Eustace fitz John facts for kids

Eustace fitz John (died 1157) was an important and powerful noble in northern England. He lived during the time of three kings: Henry I, Stephen, and Henry II. Eustace started from a fairly normal background in southeast England.

He became successful by working for King Henry I. The king helped him gain power through marriage and important jobs. Eustace became one of the most important people in northern England. He gained a lot of land and controlled Bamburgh Castle. He also worked with Walter Espec as a top judge, or justiciar, for the North.

After King Henry I died in 1135, England faced a civil war called the Anarchy. This was a fight between King Stephen and Henry I's daughter, Empress Matilda. Matilda's uncle, King David of Scotland, supported her. Eustace got involved in this war.

He temporarily gave up Alnwick Castle and Malton Castle to King David. King Stephen took Bamburgh Castle from him. Eustace then supported King David. He fought in the Battle of the Standard in 1138, where his side lost. However, he managed to keep most of his lands in the north.

Around 1144, Eustace became a main supporter of Ranulf II, Earl of Chester. This friendship helped him gain even more land. Eustace later founded three religious communities. He died in 1157 while fighting in a campaign with King Henry II.

Eustace's Early Life and Rise to Power

Eustace's family came from the southeast part of England. His father, John fitzRichard, owned land in Essex and Norfolk. The family was not from the highest noble ranks but was well-respected. Eustace had two sisters, Agnes and Alice, and two brothers, Pain and William. Pain was likely the oldest and also had a very successful career.

Eustace probably didn't inherit much land from his father. Instead, he became successful by serving the king. He started appearing in royal documents, called charters, around 1119. He might have been at King Henry I's court even earlier, in 1114.

King Henry I helped Eustace marry two women who were heiresses. This meant they would inherit land and wealth. His first marriage was to Beatrix de Vesci. She was the daughter and only heir of Ivo de Vesci. This marriage gave Eustace control of Alnwick Castle and the lands around Alnwick in Northumberland.

He also likely received land in Lincolnshire and Yorkshire. This marriage happened before 1130. His second marriage was to Agnes, daughter of William fitz Nigel. William was the constable (a high-ranking officer) of Chester. This marriage, also before 1130, brought Eustace more land in Yorkshire and Northamptonshire.

These lands were held from the earl of Chester. Eustace also gained control of many other smaller landholdings. These were from different lords, including the Archbishop of York. He also held lands directly from the king at Aldborough, Tickhill, and Knaresborough.

Eustace became a key figure in King Henry I's plans for northern England. The king wanted to reorganize society after the old earldom (a large area ruled by an earl) of Northumbria was broken up. Historians say Eustace was one of the "three mainstays" of the king's new plan in the North. The other two were Walter Espec and King David of Scotland.

In Northumberland, Eustace had authority over at least ten local nobles. His lands around Alnwick were very large. They were located along the routes where Scottish armies might invade. By 1166, his lands were nearly three times the size of an average lordship in the area.

A financial record from 1129–30 shows Eustace working as a justiciar (a royal judge) of the north with Walter Espec. He was also in charge of Bamburgh Castle. This record shows that Eustace and Walter Espec were responsible for several counties. They heard legal cases and delivered royal instructions.

England's Big Fight: The Anarchy

King Henry I died on December 1, 1135. Stephen de Blois became the new king, and Eustace swore loyalty to him. However, Henry I's daughter, Empress Matilda, believed she should be queen. This led to a civil war known as the Anarchy.

Some close friends of Henry I were against Stephen from the start. Eustace's brother, Pain, was one of them. It's possible Eustace also secretly supported Matilda. But like many others, he swore loyalty to Stephen. This allowed him to keep his lands and positions.

Matilda was supported by her uncle, King David of Scotland. David did not accept Stephen as king. This put Eustace on the front line of a new war. When David invaded northern England, Eustace's Alnwick Castle was captured. It was returned a month later.

King Stephen took control of Bamburgh Castle from Eustace in 1138. Some people think Eustace joined David's side by late 1137. However, there is no clear proof of this.

After David invaded Northumberland again in April 1138, Eustace became an active supporter. During David's siege of Wark Castle, Eustace tried to convince him to attack Bamburgh Castle instead. Eustace had known the Scottish king for a long time. His name appears on a document from 1124 related to King David.

Eustace fought for King David at the Battle of the Standard in August 1138. He fought in the second line with men from Cumbria and Teviotdale. David's side lost the battle. Eustace was wounded and fled to Alnwick. His castle at Malton was captured soon after.

Despite the defeat, the peace agreement the next year brought King David a victory. His son, Henry, became Earl of Northumbria. Under Earl Henry's rule, Eustace got back many of his lands in Northumberland. He also received other lands in the earldom of Huntingdon.

Around 1144, Eustace formed a helpful relationship with Ranulf II, Earl of Chester. Eustace was married to the sister of Ranulf's constable, William fitz William. When William died without children, Eustace's wife became a joint heiress to William's lands.

In 1144 or 1145, Eustace gained a large amount of land from Ranulf. These lands were mostly in Cheshire, Lancashire, and Yorkshire. He also became the constable of Chester and a chief advisor to Earl Ranulf. This support also helped Eustace gain more land from Roger de Mowbray.

Eustace's position during the civil war likely matched Ranulf's. Relations with King Stephen probably didn't become stable until 1153. In 1154, Eustace signed a document for King Stephen in York.

His Final Years and Lasting Impact

Eustace had a good relationship with Stephen's successor, Henry II. King Henry II seemed to consider Eustace one of his supporters. Henry confirmed Eustace's gifts to his son, William de Vescy. He also recognized William's right to inherit his father's lands.

After Henry II became king in 1154, Eustace signed the new king's documents. Eustace died in July 1157 at the Battle of Ewloe in Flintshire, Wales. He was on a military campaign with King Henry II against the Welsh. Eustace was ambushed and killed during the battle.

Eustace fitz John was known for supporting religious communities. He helped Gloucester Abbey, a Benedictine monastery. He also supported the Augustinian Priory of Bridlington. In 1147, he founded his own abbey, Alnwick Abbey. It was a daughter-house of England's first Premonstratensian monastery.

Two years later, Eustace supported the Gilbertine order. In 1150, he founded a Gilbertine priory (a small monastery) at Malton in Yorkshire. He also founded another priory with a nunnery at Watton around the same time. Later stories said Eustace founded these places to make up for fighting with the Scots. However, there is no old evidence for this.

He founded Watton jointly with a William Fossard. Eustace's support for the Gilbertines was probably influenced by William, Earl of York. Eustace's name also appears on coins made in York.

Some historical sources say Eustace had only one eye. However, this is likely a mistake. It was probably a reference to his father, John "Monoculus" FitzRichard, whose nickname meant "one-eye."

Eustace's Family Life

Eustace fitz John was married twice. His first wife was Beatrix de Vesci. She was the daughter and heiress of Ivo de Vesci. They had one known son:

• William de Vesci (died 1184). He married Burga, daughter of Robert III de Stuteville. They had children. William became the sheriff (a royal official) of Northumberland. He was the ancestor of the de Vescy family in Northumberland.

Beatrix is said to have died during childbirth.

Eustace's second wife was Agnes de Halton, daughter of William fitz Nigel. Through this marriage, he inherited the barony of Halton. They had two known sons:

• Richard fitz Eustace (died around 1163). He married Aubrey de Lisours. They had children. He became the ancestor of a second line of the de Lacy family.
• Geoffrey fitz Eustace. He is named as Eustace's son in a document for Watton Priory.