Roger I de Montgomery facts for kids
Roger I de Montgomery was an important leader in Normandy a long time ago. He was the lord of a place called Montgomery and also the "vicomte" (which was like a local governor or ruler) of the Hiémois region.
Roger's Life and Work
Roger was the son of Hugh de Montgomery and his wife, Josceline. Josceline was related to Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy, a very important woman at the time. Roger owned lands in places like Saint-Germain-de-Montgommery and Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery. These areas had signs of old castles.
He became the vicomte of the Hiémois around the same time Robert I, Duke of Normandy became Duke in 1027. As a vicomte, he was important enough to witness a special document called a royal charter for an abbey (a type of monastery) named St. Wandrille around 1031 or 1032.
At first, Roger, like Duke Robert, started taking over properties that belonged to the church. For example, he took half of the town of Bernay, Eure around 1025–1027. He also took a forest that belonged to Jumièges Abbey and stopped a market that the same abbey ran, taking it for himself. However, it seems he later changed his mind. He gave the market back to the abbey and paid them back for what they had lost.
After 1035, Roger seemed to lose favor with the young Duke William the Conqueror. In an early document signed by Duke William, Roger was simply called 'Roger of Montgomery', which suggests he was no longer the vicomte. In 1037, when some groups started to rebel against the Duke, Roger joined them. After his side was defeated, Roger had to leave Normandy and went to the court of Henry I of France. He was forced into exile. We don't know exactly when or where Roger died. In 1068, his wife was still in charge of lands in Bures, Orne and Saint-Pair.
Roger's Family
We don't know the name of Roger's wife, but he had five sons:
- Hugh de Montgomery
- Robert de Montgomery
- Roger II de Montgomerie, who later became the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury.
- William de Montgomery
- Gilbert de Montgomery
