Companions of the Conqueror: Sources, Ancestors and Descendants
Presented at the Inaugural Meeting of the Order of the Norman Conquest
By Edward Charles Horton, 1st Vice President General
April 14, 2015
It is an honor to be the speaker at the inaugural meeting of the ONC and it’s a thrill to see this organization come to life. It has also been exciting to be a founding member of this society that was organized to commemorate an event that forever changed the course of history. As our governing documents state, our purposes include collecting and securing historical and genealogical research, lineages and other significant data related to the Conquest, as well as perpetuating the memories, accomplishments and contributions of William and his Companions.
And to that end, I would like to put our organization in context – both in terms of what was involved in the research and background work to bring it into existence as well as the historical significance of the events we endeavor to preserve, protect, and perpetuate.
So let’s start with the Battle of Hastings itself. While historical writings and the Bayeux Tapestry tell us that there were many significant events leading up to the battle, the conflict on Senlac Hill was truly one of the defining moments in history. On that fateful day, almost 950 years ago, while estimates vary, about 7,000 Anglo-Saxon warriors and a roughly equal number of Norman invaders fought a day-long pitched battle for the kingdom of England. In the end, Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, was dead along with his two brothers and many members of the Anglo-Saxon nobility. William the Bastard, now William the Conqueror, had captured the crown.
But it was a victory for more than just William. It was also a victory for the members of the Norman and Breton nobility who fought alongside William that day – those we call the Companions. For not only was the Norman royal dynasty founded but the victory established many of William’s Companions as forefathers of the great noble families of medieval England. In a number of cases, their legacy would last much longer than the Norman royal line, which gave way to the Angevin/Plantagenet dynasty less than 100 years after the conquest. By way of contrast, some of the noble families established by the Companions would have great historical significance for hundreds of years to come. There are many, many aspects of the Norman Conquest that could be discussed here today. While I will touch on William, I will focus on his Companions and certain aspects of their historical and genealogical significance.
The Battle of Hastings, the Norman Conquest and even the Bayeux Tapestry itself remain a source of fascination for historians today. Various studies and books continue to be published revealing new research and new insights into the events and background of those momentous times.
But how do we know who the Companions were? While there were thousands of men who fought and died on the field of battle, what sources do we have that establish the names of the participants and what individuals have done the work to research the sources and provide us with this information?
In order to establish the list of Companions, we rely on the work of four prominent genealogists – Geoffrey H. White, Professor David Douglas, G. Andrew Moriarty and Anthony J. Camp. Their work to establish the known Norman participants in the Battle of Hastings and their findings are summarized in the following publications:
But what sources did these prominent genealogists rely on? They believe that there are three unimpeachable sources that unequivocally establish Companions who were at the Battle. And those sources are:
And here is the list of Companions established by each of these sources:
William of Poitiers
Bayeux Tapestry
Orderic Vitalis
However, of the 20 established Companions, only 15 have proven descendants.
Now before we explore the ancestry and descendants of those 15 Companions, I have couple of final notes. First, there are other works which purport to memorialize participants at the Battle of Hastings. However, these lists cannot be relied upon or, in some cases, are simply less reliable than those named above. Such works include:
Lastly, it should be stated that the aforementioned genealogists also noted other possible participants including:
- L.G. Pine in Sons of the Conqueror
- Anthony J. Camp in My Ancestors Came with the Conqueror
Now that we have established the Companions and determined which of them had proven descendants, let’s explore both the ancestors and descendants of some of those Companions.
First, which of the Companions had Royal Ancestry?
Next, let’s look at some of the notable descendants of the Companions:
Of all the Companions, Eustace II, Count of Boulogne is perhaps the most interesting:
Other Companions with Notable Descendants include:
Now let’s look at one more genealogical aspect: What were the some of the family relationships among the Companions?
What better place to start than with William himself. The Bayeux Tapestry shows William seated on his throne with his two half-brothers, Robert, Count of Mortain and Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. The three brothers had the same mother, Harlette or Herleva of Falaise. Of course, William’s father was Robert I, Duke of Normandy. Harlette then married Herlevin de Conteville and gave birth to two sons, Odo and Robert. As a Bishop, Odo was probably forbidden to use a sword to shed blood in battle. Therefore, he is portrayed in the Bayeux Tapestry as wielding a club.
