- William de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex
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- This page refers to the 12th-century 3rd Earl of the first creation. For the 13th-century 3rd Earl of the second creation see William FitzGeoffrey de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex.
William de Mandeville III Chief Justiciar of England In office
1189 – 14 November 1189Monarch Richard I Preceded by Ranulf de Glanvill Succeeded by Hugh de Puiset Personal details Died 14 November 1189 Spouse(s) Hawise, countess of Aumale Children none Occupation Earl of Essex
Count of AumaleProfession Noble William de Mandeville, 3rd Earl of Essex (1st Creation) (died 14 November 1189) was a loyal councilor of Henry II and Richard I of England.
He was the second son of Geoffrey de Mandeville, 1st Earl of Essex and Rohese de Vere, Countess of Essex. After his father's death while in rebellion (1144), William grew up at the court of the Count of Flanders. On the death of his elder brother Geoffrey in 1166, he became Earl of Essex and returned to England, where he spent much time at the court of Henry II. He stayed loyal to the king during the Revolt of 1173–1174 known as the Revolt of the Young King.
In 1177 he became a crusader, in company with a companion of his youth, Count Philip of Flanders. Philip attempted to intervene in the court politics of the Kingdom of Jerusalem but was rebuffed, and the two fought for the Principality of Antioch at the siege of Harim. William returned to England in the fall of 1178.
In 1180 he married Hawise, daughter and heiress of William, Count of Aumale, who had died the previous year. He gained possession of her lands, both in Normandy and in England, along with the title of Count of Aumale (or Earl of Albemarle as it is sometimes called).
William fought in the wars against the French toward the end of Henry II's reign, and was at the deathbed of that king in 1189. He carried the crown at the coronation of Richard I and held the favor of the new king. Richard I appointed him one of the two chief justiciars of England.[1] But William died at Rouen a few months later on a mission to Normandy, without issue. He was buried at Mortemar Abbey in Normandy, founded by his Mandeville ancestors.[2]
He was initially succeeded by his elderly aunt, Beatrice de Say, née Mandeville, who passed her claim to her surviving son, Geoffrey de Say. Geoffrey contracted to pay an unprecedentedly large relief for the Mandeville inheritance, but he rapidly fell into arrears. Geoffrey Fitz Peter, the husband of Beatrice's granddaughter and namesake, Beatrice de Say, was a prominent man at court and used his position to push his wife's claim. She was the eldest daughter of Geoffrey de Say's elder brother. Eventually the estates and, later, the earldom, went to Geoffrey Fitz Peter by right of his wife.
Notes
References
- Powicke, F. Maurice and E. B. Fryde Handbook of British Chronology 2nd. ed. London:Royal Historical Society 1961
Political offices Preceded by
Ranulf de GlanvillChief Justiciar
shared with Hugh de Puiset
1189Succeeded by
Hugh de PuisetPeerage of England Preceded by
Geoffrey de Mandeville IIEarl of Essex
1166–1189Succeeded by
ExtinctPreceded by
HawiseCount of Aumale
with Hawise
1180–1189Succeeded by
HawiseCategories:- 12th-century births
- 1189 deaths
- Anglo-Normans
- Earls in the Peerage of England
- Christians of the Crusades
- Justiciars of England
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