Alan FitzFlaad

Alan FitzFlaad (d. after 1114 [ Round, J. Horace, "Studies in Peerage and Family History", London, 1901, pps: 129 - 131] ) was a Breton knight who held the feudal barony and castle of Oswestry in Shropshire. [ Burke, Messrs., John and John Bernard, "The Royal Families of England, Scotland, and Wales, and Their Descendants" &c., volume 2, London, 1851, p. xl.] [ Cockayne, G. E., edited by the Hon., Vicary Gibbs & H. A. Doubleday, "The Complete Peerage", London, 1926, vol.v., p.391] [ Chalmers "Caledonia", Edinburgh, 1807, vol.I, pp: 572-575] His duties as a "valiant and illustrious man" [ Round (1901) p.126, citing a Marmoutier charter of 1130.] included supervision of the Welsh border. [ Ritchie, R. L. Graeme, "The Normans in Scotland", Edinburgh University Press, 1954, p.280-1]

Family

Alan of Oswestry was said to be a son of Walter FitzFlaald of Brittany [ Simpson, David, "The Genealogical and Chronological History of the Stuarts", Edinburgh, 1713, p.22] - making him Alan FitzWalter, not FitzFlaad, but a Walter is not featured in this genealogical gap elsewhere [ Mackenzie's "The Rise of the Stewarts" or "Burkes" (above)] and this is incorrect. [ See also: Round (1901), pps: 116 - 130]

Alan was the son of Flaad, who was in turn a son [ Round (1901) p.122, speculates he may be possibly a brother, with their father also being Alain, and another "dapifer".] of an Alain who had been the crusader (in 1097 [ Round (1901) p.122] ) who was "Dapifer" to the Archbishop of Dol, which is situated near Mont-Saint-Michel. "Alan, dapifer" is found as a witness in 1086 to a charter relating to Mezuoit, a cell of St. Florent, near Dol. [ Round (1901) p.122]

England

Flaad and his son Alan had come to the favourable notice of King Henry I of England who, soon after his accession, invited Alan to England with other Breton friends, and gave him forfeited lands in Norfolk and Shropshire, including some which had previously belonged to Ernulf de Hesdin and Robert de Belleme. [ Ritchie (1954) p.280-1]

Relgious notices

"Flaad filius Alani dapiferi" was present at the dedication of Monmouth Priory in 1101/2, and his son Alan was a witness to two charters of Henry I confirming the foundation of Holy Trinity Priory, York, as a cell of Marmountier. Alan also founded Sporle Priory on land he held in Norfolk (probably at Sharrington), as another cell of St. Florent. [ Ritchie (1954) p.280-1] [ Round (1901) pps:120, 123, and 127]

Marriage

Alan FitzFlaad married Ada (or Avelina), daughter of Ernoulf de Hesdin (killed on crusade at Antioch). [ Round (1901) pps: 116 and 123] [ Ritchie (1954) p.98n] Their issue was:

* William, eldest son (d. 1160), made High Sheriff of Shropshire by King Stephen of England in 1137. He married a niece of Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester. [ Ritchie (1954) p.281] His son William (d. c1210) acquired by marriage the Lordship of Clun and he became designated "Lord of Clun and Oswestry". [ Cockayne "et al" (1926), vol.v, p.392] William is ancestor of the FitzAlan Earls of Arundel. [ Round (1901) p.125]
* Walter Fitzalan, second son, became 1st hereditary High Steward of Scotland. [ Ritchie (1954) p.281]
* Simon Fitzalan, who also went to Scotland and witnessed his brother's Foundation Charter of Paisley Abbey. [ Ritchie (1954) p.348n] Round suggests he may have been either a uterine or even a bastard brother. [ Round (1901) p.125/6n]
*Jordan Fitzalan, of Burton, who inherited lands in Brittany, and restored to the Priory of St. Florent at Sele, West Sussex, the mill at Burton given it by his father. [ Round (1901) p.126]

Notes