Biography of William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber 1144-1211

Paternal Family Tree: Braose

Maternal Family Tree: Ealdgyth Mercia 1024-1066

Before 1144 [his father] William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber [aged 28] and [his mother] Bertha Gloucester Baroness Bramber were married. She by marriage Baroness Bramber Feudal. She the daughter of [his grandfather] Miles Gloucester 1st Earl Hereford and [his grandmother] Sibyl Neufmarché Countess Hereford.

In 1144 William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber was born to [his father] William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber [aged 29] and [his mother] Bertha Gloucester Baroness Bramber.

Before 1160 [his uncle] William Gloucester died in a house fire at Bronllys Castle [Map] as a result of injuries sustained from falling masonry. Hugh de Beauchamp succeeded Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation although nothing more in known about him. When he died around 1173 [his mother] Bertha Gloucester Baroness Bramber, or rather her husband [his father] William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber [aged 44] subsequently succeeded to Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation.

Before 1161 [his brother-in-law] William Ferrers 3rd Earl of Derby [aged 24] and [his sister] Sybil de Braose Countess Derby [aged 3] were married. She by marriage Countess Derby. The difference in their ages was 21 years. He the son of Robert Ferrers 2nd Earl of Derby and Margaret Peverell Countess Derby.

Around 1166 William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber [aged 22] and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber [aged 11] were married.

Before 1170 [his brother-in-law] William Beauchamp 1st Baron Beauchamp [aged 64] was created 1st Baron Beauchamp of Elmley in Worcestershire. [his sister] Bertha de Braose Baroness Beauchamp by marriage Baroness Beauchamp of Elmley in Worcestershire.

Abergavenny Massacre

Around 25th December 1175, Christmas, William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber [aged 31] invited the local Welsh nobles to his Christmas court at Abergavenny Castle [Map] as an act of reconciliation. Seisyll ap Dyfnwal Gwent and his elder son Geoffrey Gwent were murdered. William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and his men then rode to Seisyll's home. There his younger son Cadwalladr Gwent [aged 7] was murdered and his wife captured.

Chronicle of the Princes of Wales. Immediately after that, Seisyll, son of Dyvnwal, was slain, through the treachery of the lord of Brecheiniog [William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber [aged 31]], in the castle of Abergavenny [Map] and with him Gruffudd his son, and many of the chieftains of Gwent. And then the French repaired to the court of Seisyll, son of Dyvnwal; and after seizing Gwladus his wife, they killed his son Cadwalader [aged 7]. And on that day there was the most miserable slaughter of the good people of Gwent. And after that most open and ílagitious treachery, none of the Welsh dared trust to the French

In 1179 [his father] William de Braose 3rd Baron Bramber [aged 64] died. His son William [aged 35] succeeded 4th Baron Bramber Feudal, 6th Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation. [his wife] Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber [aged 24] by marriage Baroness Bramber Feudal and Baroness Abergavenny Feudal Creation.

Around 1185 [his daughter] Loretta de Braose Countess Leicester was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber [aged 41] and [his wife] Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber [aged 30]. She married 1196 Robert Beaumont 4th Earl of Leicester, son of Robert Beaumont 3rd Earl of Leicester and Petronilla Grandesmil Countess Leicester.

In 1187 Walter Devereux's [aged 14] lands (including two castles), following the death of his father, were held by the Crown and placed under the care of William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber [aged 43].

In 1189 [his son-in-law] Gruffydd ap Rhys Dinefwr Prince Deheubarth and [his daughter] Maud de Braose were married. They were half fourth cousin twice removed.

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In 1192 William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber [aged 48] was appointed High Sheriff of Hertfordshire.

Around 1196 [his son-in-law] Robert Beaumont 4th Earl of Leicester and [his daughter] Loretta de Braose Countess Leicester [aged 11] were married. She by marriage Countess of Leicester. He the son of Robert Beaumont 3rd Earl of Leicester and Petronilla Grandesmil Countess Leicester [aged 61].

Around 1200 John Devereux [aged 7] was trained for knighthood in the retinue of William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber [aged 56].

On 19th November 1200 [his sister] Bertha de Braose Baroness Beauchamp died at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire [Map].

Battle of Mirebeau

On 1st August 1202 King John of England [aged 35] defeated the army of his nephew Prince Arthur 3rd Duke Brittany [aged 15] and Hugh X of Lusignan V Count La Marche [aged 19] which was besieging John's mother Eleanor of Aquitaine Queen Consort Franks and England [aged 80] at Mirebeau Castle. King John of England took Arthur Plantagenet 3rd Duke Brittany 1187-1203's army by surprise capturing most. Prince Arthur 3rd Duke Brittany and, probably, his sister Eleanor "Fair Maid of Britanny" 4th Countess of Richmond [aged 18], both of whom arguably had better claims to the throne than King John of England were captured.

Prince Arthur 3rd Duke Brittany was imprisoned by William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber [aged 58] at Falaise Castle [Map].

In or before 1205 [his son] John de Braose and [his daughter-in-law] Amabel de Limesey were married.

In 1205 [his son] John de Braose died.

In 1206 [his son] William de Braose and [his daughter-in-law] Maud de Clare [aged 22] were married. She the daughter of Richard Clare 3rd Earl Hertford [aged 53] and Amice Fitzrobert Countess Hertford.

In 1210 [his son] William de Braose was starved to death at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].

In 1210 [his wife] Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber [aged 55] starved to death at Corfe Castle, Dorset [Map].

On 29th December 1210 [his daughter] Maud de Braose died.

On 9th August 1211 William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber [aged 67] died at France. His son Giles de jure 7th Baron Abergavenny Feudal Creation, 5th Baron Bramber Feudal. He died before he could take possession of his lands.

Before 1160 [his son] Reginald de Braose 8th Baron Abergavenny 6th Baron Bramber was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. He married (1) before 1215 Graecia Briwere and had issue (2) 1215 his half fifth cousin once removed Gwladus verch Llewelyn "Dark Eyed" Aberffraw, daughter of Llewellyn "The Great" Aberffraw and Joan Plantagenet.

[his daughter] Flandrina Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber.

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[his son] John de Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. He married in or before 1205 Amabel de Limesey.

[his daughter] Margaret de Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. She married Walter Lacy Lord Meath and had issue.

[his son] Bishop Giles de Braose 7th Baron Braose 5th Baron Bramber was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber.

[his daughter] Eleanor Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. She married before 1227 Hugh Mortimer.

[his son] William de Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. He married 1206 Maud de Clare, daughter of Richard Clare 3rd Earl Hertford and Amice Fitzrobert Countess Hertford, and had issue.

[his daughter] Maud de Braose was born to William de Braose 4th Baron Bramber and Maud "Lady of Hay" St Valery Baroness Bramber. She married 1189 her half fourth cousin twice removed Gruffydd ap Rhys Dinefwr Prince Deheubarth and had issue.