh mountains and the Anglo-Saxons of Mercia. The Anglo-Norman Marcher Baron's role was to rule this troubled border, with strength to protect England and also add what parts of Wales they could.
They combined the authority of a feudal lord, owing allegiance only to the King with privileges denied to other Anglo-Norman lordships elsewhere in England. The Royal rule was almost non-existent in the Marches: the region soon contained Britain's densest concentration of motte-and-bailey castles.
Marcher lords could create laws, wage war, grant markets to towns, and maintain their own law courts. Marcher lords could build castles and had the right to develop forests. Their lands were exempt from royal taxation. Walter de Lacy, 1st Baron of Weobley
In the summer of 1067, the King returned to Normandy; before leaving, he added to the FitzOsbern titles the Earl of Wessex with control of the whole of the South West of England,, leaving FitzOsbern and the King's half-brother, Bishop Odo, in charge of England. As Earl of Hereford, he would have no time to attend his territories in the Welsh Marches so the King approved that he appointed his liegeman Walter de Lacy to the role of Marcher lord. Creating the title of Baron Walter de Lacy, Lord of Weobley, for Walter.
Baron Walter de Lacy,
Lord of Weobley.
To finance this elevation, King William bestowed many Manors in recognition of his significant part in the conquest of England; King William awarded Walter de Lacy and his firstborn son Roger estates throughout what is now Berkshire, Gloucester. Worcester, Shropshire and Chester.
In further recognition of his part in the conquest of England, King William elevated Walter to Baron Walter de Lacy, Lord of Weobley, becoming a Marsher lord in his own right based in Herefordshire. King William realised that to contain or even conquer the Welsh, he would have to follow the pattern used by the Saxons to keep the Welsh from Marching on Mercia.
Walter knew his son Roger de Lacy was the better soldier, giving Roger control of all the fighting. Now Walter concentrated on developing the estates awarded to him by the King. Walter de Lacy kept a large number of his manors in demesne, managing them directly rather than giving them as fiefs to his knightly followers. Some of these lands in Hereford, including Holme Lacy, were held of the Bishop of Hereford as a tenant.
Walter died March 1084, having fallen from scaffolding while inspecting the St Guthlac’s Priory building. He was laid to rest at Gloucester Abbey (now Cathedral). In total, Domesday Book records show Walter's lands as worth £423 in income per year comprising of 163 manors in 7 different counties, and his estates in Normandy. He was one of the wealthiest men in England.
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The Motte and Bailey castles played a crucial role during the Norman conquest. They were constructed swiftly and strategically placed within a day's march from each other, offering a secure resting place and shelter for the troops during patrols. While some of these castles had a small force to defend them, others were developed over time and fortified with stone to become permanent bases that were later identified as castles. Don't miss the video demonstration showcasing the rapid construction of these castles. |
Baron Roger de Lacy
2nd Marcher Lord of Weobley.
Walter knowing his son Roger de Lacy was the better soldier put Roger in charge of their fighting forces. Roger masterminded the de Lacy tactics of control of the Welsh border. He led his Knights and soldiers in skirmishes with Welsh princes and bandits. As a true leader, he had become a skilled negotiator, convincing parts of Wales that they were safer under de Lacy's protection. Roger achieved Norman, Saxon and Welsh soldiers all working together.
Baron Roger de Lacy,maintained Weobley, adding Mott and Bailey castles throughout the Welsh Marches area. Notably Longtown and Ludlow. Roger masterminded the de Lacy tactics of Welsh border control, leading his Knights and soldiers and even adding Welsh soldiers to his ranks in skirmishes and minor battles. King William left his third-born son,, William Rufu,s as King of England on his death. Baron Roger de Lacy rebelled and tried to overthrow William Rufus and install William's firstborn Robert Duke of Normandy as King of England. The rebellion failed, and Baron Roger was exiled to his Normandy estates, and Roger de Lacy died there in 1106. Roger's lands, including some 96 lordships, were given by the King to Roger's brother, Hugh de Lacy.
