Biography
Ranulf I de Warenne was born 998 in Castle Varenne, Bellencombre, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France to Gautier II de Saint-Martin (c950-1020) and Emma de Torta (c975-1022) and died 1058 Varenne, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France of unspecified causes. He married Beatrice of Rouen (1008-) .
Warenne Ancestry
The origin of Roger of Mortemer has been subject to much scholarly debate. Only two early sources provide information. Orderic Vitalis calls William de Warenne (1055-1088) consanguineo ejus (his cousin/kinsman), while Robert de Torigny confusingly provides three different versions of his parentage that, though inconsistent, all make him either brother or son, of William de Warenne.
In researching the parentage of this family, Katherine Keats-Rohan concluded that two Rodulfs were mistakenly combined into one, and that Roger was son of Ranulf I de Warenne (998-1058) and his wife Beatrice, while William de Warenne was his nephew, son of Rodulf (II) and Emma, and as this removes many of Loyd's concerns, she identifies Roger de Mortimer with Roger, son of Rodulf.[1] C.P. Lewis calls this hypothesis the "most plausible" solution.[8] Robert de Torigny called Roger's mother, who is not named, one of the nieces of Gunnor, Duchess of Normandy. This would seemingly make Beatrice that niece. Keats-Rohan identifies her with a later widow, Beatrice, daughter of Tesselin, vicomte of Rouen.[1]
Castle Varenne
The ruins of Castle Varenne is found in the rural township of Bellencombre, bisected by the River Varenne (for which the Warren Family / de Warenne Family takes its name. Their primary namesake, William de Warenne (c1040-1088) was an important companion of William the Conqueror and was awarded vast landholdings in England. "Saint-Martin-sous-Bellencombre" is a rural village on the west side of Bellencombre. It is not known when the Castle was built and the Saint-Martin family transfered into the castle and adopt the name of Warenne.
Family
Rudolf I (or Ranulf) Seigneur de Varrene, Born circa 998, Died before 1059.
Rudolf married to Beatrix de Vascoeuil (1020-1059), a daughter of Vicomte Tesselin of Rouen and a niece of Gunnor of Crêpon, wife of Richard I "the Fearless", 3rd Duke of Normandy. This Gunnor had many neices that produced many of the leading Norman Knights of the era.
Rudolf and Beatrix had a son: Rudolf II de Warenne. The history of Ranulf's grandson, William de Warenne, notes that he did battle in 1052-1054 with Roger de Mortemer, supposedly his uncle.
Another source claims that this person to be Hugh, Bishop of Constances. "The House of Warren can be traced to Hugh of Normandy, born 990, later ordained Bishop of Contances. He married a sister of Gunnora, the wife of Richard I, Duke of Normandy. Rodulf, son to Hugh, a benefactor to the Abbey of La Trinite du Mont, died c1050. He married first Beatrix and secondly Emma." This argument has been refuted here.
Children
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Ranulf II de Warenne (c1020-1074) | 1020 Castle Varenne, Bellencombre, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France | 24 June 1074 Castle Varenne, Bellencombre, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France | Emma Torta de Pont-Audemer (1020-1059) |
| Roger de Mortimer (1022-1078) | 1022 Normandy, France | 1078 Saint-Valery-en-Caux, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France | Hadewisa du Valois (c1040-1086) |
Siblings
| Name | Birth | Death | Joined with |
| Ranulf I de Warenne (998-1058) | 998 Castle Varenne, Bellencombre, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France | 1058 Varenne, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France | Beatrice of Rouen (1008-) |
| Emma de St. Martin (c1000-) | 1000 Castle Varenne, Bellencombre, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France | ||
| Eudo de Warenne (c1004-) | 1004 Castle Varenne, Bellencombre, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France | ||
See Also
- Ranulf Warenne
- Warenne Family Ancestry
- Warren Family
- Warenne in Seine-Maritime
- Mortimer Family Ancestry
External Links
- Ranulf I de Warenne, BigelowSociety.com, https://www.geni.com/people/Rodulf-Ranulph-I-de-Warenne/6000000003146136754, retrieved 08 Oct 2023
- Earls of Surrey, Medieval Genealogy of UK, https://www.medievalgenealogy.org.uk/cp/surrey.shtml, retrieved 10 Feb 2024
References