Arnulf of Montgomery

Arnulf of Montgomery (c. 1068–1118/1122) was an Anglo-Norman aristocrat, who played a role in the history of England, Wales, and Ireland.

Lineage

He was the youngest son of Roger de Montgomerie, 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Mabel of Bellême.

Early career

Around 1090 he along with his elder brother Robert built a castle at Pembroke in West Wales. In 1093 king William II of England rewarded his efforts with the formal lordship of Pembroke; some historians say that he was in fact created Earl of Pembroke. In any case the lordship was smaller than the later Pembrokeshire.

His holdings were greatly expanded in 1096 when Rufus gave him the lordship of Holderness, which in addition to that part of Yorkshire included land in Lincolnshire.

Rebellion & Banishment

It is likely that Arnulf had been designated heir of his brother Hugh of Montgomery, 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury, but after Hugh's death in 1098 Arnulf was outmaneouvered by the eldest brother Robert, who became the 3rd earl of Shrewsbury. This caused some rift between the brothers but nevertheless Robert participated in their rebellion of 1102 against Henry I of England which caused the loss of all their English and Welsh lands, and their banishment from the kingdom of England.

Ireland

Arnulf turned his attention to Ireland, where not long before he had married Lafrocoth, daughter of the Irish king Muircheartach Ua Briain in about the year 1100, and certainly before 1102, when he is mentioned by Muirchertach as his son-in-law in a letter to the Archbishop of Canterbury Anselm of Bec . Muirchertach provided support for Arnulf's rebellion, and as a result King Henry I of England placed a trade embargo on Ireland. It is suggested by Orderic Vitalis that Arnulf went to Ireland after the rebellion failed and served for Muirchertach Ua Briain, although the Irish Annals make no mention of this.

In later years he was in the entourage of count Fulk V of Anjou.

References

*Victoria Chandler, "The Last of the Montgomerys: Roger the Poitevin and Arnulf", "Historical Research", 62 (1989) 1-14