Raoul [III] de Tosny ^{2 3}

   Another name for Raoul was Raoul II de Conches.

  General Notes:

RAOUL [III] de Tosny, son of ROGER [I] de Conches & his [second] wife Godechildis --- (-24 Mar [1102], bur Conches Saint-Pierre). "Radulphus de Tony cum Godehelde matre mea" donated property to Wotton Wawen Abbey, Warwickshire by undated charter. According to Orderic Vitalis, he was "a man of the highest renown and knightly valour and was outstanding among the greatest nobles of Normandy for his wealth and honours". Orderic Vitalis records that he was ambassador from Guillaume II Duke of Normandy to Henri I King of France in 1054, when he reported the duke's defeat of the king's supporters "across the Seine". Orderic also records that he "carried away by night" his uterine half-sister Agnes d'Evreux and gave her in marriage to Simon de Montfort, receiving in return Simon's daughter Isabel as his wife. Orderic Vitalis records disputes between his vassals and Duke Guillaume who exiled "milites Rodulfum de Toenia et Hugonem de Grentemaisnilio atque Ernaldum de Escalfoio", dated to [1059/61], the same source recording in a later passage that Duke Guillaume recalled "Rodulfum de Toenia et Hugonem de Grentemaisnilio", dated to [1063]. Orderic Vitalis names "...Rodulphus de Conchis Rogerii Toenetis filius, Normannorum signifer..." among the leading lords under Guillaume II Duke of Normandy. Orderic Vitalis names "...Galterius Giphardus et Radulphus Toenites..." among those who took part in the battle of Hastings. Orderic Vitalis records that "Radulfus...de Conchis filius Rogerii de Toenia...Normannorum...signifer", wishing to leave "in Hispaniam", donated property to Ouche in reparation of the damage he had previously done by supporting "Ernaldi de Excalfoio" in burning the place, and in particular donated "in Angliam...duos mansiones...in Nortfuc...Caldecota, alteram...in Wigornensi provincia...Alwintona". Odo Bishop of Bayeux bought "la terre de Chernet" from "Herberto de Agnellis", with the consent of "suo domino Radulfo de Conchis", by charter dated 30 Nov 1074. "Ralf de Conchis son of Roger de Toncio" donated property to the abbey of Saint-Evroul by charter dated to [1080], witnessed by "Rogerus de Clara, Galterus de Hispannia, Guillelmus de Paceio, Robertus de Remileio, Geroldus Gastinellus, Gillebertus Toroldi filius, Rogerus de Mucegros, et Galterus de Calvo Monte". Domesday Book records land held by "Ralph de Tosny" in Charlton in Wantage Hundred in Berkshire; Flamstead in Danish Hundred and Westmill in Braughing Hundred in Hertfordshire; Charingworth, Icomb, Bromsberrow, Harnhill, Ampney and Lower Swell in Gloucestershire; several properties in Worcestershire; the castle of Clifford and several other properties in Herefordshire. Orderic Vitalis records that "Guillelmus" [Guillaume de Breteuil] gave "tria millia librarum" to "avunculo suo Radulpho" [Raoul [III] de Tosny] for his ransom as part of the peace settlement of the Evreux/Tosny war and appointed "Rogerium consobrinum suum Radulfi filium" as his heir. "Rodulfo de Conchis" consented to the donation of "decimam Ansfredi Villæ" to Sainte-Trinité de Rouen by "Gernagois et Albereda uxor eius, cum filiis suis Willelmo et Rotberto" by charter dated 1091. Orderic Vitalis records the death "IX Kal Apr" of "Radulfus senex [=Radulfus...de Conchis filius Rogerii de Toenia]" and his burial "in cœnobio B. Petri Castellionis". Henry I King of England confirmed the foundation of Conches by "Rogerius senior de Toenio et filius eius Radulphus senex et Radulphus juvenis filius prædicti Radulphi senis et Rogerius filius Radulphi juvenis", quoting the confirmation by "Radulphus de Totteneio cum Godehilde matre mea" for the burial of "patris mei Rogerii", dated to [1130]. Henry II King of England confirmed the property of Conches abbey, including donations by "Rogeris senior de Toenio et filius eius Radulfus senex et Radulphus juvenis filius predicti Radulphi senex et Roger filius Radulphi juvenis", by charter dated 1165 or [1167/73].