While Odo was a cleric, he did father a son whose descendants included several noble lines. William, his brother Robert, and another Companion, Aimery, vicomte of Thouars, were the ancestors of many notable descendants including Henry II and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, as well as their son King John and his descendants.
Of course if you have become one of the noble families of England you only want to marry into another noble family. So what better source of a qualified spouse than the families of the other Companions? Here is a chart showing family relationships among 7 Companions plus William himself. Of particular interest are the connections to the Montfort family. This chart shows 6 generations of Montforts, including 5 named Simon. The line eventually leads to the famous Simon de Montfort who was slain at the Battle of Evesham on the 4th of August 1265. He was descended from 4 different Companions.
As noted earlier, while several of the Companions were the ancestors of notable progeny, two of the Companions seem to have excelled at producing historic descendants – and did so within 3 or 4 generations. Of particular interest is the relationship between these companions and the Magna Carta Sureties who were charged with holding King John to the terms of Magna Carta just 150 years after the date of the Conquest.
First, there was Robert de Beaumont who was the ancestor of no less than 6 Magna Carta Sureties plus King John’s advisor, William Marshal, known as the greatest Knight in Christendom. Those Magna Carta Sureties consisted of Hugh le Bigod, Richard de Clare, Gilbert de Clare, Geoffrey de Say, Saher de Quincy and John de Lacy. He was also an ancestor of King John.
But topping all was Walter Giffard, whose Magna Carta descendants are so numerous they cannot even fit on one chart. Giffard’s descendants included a whopping 13 Magna Carta Sureties, including Henry de Bohun, Geoffrey de Mandeville, William de Lanvallei, William d’Aubigny, Robert FitzWalter, Robert de Vere, Geoffrey de Say, John de Lacy, John FitzRobert, Roger le Bigod, Hugh le Bigod, Richard de Clare and Gilbert de Clare. His descendants also included William Marshal.
Just for fun, I got to thinking about King Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. And despite the fact that he perished at the battle, I wondered if he had any descendants that could be traced to the present day. When I investigated, I found that, much to my surprise, there are two lines of descent from Harold to the current British Royal Family. The line passes through the royal houses of Kiev, Hungary, Aragon, Naples, Bohemia, and France before finally being reunited in Henry VII, King of England and his descendants, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
My presentation today has been just the tip of the iceberg, a foundation on which to build. It is the first step in a long journey of history and scholarship. We make this journey together to discover more about the brave men who fought on that battlefield almost a millennium ago and the rich legacy they left behind. It’s a legacy we all share and of which we are the fortunate beneficiaries. Through further research and scholarship, we hope to bring these historic ancestors back to life and the preserve and enhance this legacy; and to foster an appreciation of these significant events and the participants for generations to come.
Presented at the Inaugural Meeting of the Order of the Norman Conquest
By Edward Charles Horton, 1st Vice President General
April 14, 2015
It is an honor to be the speaker at the inaugural meeting of the ONC and it’s a thrill to see this organization come to life. It has also been exciting to be a founding member of this society that was organized to commemorate an event that forever changed the course of history. As our governing documents state, our purposes include collecting and securing historical and genealogical research, lineages and other significant data related to the Conquest, as well as perpetuating the memories, accomplishments and contributions of William and his Companions.
And to that end, I would like to put our organization in context – both in terms of what was involved in the research and background work to bring it into existence as well as the historical significance of the events we endeavor to preserve, protect, and perpetuate.
So let’s start with the Battle of Hastings itself. While historical writings and the Bayeux Tapestry tell us that there were many significant events leading up to the battle, the conflict on Senlac Hill was truly one of the defining moments in history. On that fateful day, almost 950 years ago, while estimates vary, about 7,000 Anglo-Saxon warriors and a roughly equal number of Norman invaders fought a day-long pitched battle for the kingdom of England. In the end, Harold Godwinson, the last Anglo-Saxon King of England, was dead along with his two brothers and many members of the Anglo-Saxon nobility. William the Bastard, now William the Conqueror, had captured the crown.
But it was a victory for more than just William. It was also a victory for the members of the Norman and Breton nobility who fought alongside William that day – those we call the Companions. For not only was the Norman royal dynasty founded but the victory established many of William’s Companions as forefathers of the great noble families of medieval England. In a number of cases, their legacy would last much longer than the Norman royal line, which gave way to the Angevin/Plantagenet dynasty less than 100 years after the conquest. By way of contrast, some of the noble families established by the Companions would have great historical significance for hundreds of years to come. There are many, many aspects of the Norman Conquest that could be discussed here today. While I will touch on William, I will focus on his Companions and certain aspects of their historical and genealogical significance.
