Henry FitzRoy (born c. 1100–1104, died 1158) was an illegitimate son of Henry I of England, possibly by Princess

Nesta Nesta (formerly NESTA, National Endowment for Science, Technology and the Arts) is an innovation foundation based in the UK. The organisation acts through a combination of programmes, investment, policy and research, and the formation of part ...

, daughter of Rhys ap Tewdwr, last king of Deheubarth (d. 1093), and his wife, Gwladys ferch Rhiwallon ap Cynfyn, and was a grandson of

William the Conqueror William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first House of Normandy, Norman List of English monarchs#House of Norman ...

. He was Lord of Narberth Castle from around 1140 to his death, although it was part of the wider estates of Gilbert de Clare, Earl of Pembroke. Henry FitzRoy held lands from his royal father in Narberth and Pebidiog. Upon his death in battle against the Welsh Prince in 1158, his lands passed to his oldest son, Meilyr, later

Lord Chief Justice of Ireland The Court of King's Bench (or Court of Queen's Bench during the reign of a Queen) was one of the senior courts of common law in Ireland. It was a mirror of the Court of King's Bench in England. The Lord Chief Justice was the most senior judge ...

for his cousin, King Henry II. Amabilis, daughter of Henry FitzRoy, married Walter de Riddlesford. Her husband Walter, along with Amabilis's uncles, her nephews and the Geralds were active in Irish affairs as well as holding large grants of land there. In 1158 Henry FitzRoy led a naval expedition in an attempt to 'assault' the Welsh under

Owain Gwynedd Owain ap Gruffudd ( 23 or 28 November 1170) was King of Gwynedd, North Wales, from 1137 until his death in 1170, succeeding his father Gruffudd ap Cynan. He was called Owain the Great ( cy, Owain Fawr) and the first to be ...

King of Gwynedd Prior to the Conquest of Wales, completed in 1282, Wales consisted of a number of independent kingdoms, the most important being Gwynedd, Powys, Deheubarth (originally Ceredigion, Seisyllwg and Dyfed) and Morgannwg (Glywysing and Gwent). Bou ...

'on both land and sea', on behalf of his Norman nephew, King Henry II.''Welsh Battlefields, Historical Research: Coleshill (1157)''
; Border Archaeology. When FitzRoy's army landed at Ynys Môn, he torched the churches of

Llanbedrgoch Llanbedrgoch () is a hamlet and post town, a mile south of the town of Benllech and west of Red Wharf Bay, on the island of Anglesey ( cy, Ynys Môn), north Wales. The parish church is St Peter's Church, Llanbedrgoch, a Grade II* listed buildi ...

and

Llanfair Mathafarn Eithaf Llanfair-Mathafarn-Eithaf () is a parish and community in Anglesey Anglesey (; cy, (Ynys) Môn ) is an island off the north-west coast of Wales. It forms a principal area known as the Isle of Anglesey, that includes Holy Island across th ...

. During Owain's men gathered together and the next morning fought and defeated the Norman army and killed Henry FitzRoy by a "shower of lances".

References

1100s births 1158 deaths Illegitimate children of Henry I of England Norman warriors 12th-century English nobility Year of birth uncertain English people of Welsh descent People killed in action 12th-century Welsh people Anglo-Normans in Wales Sons of kings {{UK-royal-stub

See also

References