Ivo de Taillebois
Encyclopedia
Ivo Taillebois was a powerful Norman
nobleman in 11th century England.
The name Taillebose or Taillebois, means "cut bush" in French, but the reasons for using this name are not known. There is a town named Taillebois in Lower Normandy for example, with which people using this surname may have been associated. It in the arrondisement of Argentan
, and a noble French family who used this surname lived in the area. A note in the cartulary of La Trinite de Vendôme mentions a copy of the grant of the church and patronage of Cristot by Ives Taillebois to the abbey. It should be mentioned that the placename may itself have been derived from a personal name. In any case this is what Hector de la Ferrière-Percy felt when writing his Histoire du Canton d'Athis, Orne, et de ses Communes (1858 p. 297). According to him the Norman Taillebois family, who he believes to be that of Ivo in England, were based in Briouze, just to the south of Taillebois, from at least the 11th century. Because there was a Taillebois family in France, it is possible that the Taillebois individuals we find in England all arrived at different times and were perhaps only distantly related.
Other men using this name in England during this period include...
Ivo was among the followers of Duke William of Normandy
who invaded England in 1066 and is listed on the Battle Abbey Roll
. He shared in the distribution of lands among the Norman Barons, and received the lordship of Kendal
as his allotment of the spoils. It consisted of a large portion of Northern Lancashire
and Southern Westmorland
.
His centre of power, however, appears to have been in Lincolnshire, where he probably became High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
after the downfall of Merleswein in 1068. He married Lucy, probable daughter of Turold, the Sheriff of Lincolnshire before the conquest. and subsequently Countess of Chester, from whom he received all her ancient family domains, thus making him one of the most influential nobles in England in his day. In 1071, King William, with Ivo leading his army, besieged the Isle of Ely where the rebel leader Hereward the Wake was based. Later, after Hereward, who had escaped capture during the siege, was caught and imprisoned, Ivo dissuaded William from freeing him.
Ivo had one daughter at least, Beatrix, who married Ribald of Middleham, son of Eudo of Penthièvre
, and was probably his only legitimate child. According to the annalist Peter of Blois
, Ivo and Lucy's "only daughter, who had been nobly espoused, died before her father; for that evil shoots should not fix deep roots in the world, the accursed lineage of that wicked man perished by the axe of the Almighty, which cut off all his issue." Peter did not like Ivo.
Ivo de Taillebois is also sometimes represented in modern texts as being a brother to Fulk
, Count of Anjou
, France. More contemporaneously, he was said to be an ancestor of William Lancaster who is one of the earliest known users of the surname Lancaster.
's novel on Hereward the Wake
. He is also a major character in Marcus Pitcaithly's Hereward trilogy.
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
nobleman in 11th century England.
The name Taillebose or Taillebois, means "cut bush" in French, but the reasons for using this name are not known. There is a town named Taillebois in Lower Normandy for example, with which people using this surname may have been associated. It in the arrondisement of Argentan
Argentan
Argentan is a commune, and the seat of two cantons and of an arrondissement in the Orne department in north-western France.Argentan is located NE of Rennes, ENE of the Mont Saint-Michel, SE of Cherbourg, SSE of Caen, SW of Rouen and N of Le Mans....
, and a noble French family who used this surname lived in the area. A note in the cartulary of La Trinite de Vendôme mentions a copy of the grant of the church and patronage of Cristot by Ives Taillebois to the abbey. It should be mentioned that the placename may itself have been derived from a personal name. In any case this is what Hector de la Ferrière-Percy felt when writing his Histoire du Canton d'Athis, Orne, et de ses Communes (1858 p. 297). According to him the Norman Taillebois family, who he believes to be that of Ivo in England, were based in Briouze, just to the south of Taillebois, from at least the 11th century. Because there was a Taillebois family in France, it is possible that the Taillebois individuals we find in England all arrived at different times and were perhaps only distantly related.
Other men using this name in England during this period include...
