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Birth:          ABT 1022 Beaumont-le-Roger, Normandy
Death:          ABT 1094 Preaux Abbey, Normandy
Burial:         Preaux Abbey, Normandy

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roger_de_Beaumont
Roger de Beaumont (c. 1015 – 29 November 1094), feudal lord (French: seigneur) of 
Beaumont-le-Roger and of Pont-Audemer in Normandy, was a powerful Norman 
nobleman and close advisor to William the Conqueror.
Origins[edit]

He was a son of Humphrey de Vieilles (who was a great-nephew of the Duchess 
Gunnora of Normandy) by his wife Albreda de la Haye Auberie. Roger de Beaumont 
was thus a second cousin once removed of William the Conqueror. His Norman feudal 
lordship had its caput and castle at Beaumont-le-Roger, a settlement situated on the 
upper reaches of the River Risle, in Normandy, about 46 km SW of Rouen, the capital 
of the Duchy. He was also feudal lord of Pont-Audemer, a settlement built around the 
first bridge to cross the River Risle upstream of its estuary, shared with the River 
Seine.

Physical appearance[edit]

Roger was nicknamed La Barbe (Latinised to Barbatus) (i.e. "The Bearded") because 
he wore a moustache and beard while the Normans usually were clean shaven. This 
peculiarity is believed to be recognized in the thirty-second panel of the Bayeux 
Tapestry where he is depicted sitting at a feast near Hastings, well before the battle, 
at the right hand of Duke William, who in turn was seated at the right hand of his 
brother Bishop Odo of Bayeux, who is shown blessing the food at a feast.
Career[edit]

Planché described him as "the noblest, the wealthiest, and the most valiant seigneur 
of Normandy, and the greatest and most trusted friend of the Danish (i.e. Norman) 
family". The explanation for his exalted position appears to be that as an older cousin 
who had never rebelled against the young Duke, he was part of the kinship group of 
noblemen that William relied upon in governing Normandy and fighting-off frequent 
rebellion and invasions. The historian Frank McLynn observed that William relied 
heavily on relatives on his mother's side, namely his half-brothers Bishop Odo and 
Robert, and brothers-in-law, and on relatives descended from the Duchess Gunnora's 
sisters, since his own paternal kin had proved unreliable.

Wace, the 12th century historian, wrote that: "At the time of the invasion of England, 
Roger was summoned to the great council at Lillebonne, on account of his wisdom; 
but he did not join in the expedition as he was too far advanced in years". Although 
Roger could not fight, he did not hesitate in contributing a large share of the cost, and 
provided at his own expense sixty vessels for the conveyance of the troops across the 
channel. Furthermore, his eldest son and heir fought bravely at Hastings as noted in 
several contemporary records. As a result, Roger's elder sons were rewarded 
generously with lands in England, and both eventually were made English earls by the 
sons of the Conqueror. Wace's statement may therefore cast doubt on the possibility 
of Roger being depicted in the Bayeux Tapestry feasting at Hastings. However it is 
possible that he crossed the Channel so he could continue to act as a valued member 
of the Duke's council, perhaps giving advice on military tactics, yet stayed well behind 
the line of battle at headquarters.

Marriage & progeny[edit]

He married circa 1048 or earlier Adeline of Meulan (c. 1014-1020 - 8 April 1081), who 
was buried at the Abbaye du Bec, the daughter of Waleran III, Count de Meulan by 
Oda de Conteville, and sister and heiress of a childless Count of Meulan. Meulan 
eventually passed to their elder son who became Count of Meulan in 1081. Their 
surviving children were:
Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester, Count of Meulan (c.1049-1118), the eldest 
son and heir. He succeeded his father in the major part of his lands, and was one of 
the few proven Companions of William the Conqueror who fought at the Battle of 
Hastings in 1066.
Henry de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Warwick (c.1050-1119). He was overshadowed by his 
elder brother, but was granted by his father one of his lesser lordships in Normandy, 
the lordship of Le Neubourg, about 12 km NE of Beaumont-le-Roger, from which his 
own family adopted the surname Anglicised to "de Newburgh". He established a more 
enduring line of Beaumont earls than his elder brother, Earls of Warwick seated at 
Warwick Castle.
William de Beaumont (not mentioned in most sources).
Alberée de Beaumont (died 1112), Abbess of Eton.

Death & burial[edit]

He was buried at Les Préaux.

Roger de Beaumont in literature[edit]

Roger de Beaumont appears as a minor character (the overlord of the secondary hero) 
in Georgette Heyer's historical novel The Conqueror. His family appears little in the 
book, but reference is made to Roger's wife and daughters and his eldest son.
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jweber&id=I00308

Parents
DE HARCOURT Humphrey (ABT  980 - 28 Sep 1044)
DE LA HAIE Aubreye (ABT  984 - 20 Sep 1045)

Siblings
DE BEAUMONT Roger (ABT 1022 - ABT 1094)

Marriage To DE MEULAN Adeline (Adeliza) (ABT 1014 - 1081)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
BEAUMONT Waleran III (ABT  990 - 1069)
DE CONTEVILLE Oda (ABT  990 - AFT 1022)

Children by DE MEULAN Adeline (Adeliza) ABT 1014 - 1081
DE BEAUMONT Robert (ABT 1046 - 5 Jun 1118)
DE BEAUMONT Henry (ABT 1048 - 20 Jun 1119)

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