Individual Details
Miles fitz-Walter of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford, Lord of Brecknock
(Abt 1097 - 24 Dec 1143)
He was high in the service of Henry I between 1130 and 1135, he was Constable of England and combined the hereditary office of Sheriff of Gloucester with that of local justiciar for Gloucestershire .
Civil war allegiances
After the death of King Henry he declared for Stephen , at whose court he appears as constable in 1136. King Stephen granted him the honour of Gloucester and Brecknock . However, in 1139, when the empress Matilda appeared in England, he declared for her, and placed the city of Gloucester at her disposal; he was further distinguished by sacking the nearby royalist city of Worcester , attacking Stephen's siege works at Wallingford Castle and reducing the county of Hereford . He was retained as her Constable.
Earldom
In 1141, he was rewarded with the earldom of Hereford when Matilda ruled the country. He remained loyal to the Empress after her defeat at Winchester the same year. John of Salisbury classes him with Geoffrey de Mandeville and others who were non tam comites regni quam hostes publici. The charge is justified by his public policy; but the materials for appraising his personal character do not exist.
Family and children
He married Sybil de Neufmarche , daughter of Bernard de Neufmarche , Lord of Brecon and Nest, granddaughter of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn , in 1121. Their children were:
Bertha of Hereford , married William de Braose before 1150, by whom she had issue.
Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford .
Walter de Hereford died after 1159 in the Holy Land. He was Sheriff of Gloucester in 1155-1157 and Sheriff of Hereford in 1155-1159.
Henry Fitzmiles Henry of Hereford, died 12 April 1165. He succeeded to the title of Baron Abergavenny in 1141/42.
William de Hereford . He died before 1160 without issue.
Mahel de Hereford , died October 1165 at Bronllys Castle , Breconshire , Wales, mortally hurt when a stone dropped from the tower during a fire; died without issue. Buried at Llanthony Priory .
Margaret de Gloucester , married Humphrey de Bohun , by whom she had issue.
Lucy of Gloucester , married Herbert FitzHerbert of Winchester , Lord Chamberlain , by whom she had issue. Buried at Llanthony Priory
Civil war allegiances
After the death of King Henry he declared for Stephen , at whose court he appears as constable in 1136. King Stephen granted him the honour of Gloucester and Brecknock . However, in 1139, when the empress Matilda appeared in England, he declared for her, and placed the city of Gloucester at her disposal; he was further distinguished by sacking the nearby royalist city of Worcester , attacking Stephen's siege works at Wallingford Castle and reducing the county of Hereford . He was retained as her Constable.
Earldom
In 1141, he was rewarded with the earldom of Hereford when Matilda ruled the country. He remained loyal to the Empress after her defeat at Winchester the same year. John of Salisbury classes him with Geoffrey de Mandeville and others who were non tam comites regni quam hostes publici. The charge is justified by his public policy; but the materials for appraising his personal character do not exist.
Family and children
He married Sybil de Neufmarche , daughter of Bernard de Neufmarche , Lord of Brecon and Nest, granddaughter of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn , in 1121. Their children were:
Bertha of Hereford , married William de Braose before 1150, by whom she had issue.
Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford .
Walter de Hereford died after 1159 in the Holy Land. He was Sheriff of Gloucester in 1155-1157 and Sheriff of Hereford in 1155-1159.
Henry Fitzmiles Henry of Hereford, died 12 April 1165. He succeeded to the title of Baron Abergavenny in 1141/42.
William de Hereford . He died before 1160 without issue.
Mahel de Hereford , died October 1165 at Bronllys Castle , Breconshire , Wales, mortally hurt when a stone dropped from the tower during a fire; died without issue. Buried at Llanthony Priory .
Margaret de Gloucester , married Humphrey de Bohun , by whom she had issue.
Lucy of Gloucester , married Herbert FitzHerbert of Winchester , Lord Chamberlain , by whom she had issue. Buried at Llanthony Priory
Events
| Birth | Abt 1097 | Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England | |||
| Marriage | 1121 | Sibyl de Neufmarché Countess Of Hereford | |||
| Death | 24 Dec 1143 | Llanthony Priory of Gloucester, England | |||
| Burial | Aft 24 Dec 1143 | Llanthony Secunda Priory, Gloucestershire, England |
Families
| Spouse | Sibyl de Neufmarché Countess Of Hereford (1096 - ) |
| Child | Bertha de Pitres of Gloucester of Hereford Heiress of Brecon ( - ) |
| Child | Lucy fitz-Miles de Gloucester and Hereford Lady of Blaen (1136 - 1220) |
| Father | Walter fitz-Roger de Pitres Sheriff of Gloucester & Earl of Hereford ( - ) |
| Mother | Emma Berthe de Baalun Countess of Hereford (1067 - ) |
| Sibling | Maud (Matilda) fitz-Walter (1085 - ) |