Baldwin de Redvers, 1st Earl of Devon facts for kids
Baldwin de Redvers, 1st Earl of Devon (died 4 June 1155), was a powerful landowner from Plympton in Devon, England. He was the son of Richard de Redvers and his wife Adeline Peverel.
Baldwin was one of the first important nobles to rebel against King Stephen. He was also the only major leader who never accepted Stephen as the new king. Baldwin took control of Exeter and used his base at Carisbrooke to attack ships. However, he was forced to leave England and went to Anjou. There, he joined Empress Matilda, who was also fighting for the English throne. After Empress Matilda gained some power in England, she made Baldwin the Earl of Devon, likely in early 1141.
He helped start several religious communities called monasteries. These included Quarr Abbey (in 1131) on the Isle of Wight, a priory (a smaller monastery) at Breamore in Hampshire, and the Priory of St James in Exeter. Some old church records say his father was also Earl of Devon, but no records from that time use that title for his father.
His Family
Baldwin de Redvers first married Adelize de Baalun, who passed away around 1146. They had several children together:
- Richard de Redvers, 2nd Earl of Devon. He married Denise de Dunstanville.
- Henry de Redvers
- William de Redvers, 5th Earl of Devon. He married Mabel de Beaumont.
- Matilda de Redvers, who married Anschetil de Greye.
- Maud de Redvers, who married Ralph de Avenel.
- Alice de Redvers, who married Roger II de Nonant.
- Hawise de Redvers, who married Robert FitzRobert by 1147. Robert was a son of Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester.
- Eva de Redvers, who married Robert d' Oyly.
Between 1151 and his death in 1155, Baldwin married Lucy de Clare. Lucy was the sister of Gilbert de Clare.
You might also see the name de Redvers written as de Reviers or Revières.
