Robert de Todeni facts for kids
Robert de Todeni was a powerful Norman nobleman. He received many lands in England after the Normans took over England in 1066.
Who Was Robert de Todeni?
Robert came from a family called Tosny, who lived near a place called Eure in Normandy. He owned lands in Guerny and Vesly in Normandy before coming to England.
Robert's Life and Lands
In 1086, a very important book was made called the Domesday Book. It listed who owned land all over England. Robert de Todeni was listed as the lord of Belvoir in Lincolnshire. This made him the first "baron" of Belvoir. A baron was a very important landowner who held their land directly from the king.
Besides Belvoir, Robert also received lands in Yorkshire and Leicestershire. Before the Normans arrived, these lands belonged to people like Thorgautr Lagr. Robert's son, Berengar, was given some of Thorgautr's lands in Oxfordshire and Nottinghamshire. Robert also owned lands in Northamptonshire.
Robert might have been the first "castellan" of Rockingham Castle. A castellan was the person in charge of a castle.
Robert and his wife also started a religious house called Belvoir Priory. They founded it sometime between 1076 and 1088. It was a "priory" which means it was a smaller religious community connected to a larger one, in this case, St Albans Abbey.
Robert's Family and Legacy
Robert married a woman named Adelais. They had three sons: Berengar, William, and Geoffrey. They also had three daughters: Albreda, Adelisa, and Agnes.
When Robert died, his son Berengar inherited the lands in Normandy. His son William inherited the lands in England. However, all three sons died without having children. This meant their sisters eventually inherited the lands.
- Albreda was the oldest daughter. She married Robert de Insula but died without children.
- Adelisa married Roger Bigod.
- Agnes, the youngest daughter, married twice.
Eventually, Belvoir went to Cecilia Bigod, who was Adelisa and Roger's youngest daughter. The lands in Normandy went to Hugh Bigod, who was Adelisa and Roger's son.
Robert de Todeni died around 1093. He was buried at Belvoir Priory, the religious house he helped found.