- Ralph Taillebois, High Sheriff of BedfordshireHigh Sheriff of Bedfordshire-1066–1125:*1066-c.1084: Ansculf de Picquigny*Ralph Taillebois*Hugh de Belcamp*1124 Richard of WinchesterFrom 1125 through the end of 1575, appointees to the shrievalty held the joint office of High Sheriff of Bedfordshire and Buckinghamshire.-1575–1599:...
who appears as a witness on one of Ivo's charters and is widely thought to be a brother - William Taillebois of LincolnLincoln, LincolnshireLincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
Ivo was among the followers of Duke William of Normandy
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
who invaded England in 1066 and is listed on the Battle Abbey Roll
Battle Abbey Roll
The Battle Abbey Roll is supposed to have been a list, lost since at least the 16th.c., of the Companions of William the Conqueror, which had been erected or affixed as a memorial within Battle Abbey, Hastings, founded by William ex-voto on the spot of the slaying of Harold in the Battle of...
. He shared in the distribution of lands among the Norman Barons, and received the lordship of Kendal
Kendal
Kendal, anciently known as Kirkby in Kendal or Kirkby Kendal, is a market town and civil parish within the South Lakeland District of Cumbria, England...
as his allotment of the spoils. It consisted of a large portion of Northern Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
and Southern Westmorland
Westmorland
Westmorland is an area of North West England and one of the 39 historic counties of England. It formed an administrative county from 1889 to 1974, after which the entirety of the county was absorbed into the new county of Cumbria.-Early history:...
.
His centre of power, however, appears to have been in Lincolnshire, where he probably became High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
High Sheriff of Lincolnshire
This is a list of High Sheriffs of Lincolnshire.The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred...
after the downfall of Merleswein in 1068. He married Lucy, probable daughter of Turold, the Sheriff of Lincolnshire before the conquest. and subsequently Countess of Chester, from whom he received all her ancient family domains, thus making him one of the most influential nobles in England in his day. In 1071, King William, with Ivo leading his army, besieged the Isle of Ely where the rebel leader Hereward the Wake was based. Later, after Hereward, who had escaped capture during the siege, was caught and imprisoned, Ivo dissuaded William from freeing him.
Ivo had one daughter at least, Beatrix, who married Ribald of Middleham, son of Eudo of Penthièvre
Eudo of Penthièvre
Eudo of Penthièvre was the brother of Alan III of Brittany . Eudo had been loyal to his brother throughout his reign, but he subsequently spent many years trying to wrest ducal power in Brittany from his nephew and ward, Conan II...
, and was probably his only legitimate child. According to the annalist Peter of Blois
Peter of Blois
Peter of Blois or Petrus Blesensis was a French poet and diplomat who wrote in Latin. Peter studied law in Bologna and theology in Paris...
, Ivo and Lucy's "only daughter, who had been nobly espoused, died before her father; for that evil shoots should not fix deep roots in the world, the accursed lineage of that wicked man perished by the axe of the Almighty, which cut off all his issue." Peter did not like Ivo.
Ivo de Taillebois is also sometimes represented in modern texts as being a brother to Fulk
Fulk IV of Anjou
Fulk IV , called le Réchin, was the Count of Anjou from 1068 until his death. The nickname by which he is usually referred has no certain translation...
, Count of Anjou
Anjou
Anjou is a former county , duchy and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Loire Valley of western France. It corresponds largely to the present-day département of Maine-et-Loire...
, France. More contemporaneously, he was said to be an ancestor of William Lancaster who is one of the earliest known users of the surname Lancaster.
In fiction
Ivo Taillebois appears as a character in Charles KingsleyCharles Kingsley
Charles Kingsley was an English priest of the Church of England, university professor, historian and novelist, particularly associated with the West Country and northeast Hampshire.-Life and character:...
's novel on Hereward the Wake
Hereward the Wake
Hereward the Wake , known in his own times as Hereward the Outlaw or Hereward the Exile, was an 11th-century leader of local resistance to the Norman conquest of England....
. He is also a major character in Marcus Pitcaithly's Hereward trilogy.