William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel

William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel
Name	William d'Aubigny
Title	1st Earl of Arundel
Succession	Earl of Arundel
Reign	c. 1138 – 12 October 1176
Predecessor	Title created
Successor	William d'Aubigny, 2nd Earl of Arundel
Spouse	Adeliza of Louvain
Issue	William d'Aubigny, 2nd Earl of Arundel, Reyner, Henry, Geoffrey, Alice, Olivia, Agatha
House	d'Aubigny
Father	William d'Aubigny
Mother	Maud le Bigod
Birth date	c. 1109
Death date	12 October 1176
Burial place	Wymondham Abbey

William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel was a prominent Anglo-Norman magnate and royal official during the tumultuous 12th century. His career spanned the reigns of Henry I, Stephen, and Henry II, during which he rose to become one of the kingdom's most powerful earls. He is chiefly remembered for his steadfast loyalty to King Stephen during the Anarchy and his pivotal marriage to Adeliza of Louvain, the widow of Henry I. His establishment of the Arundel title created a dynastic line that would endure for centuries.

Early life and background

William d'Aubigny was born around 1109, the son of William d'Aubigny and Maud le Bigod. His father held the hereditary office of Pincerna (royal butler) in the court of Henry I, a position of significant trust that involved serving the king’s wine. The d'Aubigny family, of Norman origin, held substantial lands in Norfolk, centered on Old Buckenham and Wymondham. Through his mother, he was connected to the powerful Bigod family, who were later Earls of Norfolk. This familial network placed him within the upper echelons of Anglo-Norman aristocracy from his youth.

Service to Henry I and Stephen

Following in his father's footsteps, William entered the service of King Henry I as a royal butler. His loyalty and capability were rewarded with grants of land and increased responsibility. After Henry's death in 1135, d'Aubigny initially supported the claim of Stephen of Blois to the English throne over that of Empress Matilda. He attended Stephen's Easter court in 1136 and witnessed several of the new king's early charters, indicating his position within the royal circle. His service helped consolidate his standing as a reliable baron during the early, unstable years of Stephen's reign.

Creation as Earl of Arundel

William d'Aubigny's status was transformed around 1138 by his marriage to Adeliza of Louvain, the widowed queen of Henry I. This union brought him the great honor and castle of Arundel in Sussex, a strategically vital coastal fortress. Shortly after the marriage, King Stephen formally created him Earl of Arundel, a title that recognized both his new landed power and his political importance. The marriage also linked him to European royalty, as Adeliza of Louvain was the daughter of Godfrey I, Count of Louvain.

Role in the Anarchy

During the protracted civil war known as the Anarchy, d'Aubigny became a key military supporter of King Stephen. His castle at Arundel was a major point of contention. In 1139, he and Adeliza of Louvain received Empress Matilda there after she landed in England to press her claim, an act that could have been seen as treasonous. However, d'Aubigny negotiated a safe passage for Matilda to leave, allowing him to retain both the castle and Stephen's favor. He fought for Stephen at the Battle of Lincoln in 1141, where the king was captured, but remained a loyal commander throughout the conflict, defending royal interests against the forces of Empress Matilda and Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester.

Later life and death

After the accession of Henry II in 1154, William d'Aubigny successfully transitioned to the new Plantagenet regime. He attended Henry II's court and witnessed royal charters, indicating he retained his status and lands. He devoted his later years to religious patronage, particularly at Wymondham Abbey, a Cluniac priory he and his father had founded, which he elevated to an independent abbey. William d'Aubigny died on 12 October 1176 and was buried at Wymondham Abbey in Norfolk.

Family and legacy

William d'Aubigny's marriage to Adeliza of Louvain produced several children, including his heir, William d'Aubigny, 2nd Earl of Arundel. After Adeliza's death, he remarried, possibly to a member of the Percy family. The earldom of Arundel he established became one of the most ancient and prestigious titles in the Peerage of England. Through the female line, his descendants include the Howard family, who later became Dukes of Norfolk and inherited the Arundel title. His fortifications, including Arundel Castle and Castle Rising, remained significant strongholds, and his patronage left a lasting mark on the ecclesiastical landscape of East Anglia.

Category:1100s births Category:1176 deaths Category:Earls of Arundel Category:Anglo-Normans Category:People of the Anarchy