Ivo Taillebois facts for kids
Ivo Taillebois (died 1094) was a powerful Norman nobleman in 11th-century England. He was also a sheriff, which was like a chief local official, and a tenant-in-chief, meaning he held land directly from the king.
Early Life and Role as Sheriff
Ivo Taillebois was a Norman, likely from a place called Taillebois in France. He had two brothers, Robert and Ralph. His brother Ralph was a sheriff in Bedfordshire. Ivo took over as sheriff after Ralph passed away around 1086.
Ivo's main area of influence was in Lincolnshire, England. He probably became the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire before 1068. Sheriffs were important officials who helped the king manage local areas. They collected taxes and kept order.
Service to the King
Ivo Taillebois was a trusted supporter of King William I. In 1071, King William, with Ivo leading part of his army, surrounded the Isle of Ely. This was where a rebel leader named Hereward the Wake was hiding. Hereward managed to escape during the attack, but he was later caught and put in prison. Ivo advised King William not to let Hereward go free.
Ivo also served King William II, who was William the Conqueror's son. He was given more lands by King William II, including areas in Cumbria near the Scottish border. He also received the Barony of Kendal, which was a large part of Westmorland.
Land and Wealth
Ivo Taillebois became very wealthy and powerful. He married a woman named Lucy. Through her, he gained control of a large area of land called the honor of Bolingbroke in Lincolnshire.
The Domesday Book, a famous record of land ownership from 1086, shows that Ivo held many lands directly from the king. This made him a very important landowner.
Family Connections
Ivo Taillebois had a daughter named Beatrix. She was his only known child. Sadly, she passed away before her father.
After Ivo died, his widow Lucy married two more times. First, she married Roger FitzGerold, and they had a son named William de Roumare, Earl of Lincoln. Later, Lucy married Ranulf Meschin, 3rd Earl of Chester, and they had four children, including Ranulf de Gernon, 4th Earl of Chester. Lucy's marriages connected her to other powerful families in England.
