Henry d'Essex
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Henry of Essex (died c. 1170) was a Norman noble who held the manor of Raleigh in Essex, Haughley (by right of his 2nd wife), and the offices of Constable of England and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports during the reigns of Kings Stephen and Henry II.
Henry was the son and heir of Robert fitz Swein of Essex and grandson of Swein, who constructed Raleigh castle.
His influence at court waned after he dropped the royal standard in a Welsh ambush during Henry II's campaign into Wales. At the Easter court of 1163, Henry was accused of treason for that act by a claimant to the Montfort estate and the two men fought a judicial duel. Henry's body was carried senseless from the site of the 'trial by battle' by monks of nearby Reading Abbey, but he revived and there took the cowl. As a convicted traitor, however, his estates and offices were forfeit.
Henry d'Essex is thought to have died the same year as Becket, in 1170 (Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton 2001).
Henry of Essex is mentioned in the Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond. The monk details Henry's trial by battle with Robert de Montfort (relation to Henry) in 1163 on an island in the River Thames at Reading. Jocelin notes that it was Roger de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford who took up Henry II's standard to prevent defeat in that battle. In Reading today, there are two roads, named De Montfort Road and De Bohun Road after the protagonists.
[edit] Arms of Henry of Essex
"Arms, Argent, an Orle Gules. Eodem anno, as in Madox's Exch. p.685 John de Bidun."
[edit] Family
"Gunnor de Essex was the daughter of Henry de Essex by Cecilia de Valognes. Agnes de Valognes had settled land on Gunnora, her grand daughter, in Cambridgeshire to provide for her, following the confiscation of de Essex family estates." ¹ Around Historic Kent; Malcolm John.
His daughter Agnes of Essex, by his second marriage, was betrothed to Geoffrey de Vere, brother of the first earl of Oxford, but later married Aubrey III de Vere, first earl of Oxford, as his third wife.
[edit] External links
| Preceded by Unknown |
Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports 1150–1154 |
Succeeded by Unknown |