m ISABELLE de Montfort, daughter of SIMON de Montfort Seigneur de Montfort-l'Amaury & his first wife Isabelle de Broyes. Orderic Vitalis records that "Radulfus...de Conchis filius Rogerii de Toenia" kidnapped "Agnetem uterinam sororem suam, Ricardi Ebroicensium comitis filiam" by night and married her to "Simoni de Monteforti", who in exchange granted "filiam eiusdem Simonis...Isabel"to Raoul. Her parentage is suggested by a charter dated 1160 under which Louis VII King of France confirmed donations to the abbey of Colombs near Nogent, including donations made by "Hugo Bardulfus castri Nouigenti…aliique eorum successores…Simon de Montisforti, et Radulfus iunior de Toneio et Rogerius filius eius…et Simon de Monteforti gener eius et successor". Orderic Vitalis records that "Elizabeth...uxor et Rogerius atque Radulfus filii eius" consented to the donations to Ouche made by "Radulfus...de Conchis filius Rogerii de Toenia...Normannorum...signifer". Dame de Nogent-le-Roi. Orderic Vitalis records the bitter dispute between "Helvisa...comitissa"and "Isabelem de Conchis", adding that Helvise was "solers...et facunda, sed atrox et avara" and that in war she rode armed like a knight, while Isabelle was "dapsilis et audax atque jocosa...amabilis et grata". After her husband died, Orderic Vitalis records that she repented "the mortal sin of luxury in which she had indulged in her youth" and became a nun at Haute-Bruyère.

Raoul [III] & his wife had three children: Roger, Raoul and Godechilde.

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Ralph [de Toeni], usually called Ralph de Conches; participated in the Norman invasion of England 1066; being accordingly granted lands in Berks, Essex, Glos, Herefs, Herts, Norfolk, and Worcs; married Elizabeth/Isabel, daughter of Simon de Montfort, Seigneur of Montfort l'Amaury, and died 24 March, probably 1101/2. [Burke's Peerage]

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RALPH DE TOENI III, styled more usually DE CONCHES, son and heir, by Godeheut, was born probably about 1025-30. He was banner-bearer of the Normans. In 1050 he was at the Duke's Court. In 1054 he took part in William's victory over the French at Mortemer and was sent by the Duke to alarm the King of France with the news. About 1060 Ralph, Hugh de Grandmesnil and Ernald d'Echauffour were deprived of their inheritance by the Duke and banished. In revenge Ernald and Ralph made incursions into Normandy and burnt the town of St. Evroul; but in 1063 they were recalled and their lands were restored. Ralph was one of the nobles summoned to a council when the Duke heard of the death of Edward the Confessor and the coronation of Harold; and he took part in the invasion of England and fought at the Battle of Hastings. At some time between the battle and the Domesday survey in 1086 the Conqueror gave him estates in the counties of Berks, Essex, Gloucester, Hereford, Herts, Norfolk and Worcester, with the castle of Clifford, co. Hereford, which had been built on waste land by William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford; but his caput baroniae was at Flamstead, Herts. Before 30 November 1074 he assented to the Bishop of Bayeux's purchase of land from his tenant Herbert de Agnellis. About 1078 he supported Robert Courtheuse against the King. Probably about 1080 he went on a pilgrimage to Spain; and on his safe return, as he had promised, he made gifts to the abbey of St. Evroul, in recompense for having helped Ernald d'Echauffour to burn the town. In 1081 he was with the King at Winchester. After William's death in 1087 he was one of the Norman nobles who expelled the royal garrisons from their castles. In 1088 he served under Duke Robert in the war against Maine. His wife Isabel having angered her sister-in-law Hawise, wife of her brother William, Count of Evreux, the Countess induced her husband to attack Ralph. He appealed in vain to the Duke for help; he then sent envoys to William Rufus, who ordered his adherents in Normandy to go to Ralph's aid. In Nov. the Count of Evreux besieged Conches, but his forces were defeated soon afterwards; and after 3 years of fighting peace was concluded. When Rufus and his brother made peace in 1091, the Duke granted to the King all the land of Gerard de Gournay and Ralph de Conches; after which Ralph remained one of the King's strongest supporters. After the death of Rufus, Ralph and the Count of Evreux invaded the Count of Meulan's barony of Beaumont in Aug 1100, in revenge for his having prejudiced the late King against them. Ralph was a benefactor to the abbeys of St. Evroul, l'Estree, Conches, Croix-Saint-Leufroi, Lire, Jumieges, Bec, and St. Taurin, Evreux.

He m. Isabel or Elizabeth, daughter of Simon de Montfort, Seigneur of MONTFORT L'AMAURY (France) (a), by his 1st wife, said to be Isabel, daughter of Hugh BARDOUL, SEIGNEUR OF BROZES. He died 24 March, probably in 1101/2, and was buried at Conches. Isabel, after a long widowhood, repenting of the fatal wantonness to which she had been too much addicted in her youth, took the veil at the priory of Haute-Bruyère and lived praiseworthily in the fear of the Lord. [Complete Peerage XII/1:758-60, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger & myself)]

[a] Ralph obtained her as a reward for kidnapping by night his half-sister Agnes, daughter of Richard, Count of Evreux, and giving her in marriage to Simon. ¹

Raoul married Isabelle de Montfort, daughter of Simon [I] de Montfort Seigneur de Montfort l'Amaury and Isabelle de Broyes Dame de Nogent-le-Roi.¹ (Isabelle de Montfort was born about 1058 and died after 1102 ⁵.)