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Robert fitz Wimarc (died before 1075,
information at the fitz Wimarc School website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzwimarc, Robert High Sheriffs of Essex 11th-century English people 11th-century deaths Year of birth unknown People from Epping Forest District People from Clavering, Essex 11th-century Normans
Robert fitz Wimarc (died before 1075, Theydon Mount
Theydon Mount is a village and civil parish in the Epping Forest (district), Epping Forest district of the county of Essex, England. The village is notable for the Grade I listed Elizabethan mansion, Hill Hall (Essex), Hill Hall.
History
The na ...
, Ongar, Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...
) was a kinsman of both Edward the Confessor and William of Normandy, and was present at Edward's death bed.
Nothing of his background is known except his kinship to the English and Norman leadership and that his byname appears to contain a Breton female name, Wiomar'ch, apparently the name of his mother. He was brought to England by Edward and had a successful career, being rewarded with numerous lands in various parts of the country. He had a special interest in Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...
and set up his main base at Clavering. It was to Clavering that many of Edward's Norman favourites fled when they were ousted from political power in 1052, before taking ship into exile. Despite being a Norman, Robert stayed in England and found further favour with Edward, and possibly with Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson ( – 14 October 1066), also called Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon English king. Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings, fighting the Norman invaders led by William the ...
after him.
Robert was later made Sheriff of Essex
Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...
and was described as "" – high officer or sometimes staller of the royal palace. When Edward died in January 1066, Robert was one of the four inner councillors present at his death bed, along with the Queen (Edith of Wessex
Edith of Wessex ( 1025 – 18 December 1075) was Queen of England from her marriage to Edward the Confessor in 1045 until Edward died in 1066. Unlike most English queens in the 10th and 11th centuries, she was crowned. The principal source on h ...
), Earl Harold Godwinson
Harold Godwinson ( – 14 October 1066), also called Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon English king. Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings, fighting the Norman invaders led by William the ...
and Archbishop Stigand
Stigand (died 1072) was an Anglo-Saxon churchman in pre-Norman Conquest England who became Archbishop of Canterbury. His birth date is unknown, but by 1020 he was serving as a royal chaplain and advisor. He was named Bishop of Elmham in 10 ...
, an event captured on the Bayeux Tapestry.
Robert seems to have acquiesced with Harold's succession to the throne, but also seems to have kept in touch with his homeland. When William landed at Pevensey
Pevensey ( ) is a village and civil parish in the Wealden district of East Sussex, England. The main village is located north-east of Eastbourne, one mile (1.6 km) inland from Pevensey Bay. The settlement of Pevensey Bay forms part ...
it was Robert who contacted him to advise a retreat back to France. The advice was, apparently, that William had neither the strength nor numbers to win a battle against Harold, particularly as Harold was buoyed by his victory against the Norwegians at Stamford Bridge.
Robert clearly remained in favour with William after his victory at Hastings
Hastings () is a large seaside town and borough in East Sussex on the south coast of England,
east to the county town of Lewes and south east of London. The town gives its name to the Battle of Hastings, which took place to the north-west ...
, and subsequent succession, as he retained his estates, and was further rewarded with others. He left his extensive estates to his son Suen (Swein of Essex), who went on to build Rayleigh Castle.
Robert fitz Wimarc seems to have been a prudent man, with a fair degree of wisdom who helped to ease the transition from Saxon to Norman England.
He is remembered in Rayleigh, Essex
Rayleigh is a market town and civil parish in Essex, England; it is located between Chelmsford and Southend-on-Sea, east of central London. It had a population of 32,150 at the census in 2011.
Toponymy
The name ''Rayleigh'' is Old English in ...
, where one of the town's secondary schools is named the FitzWimarc School.
Sources
* *References
External links
information at the fitz Wimarc School website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Fitzwimarc, Robert High Sheriffs of Essex 11th-century English people 11th-century deaths Year of birth unknown People from Epping Forest District People from Clavering, Essex 11th-century Normans