Baron Hugh de Lacy
3rd Lord of Weobley
After Roger de Lacy was banished, King William II granted all the de Lacy Welsh Marcher lands, which included around 96 Lordships, to Roger's younger brother Hugh. Hugh established his base of operations at Ludlow Castle and continued to acquire land on the western fringes of the Welsh Marches. Around 1155, Hugh II de Lacy provided land and support to restore Llanthony Priory in the Vale of Ewyes. In 1118, Hugh allowed the rebuilding of Llanthony Priory in Monmouthshire to begin. The 4th Lord of Weobley, Baron Hugh de Lacy, was married to Adeline, but they both died without any children in 1121. The next in line for the Baron of Weobley should have been Walter II, the youngest son of Baron Walter de Lacy. However, he had joined the priesthood and was now at Gloucester Cathedral.
Since the days when Rollo signed an oath with King Phillip of France pledging he and his followers would renounce all Pagan faiths and convert to Christianity. The families of Normandy including the de Lacy's became devout Christian followers. Their religion based on a mix of fear and favour. Christian support to the church was given as much on expectations of reward not only in heaven but also here on earth. The fear of hell (and the incumbent Pope) was never far away. Christianity in the middle ages was not a faith of compassion.
The first Walter de Lacy had been no exception. He and his descendants devoted much time and money to show God and the world their devotion by building or financing the building of many churches along the Welsh border; On this page, we share with you just two here within the Welsh Marches. One the largest, the other the small church of St Mary's shown below, each with its own merits.
Llanthony Priory
In 1108, Walter de Lacy, the third son of Baron Walter de Lacy, conducted a patrol in the Honddu valley, which was far from his home castle in Longtown and situated on the opposite side of the Black Mountain. Walter, a devout young man, was inspired by the peaceful and remote location of the derelict Anglo-Saxon Church, where St David was said to have lived as a hermit. He requested his father's permission to renounce his life as a soldier and become a hermit there himself. Later, he was joined by Ernisius, a former chaplain to Queen Matilda, the wife of Henry I. Together, they established an Augustinian Priory. However, the isolated location of the site made the growing monastery vulnerable to frequent attacks by Welsh bandits. As a result, the monks reluctantly left the valley and sought safety in Gloucester Priory. Around 1155, the 4th Lord of Weobley, Baron Hugh (II) de Lacy, provided men, land, and support to restore Llanthony Priory, which was located in the Vale of Ewyas, as it was now named. Hugh continued the restoration work for many years, and after his death in 1186, his son, Baron Walter (II) de Lacy, continued the work with support and funds often coming from as far away as Ireland.
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Baron Gilbert de Lacy
4th Lord of Weobley
The inheritance passed but not without controversy in 1131 to Hugh’s nephew, Gilbert, the son of exiled Baron Roger de Lacy. He had returned from Normandy to win back the Lordship and Estates of Weobley. To further his campaign, Gilbert had been a regular attendant at the court of King Stephen, but in about 1137, he changed his allegiance from Stephen to his rival for the throne of England, Empress Matilda. With his cousin Geoffrey Talbot Gilbert, he led his forces to Hereford in 1138, and there, following a short battle with the supporters of King Stephen, he took control of the town in the name of Empress Matilda. King Stephen retaliated and sent a superior force to take it back. Only by besieging Hereford for several months was the army of King Stephen eventually able to take Hereford Castle. Geoffrey Talbot and Gilbert de Lacy escaped to safety from King Stephen's army and had to undergo a prolonged siege before finally taking Hereford Castle. This led to the escape of Geoffrey Talbot and Gilbert de Lacy, who fled to safety at Weobley Castle. After dethroning King Stephen, Matilda declared herself the rightful Queen of England. However, her reign was short-lived, lasting only until November 1141 when she failed to convince the Church to conduct a coronation and was forced to return to Normandy.
