Richard de Reviers

Richard de Reviers († September 8th 1107), was a noble Anglo-Norman, who has perhaps accompanied William the Conqueror in his Conquête by England in 1066. He was lord of Reviers, Vernon and Néhou in Normandy.

Biography

He bore the name of Richard of Reviers ( of Ripariis in Latin), anglicized in Redvers, or less commonly, Rivers.

Its origins are not very clear, its relationship was established by stepping of several charters of gifts to churches. It is probable that he is the son of Guillaume of Vernon, and of Emma, a girl of Osbern de Crépon.

In 1058, Guillaume the Bastard one takes the castle of Thimert (close to Dreux) to king de France. He installs there a garrison ordered by Richard de Reviers. Perhaps he took part in the Bataille of Hastings. He is quoted in the Domesday Book (1086) as a holder of only one manor: Mosterton (County of Dorset, 6 hides, £12).

The true rise of Richard de Reviers starts in the shade of Henri Ier Beauclerc. In 1100, it is one of its advisers after his accession with the throne of England. During the invasion of 1101, carried out by the duke Robert Courteheuse, it is one of the main allies of the king against his brother. Henri granted to him the towns of Tiverton, Honiton (1100) and the honor of Plympton. He also receives the island of Wight in 1102, perhaps because he was relative of a preceding lord of the island, Roger de Breteuil, Count de Hereford. This territory remains in the family through the De Redvers or De Reviers and De Vernons until the reign Edouard I {{er}}.

Richard de Reviers dies in 1107 in the monastery of Montebourg, in the Cotentin, and of which it had become the owner since Henri Ier Beauclerc had given him the guard of it. It is buried in the abbey church, where its sarcophagus is always today. It carries the truncated inscription: RICE OF REVIERS FV ''.

Marriage and descent

He married, v. 1082, Adeliza Peverel († between 1156 and 1165), girl of Guillaume Peverel of Nottingham (1085-1114) and Adeline of Lancaster, rams Loders and of Ouvelay. They had five known children :

Baudouin or Baldwin de Reviers († 1155), 1st Count de Devon.
Guillaume of Vernon, which preserved the main part of the continental goods (of which the castle of Vernon and that of Néhou), married to Lucie de Saint-Floxel, girl of the Chamberlain Guillaume de Tancarville
Robert of Holy-Mother-Church.
Hadevise or Hawise de Reviers, married to Guillaume de Roumare, Count de Lincoln.

(Source: Cartulaire de Montebourg , manuscript preserved at the National library of France).

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