Miles of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford facts for kids
Miles FitzWalter of Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford (died 24 December 1143), also known as Miles of Gloucester, was a very powerful lord in western England. He held important positions like the King's Constable (a top military leader) and Sheriff of Gloucestershire (a royal official in charge of a county).
Miles gained a lot of land. He inherited huge areas in Wales from his wife, Sibyl de Neufmarché. Her father had conquered a small kingdom in South Wales called Brycheiniog, which became the Lordship of Brecknock. Miles also inherited lands in Gloucestershire from his own father. On top of that, he gained more land himself, including the large Lordship of Abergavenny in South Wales, and St Briavel's Castle with the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire. All these lands together formed his "Barony of Miles of Gloucester."
After Miles died, his lands were divided among his three daughters. One part went to the de Bohun family, who later became Earls of Hereford again in 1200. Another part went to the de Braose family, who got the Lordships of Brecon and Abergavenny. The last part went to the FitzHerbert family.
In 1136, Miles started Llanthony Secunda Priory, a religious house near Gloucester Castle. He and many of his family members were buried there. Some people, like John of Salisbury, even called him a "public enemy" because of his actions during a time of war in England.
Contents
Who Was Miles of Gloucester?
Miles was the son and heir of Walter of Gloucester, who died in 1129. Walter was also the Sheriff of Gloucestershire and the Castellan (commander) of Gloucester Castle. Walter was likely the King's Constable under King Henry I (who ruled from 1100 to 1135). He was described as a "great and powerful man." Miles's mother was named Berta. King Henry I liked Walter and gave him special charters.
Walter's father was Roger de Pitres, who was Sheriff of Gloucestershire around 1071. Roger's brother, Durand of Gloucester, later became Sheriff and made Walter his heir.
Miles's Important Life
In early 1121, Miles married Sibyl de Neufmarché. She was the daughter and heir of Bernard de Neufmarché, who had conquered Brycheiniog. This marriage brought Miles control over her father's lands, including the new Lordship of Brecknock. By 1130, Miles had taken over his father's role as Sheriff of Gloucestershire.
Miles held many important jobs. He was Sheriff of Gloucestershire and Staffordshire, and also a judge for royal courts and forests. He was also granted his father's important role as the King's Constable. Along with Pain fitzJohn, another powerful sheriff, Miles controlled the entire Welsh border region.
When King Stephen became king, he wanted Miles and Pain to support him. They eventually agreed to serve him after getting a safe conduct and everything they asked for. Miles attended the King's court in 1136 as one of the royal constables. He was then sent to help the widow of Richard fitz Gilbert de Clare, who was trapped in her castle by the Welsh. Miles successfully rescued her.
In 1136, Miles also arranged for his son and heir, Roger, to marry Cecily, who inherited most of her father's lands. In the same year, Miles moved the Augustinian canons from Llanthony Priory in Monmouthshire to a new site near Gloucester, which they called Llanthony Secunda.
In 1138, Miles hosted King Stephen at Gloucester. Although some say he stopped supporting Stephen a few weeks later, he was with the King at the siege of Shrewsbury in August 1138. Miles did not fully switch sides until 1139.
In February 1139, King Stephen gave Gloucester Abbey to Miles's relative, Gilbert Foliot, at Miles's request. However, in the summer of 1139, Miles joined his lord, Robert, Earl of Gloucester, in inviting Empress Matilda to England. When she arrived, Miles met her, welcomed her to Gloucester, and became her strong supporter. Matilda immediately gave him St. Briavels Castle and the Forest of Dean.
Miles's first action for Matilda was to help Brian Fitz Count, who was trapped in Wallingford Castle. In November 1139, Miles attacked and burned Worcester. He also captured the castles of Winchcombe, Cerne, and Hereford. Because of this, King Stephen removed Miles from his position as Constable.
Miles played a key role in the victory at Lincoln on February 2, 1141. After the Empress Matilda won, Miles joined her as she traveled. He was one of her three main followers when she entered Winchester. He was also with her when she moved towards London. When they reached St. Albans, Matilda gave him a house in Westminster. He fled with her from London shortly after. When they reached Gloucester, Miles advised her to return to Oxford. There, on July 25, 1141, Matilda gave him the town and castle of Hereford and made him the Earl of Hereford. She also gave him the forests of Hay of Hereford and Trinela, thanking him for his loyal service. Even his enemies agreed that he was very devoted to Matilda. He even boasted that she had lived at his expense during her time in England.
