Guillaume de Mortain Comte de Mortain
General Notes: GUILLAUME de Mortain (-Bermondsey after 1140). Orderic Vitalis refers to him as nepos of Robert III Duke of Normandy. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "Guilelmi" as son of "Robertum comitem Moretonii". Robert of Torigny names "unum filium Guillermum et tres filias" as the children of "Robertus comes Moritonii uterinus frater Willermi regis". "Robert count of Mortain" donated property to the abbey of Mont Saint-Michel for "his deceased wife Mathildis and his living wife Almodis" with the consent of "Robert his son…and William his other son" by charter dated to [1087/91]. He succeeded his father in 1090 as Comte de Mortain, and in the latter's lands in Cornwall. He unsuccessfully claimed the earldom of Kent on the death of his uncle Eudes. "Willielmus comes Moritonii" founded Montcute Priory, for the souls of "patris mei Roberti comitis et matris meæ Mathillidis comitissæ", by undated charter. "…Willelmi comitis de Moritun…" subscribed a charter dated 14 Sep 1101 under which Henry I King of England donated property to Bath St Peter. Florence of Worcester records that "Willelmus comes de Moreteon" rebelled against Henry I King of England, who confiscated all his English lands in [1104]. Florence of Worcester also records that "comes Willelmus de Moretonio" fought with Robert Duke of Normandy against King Henry I at Tinchebrai in [1106], was captured, but later escaped and fled. Orderic Vitalis records that he was imprisoned for many years and all his honours forfeited. He became a Cluniac monk at Bermondsey in 1140. |