The Battle of Hastings, the Norman Conquest and even the Bayeux Tapestry itself remain a source of fascination for historians today. Various studies and books continue to be published revealing new research and new insights into the events and background of those momentous times.
But how do we know who the Companions were? While there were thousands of men who fought and died on the field of battle, what sources do we have that establish the names of the participants and what individuals have done the work to research the sources and provide us with this information?
In order to establish the list of Companions, we rely on the work of four prominent genealogists – Geoffrey H. White, Professor David Douglas, G. Andrew Moriarty and Anthony J. Camp. Their work to establish the known Norman participants in the Battle of Hastings and their findings are summarized in the following publications:
- Complete Peerage, Vol. 12A, Appendix L by Geoffrey H. White
- Geoffrey H. White "Companions of the Conqueror" 10 May 1944, The Genealogists' Magazine, vol. 9, pp. 417-424
- Professor David Douglas "Companions of the Conqueror" published in "History", the Journal of the Historical Association (Vol. XXVIII, pp. 129147) September 1943
- G. Andrews Moriarty "The Companions of the Conqueror" October 1944, The American Genealogist, Vol. 21 No.2, pp. 111-113
- Anthony J. Camp’s book My Ancestors Came with the Conqueror – summarizes and synthesizes the findings of his predecessors
But what sources did these prominent genealogists rely on? They believe that there are three unimpeachable sources that unequivocally establish Companions who were at the Battle. And those sources are:
- The Deeds of William II, Duke of the Normans and King of England by William of Poitiers. William of Poitiers was born about the year 1020 and belonged to an influential Norman family. He wrote The Deeds of William II between 1071 and 1077.
- The Ecclesiastical History of Normandy and England by Orderic Vitalis. Orderic Vitalis was born in England about 1075. He began writing the Ecclesiastical History in about 1110 and continued until his death in 1142. Although written almost 40 years later, it is considered to be a very reliable source.
- The Bayeux Tapestry, which was probably made in the late 11th century
And here is the list of Companions established by each of these sources:
William of Poitiers
- Robert de Beaumont
- Eustace of Boulogne
- William of Evreux
- Geoffrey of Mortagne
- William FitzOsbern
- Aimery of Thouars
- Hugh de Montfort
- Walter Giffard
- Ralph de Toeni
- Hugh de Grandmesnil
- William de Warenne
- William Malet
- Geoffrey de Mowbray
Bayeux Tapestry
- Eudes (Odo) of Bayeux
- Robert of Mortain
- Wadard
- Vital
Orderic Vitalis
- Turstin FitzRou
- Engenulf de l'Aigle
- Goubert d'Auffay
However, of the 20 established Companions, only 15 have proven descendants.
Now before we explore the ancestry and descendants of those 15 Companions, I have couple of final notes. First, there are other works which purport to memorialize participants at the Battle of Hastings. However, these lists cannot be relied upon or, in some cases, are simply less reliable than those named above. Such works include:
- Roll of Battle Abbey and derivative work by the Duchess of Cleveland
- Roll of Falaise
- Roll of Dives-sur-Mer
- Wace – Roman de Rou
- J.R. Planche – The Conqueror and his Companions
Lastly, it should be stated that the aforementioned genealogists also noted other possible participants including:
- Those witnessing Norman Charters
- Those witnessing Duke William’s charter made at Caen 17 June 1066
- J.F.A. Mason "The Companions of the Conqueror: An Additional Name", English Historical Review, Vol. 71, 1956, p. 61 – Adds #21 - Humphrey of Tilleul
- L.G. Pine in Sons of the Conqueror
- Anthony J. Camp in My Ancestors Came with the Conqueror
Now that we have established the Companions and determined which of them had proven descendants, let’s explore both the ancestors and descendants of some of those Companions.
First, which of the Companions had Royal Ancestry?
