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Birth:          ABT 1115 of Bramber, Sussex, England
Death:          ABT 1192 England

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_de_Braose,_3rd_Lord_of_Bramber
William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber (fl. 1135–1179) was a 12th-century Marcher 
lord who secured a foundation for the dominant position later held by the Braose family 
in the Welsh Marches. In addition to the family's English holdings in Sussex and 
Devon, William had inherited Radnor and Builth, in Wales, from his father Philip. By 
his marriage he increased the Braose Welsh holdings to include Brecon and 
Abergavenny.

William remained loyal to King Stephen during the 12th-century period of civil war. He 
became a trusted royal servant during the subsequent reign of Henry II, accompanying 
the king on campaigns in France and Ireland. He served as sheriff of Herefordshire 
from 1173 until 1175. The family's power reached its peak under his son William during 
the reigns of King Richard I and King John.
Lands and family[edit]

William was the eldest son of Philip de Braose, lord of Bramber.[1] His mother was 
Aenor, daughter of Juhel of Totnes.[1] He was the third in the line of the Anglo-
Norman Braose family founded by his grandfather, the first William de Braose.[1] After 
his father died in the 1130s William inherited lordships, land and castles in Sussex, 
with his caput at Bramber. He also held Totnes in Devon and Radnor and Builth in the 
Welsh Marches.[2] He confirmed the grants of his father and grandfather to the abbey 
of St Florent in Anjou and made further grants to the abbey's dependent priory at Sele 
in Sussex.[3] In about 1155, he also inherited through his mother's family one half of 
the honour of Barnstaple in Devon, paying a fee of 1000 marks for the privilege.[2] 
William became an internationally recognised figure. When Archbishop Theobald of 
Canterbury was asked by Pope Adrian IV to inquire into the background of a certain 
Walter, canon of St Ruf, his reply, dated to 1154/9 read:

The facts which you demand need but little enquiry; for they shine so brightly in 
themselves that they cannot be hid; so great is the brilliance of his noble birth and the 
glory of all his kin. For Walter, as we know for a fact, was the son of a distinguished 
knight and born of a noble mother in lawful wedlock, and he is closely related by 
blood to the noble William de Braose.[4]

William had married Bertha, daughter of Miles of Gloucester and Sibyl de Neufmarché, 
by 1150.[1] When each of Bertha's four brothers (Walter de Hereford, Henry FitzMiles 
(or Henry de Hereford), Mahel de Hereford and William de Hereford) died leaving no 
issue, William's marriage became unexpectedly valuable. He gained control of the 
lordships of Brecon and Abergavenny after 1166 when the last brother died.[1] These 
additional land holdings greatly expanded the territorial power and income of the 
Braose family. They now held a vast block of territory in the Welsh Marches as well as 
their extensive interests in Sussex and Devon. William's daughters were able to make 
good marriages, notably Sibyl to William de Ferrers, Earl of Derby.[5] Maud was 
married to John de Brompton of Shropshire.[6] William's son and heir, another William 
de Braose, became a major player in national politics under King John.[7]

Royal service[edit]

Empress Maud, the only legitimate living child of Henry I, landed in England in 1139 in 
an attempt to press her claim to the monarchy. She was soon besieged by King 
Stephen's forces at Arundel castle. Stephen allowed Maud a safe conduct to Bristol 
and provided her with an escort, which included William de Braose,[8] suggesting that 
he was an adherent of King Stephen. William was present as a witness when three 
charters were issued by Stephen at Lewes dated to the years 1148–53,[9] therefore it 
appears that he remained loyal to the king until the Treaty of Wallingford ended the 
hostilities.

William was in Sussex in 1153,[nb 1] but he followed Duke Henry, soon to become 
King Henry II, to Normandy in 1154.[nb 2] William was frequently with the new king. 
He was one of the military leaders who supported Henry at Rhuddlan in 1157.[12] He 
witnessed one of the king's charters at Romsey in 1158,[13] and he is recorded at the 
king's court in Wiltshire in 1164 when the Constitutions of Clarendon were enacted.
[14] He accompanied the king on expedition to France, witnessing at Leons[nb 3] in 
1161 and Chinon in 1162. William is also documented on the Irish campaign at Dublin 
in 1171 and Wexford 1172.[15] William's younger brother, Philip, also accompanied 
the king to Ireland, and remained with the garrison at Wexford. In 1177 Philip was 
granted the kingdom of Limerick by Henry but failed to take possession after the 
citizens set fire to the town.[16]

When Henry was facing war with his sons in 1173, William was appointed as sheriff of 
Herefordshire at Easter. He maintained the King's interests in Herefordshire until 
1175.[1]

Later life and death[edit]

King Henry withdrew his favour from the family after William's son organised the 
murder of Seisyll ap Dyfnwal and other Welsh princes at Abergavenny in 1176.[17] 
There is little subsequent record of William in public life, and it is likely that he retired 
to his estates in Sussex. William died after 1179 and was succeeded by his son, 
William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber,[1] who gained the favour of both King 
Richard I and King John and became a dominant force in the Welsh Marches during 
their reigns.[18]

Parents
DE BRAOSE Philip (ABT 1070 - ABT 1134)
DE TOTNES Aenor (ABT 1095 - BEF 1139)

Siblings
DE BRAOSE Maud (ABT 1112 - BEF 20 Mar 1200)
DE BRAOSE William (ABT 1115 - ABT 1192)

Marriage To DE GLOUCESTER Bertha (ABT 1130 - )
    m.  

Notes

Parents
OF GLOUCESTER Miles (ABT 1092 - 24 Dec 1143)
DE NEUFMARCHE Sybil (ABT 1100 - 1143)

Children by DE GLOUCESTER Bertha ABT 1130 - 
DE BRAOSE Maude (ABT 1146 - )
DE BRAOSE Sybil (ABT 1147 - AFT 5 Feb 1228)
DE BRAOSE Bertha (1151 - )
DE BRAOSE William (ABT 1153 - 9 Aug 1211)

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