TO HOLD BY THE SWORD

A COMPILED HISTORY OF THE NORMAN EARLS OF CHESTER

BY PHILLIP E JONES

STARTING WITH THE FIRST EARL WALTER DE GERBOD WHO WAS GRANTED THE EARLDOM BY WILLIAM THE CONQUEROR IN 1070, FOLLOWING THE CITY'S SURRENDER TO HIS NORMAN FORCES, CHESTER BECAME THE SEAT OF THESE NOBLES FOR THE NEXT 167 YEARS, UNTIL THE DEATH OF THE 8TH AND FINAL EARL, JOHN THE SCOT, IN 1237.

SOME OF THESE MEN WERE UNREMARKABLE, WHILE OTHERS BECAME PIVOTAL FIGURES IN THE HISTORY OF OUR COUNTRY. THERE WERE THOSE WHO REBELLED AGAINST THE CROWN, WHILST OTHERS DEFENDED THEIR MONARCHS REGARDLESS OF THE COST. SOME FOUND THEMSELVES IN ALMOST CONSTANT DISPUTE WITH THEIR WELSH NEIGHBOURS, EXPLAINING WHY CHESTER BECAME ONE OF THE MOST FORTIFIED CITY'S IN ENGLAND. AN INTERESTING LOOK AT THE LIVES AND LEGENDS OF MEN WHO ARE OFTEN OVERLOOKED BY HISTORY, BUT WHO HAVE BEEN INSTRUMENTAL IN MAKING THE CITY AND ITS COUNTY THE PLACES THEY ARE TODAY.

 

1. Walter de Gerbod	2. Hugh "Lupus" D'Avranches	3. Richard D'Avranches
4. Ranulph de Meschines	5. Ranulph de Gernons	6. Hugh Keveliok
7. Ranulph Blundeville	8. John the Scot

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Produced and maintained by Phillip E Jones @ Mobile 07756 693258 Text: 07914 189032

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