Roger de Montgomery, seigneur of Montgomery facts for kids
Roger de Montgomery (died February 7, 1055) was an important figure in medieval Normandy. He was the lord (or seigneur) of Montgomery and a high-ranking official called a vicomte in a region called the Hiémois. He was also part of the powerful Montgomery family.
Roger's Life Story
It's a bit unclear who Roger de Montgomery's parents were, as old records don't fully agree. However, we know he was a very important person in his time.
Roger owned lands in places like Saint-Germain-de-Montgommery and Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery. These places still show signs of old castles, which were like strong homes for lords. He likely became the vicomte of the Hiémois around 1027, when Robert I became the Duke of Normandy. A vicomte was like a local governor or official who helped the Duke manage a region.
Roger was a close companion of Duke Robert I. Like the Duke, Roger started to gain control over church properties. For example, around 1025-1027, he took half of the town of Bernay. He also took over a wood that belonged to Jumièges Abbey in the 1030s. He even moved a market that the abbey ran into his own area. However, he later gave the market back to the abbey and paid them back for their losses.
When Duke Robert I died in 1035, his young son William became Duke. William was still a child, so his great-uncle, Robert Archbishop of Rouen, ruled Normandy as a temporary leader (called a regent). During this time, Roger de Montgomery seemed to lose favor with the young Duke William and also lost his job as vicomte. He signed an early document from Duke William simply as "Roger of Montgomery," not as a vicomte.
After the Archbishop died in 1037, Normandy became very chaotic. There was a lot of fighting and disorder. Roger de Montgomery joined the rebels who were fighting against the young Duke William. However, Roger was defeated in his own lands and had to leave Normandy. He went to live in exile in Paris, France, at the court of King Henry I. Roger had been forced out by another powerful figure named Osbern the Steward. Later, Roger's son, William de Montgomery, killed Osbern.
Roger de Montgomery died on February 7, 1055, while still in exile in Paris. Years later, in 1068, his wife still owned lands in Bures and Saint-Pair.
Roger's Family
Roger de Montgomery and his wife had five sons:
- Hugh de Montgomery
- Robert de Montgomery
- Roger II de Montgomery, who later became the 1st Earl of Shrewsbury
- William de Montgomery, who was killed when Duke William was still young
- Gilbert de Montgomery, who died in 1063, possibly from poison
