Reginald Fitzurse facts for kids
Sir Reginald FitzUrse (born around 1145, died around 1173) was an English knight who lived a long time ago. He is mostly known as one of four knights involved in the death of Thomas Becket in 1170. His name, "FitzUrse," comes from old French words. "Fitz" means "son of," and "urse" means "bear." This suggests his family might have used a bear as their special symbol. Even though it was before the time when family symbols (called heraldry) became common, his shield showed a bear. You can see this bear symbol in old drawings of the event.
Early Life of Reginald FitzUrse
Reginald FitzUrse was the oldest son of Richard FitzUrse. When his father passed away around 1168, Reginald received land and property, including a large estate called a manor in Williton, Somerset. He also owned land in other parts of England, like Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Barham, Kent. Barham was located between the important cities of Canterbury and Dover. For a while, he lived at a place called Barham Court. Reginald FitzUrse was an important knight who served in the household of King Henry II.
The Attack on Thomas Becket
In December 1170, Reginald FitzUrse was with King Henry II in Normandy, France. The King was very angry about something Thomas Becket had done. FitzUrse and three other knights – Hugh de Moreville, William de Tracy, and Richard le Breton – decided to take action. They traveled across the English Channel separately and met up at Saltwood Castle in Kent to plan what they would do.
On December 29, 1170, the four knights went to the Canterbury Cathedral. They wore their armor and carried swords. They were determined to either capture Becket or kill him. FitzUrse seemed to be the leader. He struck the first blow, though it was not the one that killed Becket. The other knights then attacked until Becket was dead. People across Europe were shocked and very upset by this event. King Henry II publicly showed he was sorry and performed acts of penance.
What Happened Next
After the attack, the four knights first escaped to Scotland. From there, they went to Hugh de Moreville's Knaresborough Castle, where they stayed for about a year. Pope Alexander III officially removed them from the Christian church (this is called excommunication) on Easter Day. He ordered them to go on a long pilgrimage to the Holy Land and stay there for 14 years. It is believed that none of the knights ever returned to England.
There is a legend that says FitzUrse went to Ireland. Some stories suggest he became the ancestor of the McMahon clan there. To avoid trouble, FitzUrse's relatives who stayed in England changed their family name. They started calling themselves 'de Bereham,' which meant "of Barham," after their home. Over time, this name changed and became simply Barham.
