William de Courcy (died 1171) facts for kids
William de Courcy (sometimes spelled William de Curci) was an important nobleman who lived a long time ago, in the 1100s. He was known as an Anglo-Norman baron, which means he was a powerful landowner with a lot of influence, and his family came from both England and Normandy (a region in France). He passed away in the year 1171.
William was the son of another man also named William de Courcy. His mother was Avice de Rumilly, whose father was William Meschin.
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William's Lands and Role
William de Courcy was considered the baron of a place called Stogursey in Somerset, England. He got this important position because his grandmother, on his father's side, was the main heir to those lands.
Where Were His Lands?
The main center of his lands was at Stogursey. However, William also owned or controlled land in many other parts of England. These areas included Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Devonshire, Wiltshire, and Essex. Most of his lands were in Northamptonshire and Oxfordshire.
His Important Job
William de Courcy also had a very important job working for the king. He was a royal steward, sometimes called a dapifer. This meant he was a high-ranking official who managed the king's household and lands, almost like a chief manager or assistant to the king.
William's Family
William de Courcy married a woman named Gundrada. She was the daughter of Reginald de Warenne. Before marrying William, Gundrada had been married to Peter de Valognes.
His Children
William de Courcy died in 1171. He had a son, also named William de Courcy, who became his heir. However, this younger William died later, in 1194. After his son's death, William de Courcy's daughter, Alice, became the main heir to all his lands and titles. Alice married two times; first to Henry de Cornhill, and after he passed away, she married Warin fitzGerold.