As "Earl Miles," he went with Matilda to Winchester. During the defeat of her forces on September 14, 1141, he escaped to Gloucester. He arrived "exhausted, alone, and with scarcely a rag to his back." Towards the end of that year, he was in Bristol, making a gift to Llanthony Priory with Empress Matilda and Robert, Earl of Gloucester, present. In 1142, charters show he was with the Empress at Oxford. He also received her permission to hold Abergavenny Castle from Brian Fitz Count. Around this time, he made a formal agreement with the Earl of Gloucester and gave his son Mahel as a hostage.
In 1143, Miles needed money to pay his soldiers. He demanded large sums from church lands. Robert de Bethune, the Bishop of Hereford, refused his demands. When Miles invaded the Bishop's lands, the Bishop excommunicated Miles and his followers, and placed the diocese under interdict (a ban on church services). Miles's relative, Gilbert Foliot (Abbot of Gloucester), appealed to the church leader on Miles's behalf against the bishop's harshness.
Death and Burial
On Christmas Eve in 1143, Miles was killed while hunting. A stray arrow shot at a deer hit him. After his death, a disagreement arose over where to bury him. The canons of Llanthony Secunda, the religious house he founded, and the monks of Gloucester both wanted his body. The case was heard by several bishops, and they reached a compromise on December 28. Miles was then buried in the chapter house at Llanthony.
Who Inherited Miles's Lands?
Miles was succeeded by his oldest son, Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford. Roger died without children twelve years later in 1155, and the Earldom of Hereford title ended. The sheriff duties for Hereford and Gloucester went to his younger brother, Walter de Hereford. After Walter and two other brothers died without children, the family's lands passed to their sisters and their children.
- Bertha of Hereford married William de Braose. Through her, Abergavenny went to the de Braose family.
- Margaret of Hereford, the oldest sister, received most of the inheritance. She married Humphrey II de Bohun. Her grandson, Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford (1176-1220), was made Earl of Hereford and Constable of England in 1199, continuing Miles's legacy.
- Lucy of Gloucester received Blaen Llyfni and the Forest of Dean. She married Herbert FitzHerbert.
Family Life
In 1121, Miles married Sibyl de Neufmarché. She was the daughter and heir of Bernard de Neufmarché (died 1125), Lord of Brecon. Sibyl's mother was Agnes or Nest, who was the daughter of Gruffydd ap Llywelyn, a King of Wales.
Miles and Sibyl had several children:
Sons
- Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford (died 1155), the oldest son and heir. He was also the hereditary Sheriff of Gloucestershire.
- Walter de Hereford (died after 1159). He inherited from his older brother Roger. He was Sheriff of Gloucestershire from 1155–1157 and Sheriff of Herefordshire from 1155–1159. He died in the Holy Land.
- Henry of Hereford (died April 12, 1165). He became Lord of Abergavenny in 1141 or 1142.
- William de Hereford. He died before 1160 without children.
- Mahel de Hereford (died October 1165). He was the fourth son. He died at Bronllys Castle, Wales, from injuries caused by a stone falling from a tower during a fire. He had no children and was buried at Llanthony Secunda Priory.
Daughters
Miles and Sibyl also had three daughters who eventually shared his lands:
- Margaret of Hereford: She inherited a large part of her brothers' lands, including the lands around Haresfield in Gloucestershire. She also inherited the right to support Llanthony Secunda Priory, where many of her descendants were buried. She married Humphrey II de Bohun. Her grandson, Henry de Bohun, 1st Earl of Hereford, became Earl of Hereford and Constable of England in 1199.
- Bertha of Hereford: She inherited the Lordships of Brecon and Abergavenny. She married William de Braose.
- Lucy of Gloucester: She inherited Blaen Llyfni and the Forest of Dean. She married Herbert FitzHerbert, and they had children. She was buried at Llanthony Priory.
Images for kids
-
This 1815 map of Gloucester shows the County Gaol where Gloucester Castle once stood. Miles of Gloucester lived there as the royal constable. The castle was torn down in 1787. At the bottom left, about half a mile away, are the remains of Llanthony Secunda Priory, which Miles founded and where he was buried.
.jpg)
