Roger le Poer facts for kids

Roger le Poer was an important government official in medieval England. He served as the Lord Chancellor for King Stephen of England from 1135 to 1139. Roger came from a very powerful family, and his family connections helped him get this important job. He lost his position when his father and other relatives also lost their power. Roger was arrested along with his father. He was then used to make his mother give up a castle she controlled. After this event, Roger disappeared from historical records.

Who Was Roger le Poer?

Roger le Poer was the son of Roger of Salisbury. His father was a very powerful man who served as the Lord Chancellor for King Henry I of England. He was also the Bishop of Salisbury, a high-ranking church leader. Roger's mother was Matilda of Ramsbury.

Because Roger le Poer was described as "young" in 1139, historians believe he was likely born after 1107. This was the year his father became a bishop. It is not completely clear what happened to Roger le Poer later in his life. Some historians think he might be the same person as a church official called Roger, the archdeacon of Berkshire, who died in the 1160s.

Roger's Role as Chancellor

Roger le Poer's family was one of the most powerful in England. His father, Roger of Salisbury, not only served as a bishop but also managed much of the government. He had a lot of power, similar to a chief minister.

Roger's family also included other important people:

• His uncle, Nigel, was the Bishop of Ely.
• Another uncle, Alexander, was the Bishop of Lincoln.
• Another relative, Adelelm, was in charge of the royal treasury.

The family also controlled many castles across England. A writer from that time, William of Malmesbury, said that King Stephen made Roger le Poer chancellor as a way to get Roger of Salisbury's support. Roger served as chancellor for about four years, from 1135 until June 24, 1139.

As chancellor, Roger often traveled with the king. He would go with King Stephen on his journeys around England. For example, in 1136 or 1137, Roger was with the king at a court meeting in Westminster. They heard a complaint from a church group called the Holy Trinity Priory. The priory said that the person in charge of the Tower of London had taken their land. In the end, the priory got their land back. Roger also witnessed many official documents, called royal writs, for the king. This showed his important role in the government.

Arrest and Disappearance

In the middle of 1139, rumors started spreading that Roger's family might switch their support to King Stephen's rival, the Empress Matilda. These rumors were likely started by a group of powerful nobles who wanted to weaken Roger's family. It's not clear if Roger and his family actually planned to switch sides, but it seems unlikely.

In late June 1139, a fight broke out between some of Roger's family's servants and men from another noble's group. This fight gave King Stephen an excuse to act against Roger's family. Both Roger le Poer and his father, Roger of Salisbury, were arrested. His uncle Alexander was also arrested, but Nigel, another uncle, managed to escape.

Roger's mother, Matilda of Ramsbury, was holding out in Devizes Castle against the king. To make her surrender the castle, King Stephen threatened to hang Roger le Poer. Roger was put on a high platform where his mother could see him, with chains and a rope around his neck. Because of this threat, Matilda surrendered the castle.

The name le Poer means "the pauper" or "the poor one." This name was given to Roger after his family lost power in 1139. It might have been used to show how much his situation had changed. Before his family's downfall, Roger might have expected to become a bishop, but this did not happen. It's unlikely he was actually poor, as his family was very wealthy and powerful.

After his family's disgrace, Roger was sent away from England. If he was the same person as the archdeacon of Berkshire, he would have died in the mid-1160s. However, there is no other clear information about what happened to Roger le Poer after he was sent into exile.