- Robert de Beaumont
- Descendant of Merovee
- Married Isabel de Vermandois, a descendant of Charlemagne
- Geoffrey of Mortagne and Perche
- Descendant of Charlemagne
- Married Beatrix de Montdidier, a descendant of Charlemagne
- Eustace II, Count of Boulogne
- Descendant of Louis IV, King of France (and his predecessors)
- Alfred the Great (so he had some Anglo-Saxon blood)
- Charlemagne
- Married Ida of Lorraine
- Descendant of Louis II, King of France
- Charlemagne
Next, let’s look at some of the notable descendants of the Companions:
Of all the Companions, Eustace II, Count of Boulogne is perhaps the most interesting:
- Granddaughter, Matilda married Steven, King of England
- 6th Great Granddaughter, Margaret of France married Edward I “Longshanks” King of England as his 2nd wife
- Son, Godfrey of Bouillon, leader of the 1st Crusade and Protector of the Holy Sepulcher (declined the title of King of Jerusalem)
- Son, Baldwin I, 1st King of Jerusalem
Other Companions with Notable Descendants include:
- Aimery of Thouars
- 3rd Great grandfather of John, King of England
- 5th Great grandfather of Louis IX, King of France “Saint Louis”
- Robert, Count of Mortain
- 3rd Great grandfather of John, King of England
- 5th Great grandfather of Louis IX, King of France “Saint Louis”
- William de Warenne
- Great Grandfather of William the Lion, King of Scotland
Now let’s look at one more genealogical aspect: What were the some of the family relationships among the Companions?
What better place to start than with William himself. The Bayeux Tapestry shows William seated on his throne with his two half-brothers, Robert, Count of Mortain and Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. The three brothers had the same mother, Harlette or Herleva of Falaise. Of course, William’s father was Robert I, Duke of Normandy. Harlette then married Herlevin de Conteville and gave birth to two sons, Odo and Robert. As a Bishop, Odo was probably forbidden to use a sword to shed blood in battle. Therefore, he is portrayed in the Bayeux Tapestry as wielding a club.
While Odo was a cleric, he did father a son whose descendants included several noble lines. William, his brother Robert, and another Companion, Aimery, vicomte of Thouars, were the ancestors of many notable descendants including Henry II and his wife, Eleanor of Aquitaine, as well as their son King John and his descendants.
Of course if you have become one of the noble families of England you only want to marry into another noble family. So what better source of a qualified spouse than the families of the other Companions? Here is a chart showing family relationships among 7 Companions plus William himself. Of particular interest are the connections to the Montfort family. This chart shows 6 generations of Montforts, including 5 named Simon. The line eventually leads to the famous Simon de Montfort who was slain at the Battle of Evesham on the 4th of August 1265. He was descended from 4 different Companions.
As noted earlier, while several of the Companions were the ancestors of notable progeny, two of the Companions seem to have excelled at producing historic descendants – and did so within 3 or 4 generations. Of particular interest is the relationship between these companions and the Magna Carta Sureties who were charged with holding King John to the terms of Magna Carta just 150 years after the date of the Conquest.
First, there was Robert de Beaumont who was the ancestor of no less than 6 Magna Carta Sureties plus King John’s advisor, William Marshal, known as the greatest Knight in Christendom. Those Magna Carta Sureties consisted of Hugh le Bigod, Richard de Clare, Gilbert de Clare, Geoffrey de Say, Saher de Quincy and John de Lacy. He was also an ancestor of King John.
But topping all was Walter Giffard, whose Magna Carta descendants are so numerous they cannot even fit on one chart. Giffard’s descendants included a whopping 13 Magna Carta Sureties, including Henry de Bohun, Geoffrey de Mandeville, William de Lanvallei, William d’Aubigny, Robert FitzWalter, Robert de Vere, Geoffrey de Say, John de Lacy, John FitzRobert, Roger le Bigod, Hugh le Bigod, Richard de Clare and Gilbert de Clare. His descendants also included William Marshal.
Just for fun, I got to thinking about King Harold, the last Anglo-Saxon king of England. And despite the fact that he perished at the battle, I wondered if he had any descendants that could be traced to the present day. When I investigated, I found that, much to my surprise, there are two lines of descent from Harold to the current British Royal Family. The line passes through the royal houses of Kiev, Hungary, Aragon, Naples, Bohemia, and France before finally being reunited in Henry VII, King of England and his descendants, including Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
My presentation today has been just the tip of the iceberg, a foundation on which to build. It is the first step in a long journey of history and scholarship. We make this journey together to discover more about the brave men who fought on that battlefield almost a millennium ago and the rich legacy they left behind. It’s a legacy we all share and of which we are the fortunate beneficiaries. Through further research and scholarship, we hope to bring these historic ancestors back to life and the preserve and enhance this legacy; and to foster an appreciation of these significant events and the participants for generations to come.