Robert de Romille facts for kids
Robert de Romille was a brave adventurer from Brittany, a region in France. He joined the Normans when they conquered Britain. After 1086, King William I gave him control of the lands around Bolton Abbey. Robert built the first Skipton Castle in 1090. This castle helped protect the area from attacks by Malcolm III of Scotland. Later, in 1102, King Henry I gave Robert even more land. His family line eventually ended, but many people today are related to him through his daughters.
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Robert's Background
It's not fully clear where Robert de Romille came from. Some old stories say his family was important in both Brittany and Normandy, parts of France. There's a town called Romillé in Brittany that might be where his family started. Another idea is that he was from a place called Remilly-sur-Lozon in Normandy.
Lands and Castles
How Robert Got His Land
Before Robert, the large estate of Bolton Abbey belonged to Edwin, Earl of Mercia. After 1086, King William I gave this land to Robert de Romille. The Bolton Abbey estate was huge, covering many smaller areas. These included places like Skipton, Addingham, and Malham.
Building Skipton Castle
The old Saxon house at Bolton Abbey was too damaged to fix. So, Robert chose a strong, rocky spot nearby in 1090. He built Skipton Castle there. This castle was easy to defend and helped protect his new lands.
More Land from the King
After 1102, King Henry I took land from some lords who had rebelled. He gave these lands in upper Wharfedale and upper Airedale to Robert. The King wanted to make Robert's territory a strong, connected area. He even added some of his own royal lands to Robert's control.
Robert's Family
Robert de Romille's main heir was his daughter, Cecilia. She married William le Meschines. Cecilia became famous for starting the Embsay Priory, which later became Bolton Abbey. Cecilia and William had two sons, Ranulph and Matthew, but they both died without having children. So, their daughter Alice became the next heir. She was married to William fitz Duncan.