In a show of gratitude, Gilbert de Lacy donated land to the Knights Templar to build a cathedral chapter house for Hereford Cathedral. Additionally, he provided funds for the construction of a church at Weobley. Despite recovering most of the de Lacy Estates that had passed from his father to his Uncle Hugh de Lacy, Gilbert was still unable to regain the coveted title of Lord of Weobley, which had been stripped from his father. Despite being a Baron and playing a crucial role in deposing three kings, Gilbert remained disillusioned by his inability to regain his father's title.Weobley Castle. But despite carrying the title of Baron, he had yet to regain the full title he coveted of Lord of Weobley. Gilbert remained disillusioned that having partitioned three Kings, he could not recover the title of Lord of Weobley, stripped from his Father.
In 1158, Gilbert de Lacy resigned his lands to his eldest son Robert and joined the Knights Templar, travelling first to France and then to Jerusalem, which he reached in 1161 or 1162. He became preceptor of the Templars in ‘the county of Tripoli’, and in 1163 he is said to have been among the leaders of a Crusader army resisting Nur-ad-Din. The year of his death is not known. His son Robert had already died without children sometime before 1162, so Gilbert de Lacy’s younger son Hugh de Lacy now inherited the lands.
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Tap or Click to visit the English Heritage Longtown Castle Page
Baron Hugh de Lacy
5th Marcher Lord of Weobley, Lord of Ludlow
5th Marcher Lord of Weobley, Lord of Ludlow
Without holding the title, Hugh took complete control of the estates until the death of his Crusader father, Gilbert de Lacy. He restored land lost to local Welsh chiefs and other Marcher Lords. Then commenced the rebuilding of Longtown and Ludlow Castles. He improved the yields and wealth of the manors. King Henry II returned Hugh the long-suppressed title of Lord Weobley. He additionally appointed Hugh de Lacy as Lord of Ludlow. Hugh became one of the most powerful Marcher War Lords. Not since the days of his Grandfather, Roger de Lacy, had the name of de Lacy held more fear or respect in the West of England from Anglo-Normans and Welsh alike. Later, Hugh was summoned by the King to accompany him on an expedition to Ireland. On the expected success of the invasion, Hugh would take up residence as the King's Viceroy in Ireland. Hugh, always ambitious, was delighted to accept. The history continues......
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Tap or click on the Ludlow Castle website for more history, Visiting times and Events.
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Include in any personal tourSt Mary's Church at Kempley
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Baron Walter (II) de Lacy
6th Marcher Lord of Weobley,
Lord of Ludlow and Lord of Meath
Still a minor, Walter did not succeed to his father's estates until 1188. Taking possession as Lord of Ludlow and Meath, after considerable political and personal argument and cost with not one, but two Kings. Walter married Margaret, the daughter of William de Braose, the 4th Lord of Bramber. Who had significant estates and power on the Welsh border and Ireland, The downside of the relationship was the King’s suspicions of powerful Marcher Lords allying with their holdings in Ireland and the Welsh-England border. The families merging their interests further reinforced the King's fear of losing control. Again, in 1197, Walter had to make further payments to King Richard. This time, he tries to re-recover his Normandy and English lands. The King had sequestrated both. Because the de Lacy, de Braose connection appeared to King Richard to be too strong. Walter is possibly seen as the weaker of the two lords. By 1215, King John desperately sought support from Ireland against the growing rebellion of Barons throughout England, ending with King John signing the Magna Carta. Having first exacted a further hefty financial penalty from Walter de Lacy, King John promised the return of all his lands for this support. Walter was trying to improve the dwindling incomes from the Ewyas Lacy estates that had fallen desperately low due to his poor stewardship, and the King's fines had reduced Walter's overall income. Walter had become an absent landlord at Weobley and Longtown, as he was now expected to attend King John's depleted court more frequently. His debts finally caught up with him, and on 19th November 1240, the Crown issued orders to restrain his estates to recover those debts. By now Walter de Lacy was blind, feeble and bankrupt the Crown issued orders for the restraint of his estates to recover those debts.
With no heir, Walter died on the 24th of February 1241 in Meath, Ireland.
Leading to the end of the de Lacy Marsher and Meath Lords
