Mabile de Bellême

   Cause of her death was Murdered by Hugh Bunel.

  General Notes:

MABILE (-murdered Bures 2 Dec 1079, bur 5 Dec 1079 Troarn). Guillaume of Jumièges records that "Willelmus cognomento Talavatius" married "Hildeburge...filiam Arnulfi" by whom he had "Arnulfum et Mabiliam" and whom he had strangled "a duobus parasitis". Orderic Vitalis records that "Ivo filius Willermi Belesmensis...neptem...Mabiliam" married "Rogerius de Monte-Gomerici Oximensium vicecomes" who through her obtained "magnam partem possessionis Willermi Belesmensis", adding that Mabile was "a forceful and worldly woman, cunning, garrulous and extremely cruel" ("potens et sæcularis, callida et loquax, nimiumque crudelis"). Guillaume of Jumièges records that "Willelmus Talavatius", after he was exiled, arranged the marriage of "filiam suam...Mabiliam" to "Rogerium de Monte-Gummeri" who received him in his household. "Rogerius comes…et sua uxor Mabilia atque suus filius Rotbertus" donated property to Notre-Dame de Bellême by charter dated to [1070/79]. Orderic Vitalis records that she was murdered by Hugh Bunel, son of Robert "de Jalgeio" from whom she had taken his castle, who found her "relaxing in bed after a bath [and] struck off her head with his sword". "Roger ex Northmannis Northmannus son of Roger" donated property to St Martin, Troarn for the soul of "his wife Mabel lately deceased" by charter dated to [1079/82], subscribed by "Rogerii comitis, Rotberti filii eius, Hugonis, Rogerii, Philippi, Arnulfis [filiorum eius]".

m ([1050/54]) ROGER [II] de Montgommery, son of ROGER [I] de Montgommery Seigneur de Montgommery and Vicomte de l'Hiémois & his wife Josceline --- (-Shrewsbury 27 Jul 1094, bur Shrewsbury Abbey). Sire d'Alençon. He was created Earl of Shrewsbury in 1074.

  Death Notes:

Mabel continued her wickedness causing many nobles to lose their lands and become destitute. In 1077 she took the hereditary lands of Hugh Bunel by force. Two years later while resting after a bath, she was murdered in her bed by the same Hugh Bunel. Hugh had enlisted the help of his three brothers, gained entry to the castle of Bures on the Dives and struck off her head with his sword. The murderers were pursued but escaped by destroying a bridge behind them

  Burial Notes:

Her epitaph is notable as an example of monks bowing more to "the partiality of her friends than to her own merits":
Sprung from the noble and the brave,
Here Mabel finds a narrow grave.
But, above all woman's glory,
Fills a page in famous story.
Commanding, eloquent, and wise,
And prompt to daring enterprise;
Though slight her form, her soul was great,
And, proudly swelling in her state,
Rich dress, and pomp, and retinue,
Lent it their grace and houours due.
The border's guard, the country's shield,
Both love and fear her might revealed,
Till Hugh, revengeful, gained her bower,
In dark December's midnight hour.
Then saw the Dive's o'erflowing stream
The ruthless murderer's poignard gleam.
Now friends, some moments kindly spare,
For her soul's rest to breathe a prayer!

Mabile married Roger [II] de Montgommery Seigneur de Montgommery, Vicomte de l'Hiémois, son of Roger [I] de Montgommery Seigneur de Montgommery, Vicomte de l'Hiémois and Josceline.¹ (Roger [II] de Montgommery Seigneur de Montgommery, Vicomte de l'Hiémois died on 27 Jul 1094 in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY1, GB ¹ and was buried in Shrewsbury Abbey, Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6BS, GB ¹.)