General Notes

Roger I de Montgomery, who was the first to use the surnam
e of Montgomery, was called one of the most powerful Norma
n Barons at the end of the tenth century. He died in Pari
s about 1040 A.D. He married Josceline, daughter of Senfrie
, sister of the wife of Richard I. His sons were Hugo who d
ied before 1050, Robert and William who both also died befo
re 1050, Gilbert who was poisoned by his sister-in-law, Mab
ile de Belleme in 1063 A.D. and our ancestor Roger de Montg
omery II, Earl of Arundel and Shrewsbury.
"Origin and History of the Montgomerys" by B.G. Montgomer
y of Sweden.
ROGER I DE MONTGOMERY
Gormeric's eldest son, William, had a son Hugo. His son Rog
er de Montgomery is the first member of the family of who
m one knows with certainty that he used the surname. The Fr
ench historian, the Vicomte Du Motey, calls Roger 'one of t
he most powerful Norman Barons at the end of the tenth
century.'
William the Bastard, the name of the Norman Duke before h
e conquered England and gained the prouder surname of the C
onqueror, was the son of Robert II and Arlette or Herleve
, the daughter of one Fulbert, tanner of Falaise. Judging b
y his great care of churches and monasteries, Roger must ha
ve been a very religious man. No wonder, therefore, that af
ter Robert's death he refused to recognize William, born ou
t of wedlock, as the legitimate heir to the throne. He an
d his sons Hugo and Robert organized the opposition agains
t the young Duke, whose guardian was Allan, Duke of Brittan
y. They struggled against heavy odds, since the Duke's supp
orters were far more numerous, but Montgomery defended hims
elf with great courage and tenacity behind the walls of hi
s castle. Allan died at Vimoutiers during the siege, but i
n the end Montgomery had to surrender. He was banished fro
m the country and went to France, where he was well receive
d by Henry I, who shared his views. Roger died in Paris abo
ut 1040. According to the Cartulary of Troarn, his wife Jos
celine was still alive in 1068.
During Roger's exile his sons remained in Normandy, continu
ing to fight for what they considered a just cause. This st
ruggle eventually developed into sheer vendetta. Allan's su
ccessor as guardian of the young Duke was Osbern de Crepon
, the son of Herfast, brother of Duchess Gunnor. He was a c
ousin of Richard II and also of Roger de Montgomery's wif
e Josceline. In spite of this kinship Osbern pitilessly per
secuted Roger's sons, and one of them, William, determine
d to capture the Duke, who lived with Osbern in the strongl
y fortified castle of Vaudreuil. The guardian watched lik
e a hawk over his precious life, but one night William an
d his confederates managed to penetrate within the castle t
o the Duke's chamber. He was not there, but Osbern, whom th
ey found alone, was summarily strangled. Ordericus says tha
t on this occasion the Duke's life was saved by his uncle G
autier, brother of Arlette, who had hidden him in his bed
. Some days later one of Osbern's men, Bamous de Glos, surp
rised William in his quarters and killed him during his sle
ep. Now the vendetta was accomplished and the way open to r
econciliation between the Duke's party and the Montgomerys.