General Notes

Name Suffix:<NSFX> 1st Earl of Devon
Baldwin de Reviers, son of Richard de Reviers, Lord of Reviers, Vernon, and Nehou (all in Normandy), supported the Empress Maud against King Stephen in the period known as the Anarchy following the death of Henry I and was by her created Earl of Devon c1141. The name of Reviers was subsequently corrupted to Redvers. As well as holding the Earldom of Devon the de Revierses were Lords of the Isle of Wight. [Burke's Peerage]

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EARLDOM OF DEVON (I)

BALDWIN DE REVIERS, son and heir of Richard DE REVIERs. On the rumour of the King's
death, in April 1136, he was one of the first to break into revolt. Seizing the royal castle of Exeter, he sustained a long siege by the King, and was ultimately allowed to withdraw his forces on giving up the castle. The King then proceeded to the Isle of Wight, took possession of the island, and drove him, with his wife and children, into exile. He took refuge at the Court of the Count of Anjou, and soon afterwards conducted a successful raid into Normandy. About Lent 1138 he was taken prisoner in Normandy by Enguerrand de Say, a partisan of King Stephen. He returned to England in -the autumn of 1139,
shortly before the arrival of the Empress Maud, and, landing at Wareham, seized the castle of Corfe. This he defended successfully against the King, forcing him eventually to raise the siege. By the Empress he was created EARL OF DEVON, probably in 1141, and certainly before Midsummer in that year. He married Adelise. He died 4 June 1155, and was buried (as was his said wife) in Quarr Abbey, which he had founded in 1132. [Complete Peerage IV:311-2, (transcribed by Dave Utzinger)]

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Baldwin de Redvers, 2nd Earl of Devon. This nobleman, upon the demise of King Henry I, espousing the cause of the Empress Maud, took up arms and immediately fortified his castle of Exeter and the Isle of Wight; but, being besieged by King Stephen, he was obliged to surrender the castle and all his other possessions and to withdraw with his family from the kingdom. We find him, however, soon again returning and in the enjoyment of the Earldom of Devon; but, like his father, generally styled Earl of Exeter, from residing in the city, His lordship m. Lucia, dau. of Dru de Balun, and had issue, Richard, his successor; William, surnamed de Verdon; and Maud. He d. in June, 1155, and was s. by his son, Richard de Redvers, 3rd Earl of Devon. [Sir Bernard Burke, Dormant and Extinct Peerages, Burke's Peerage, London, 1883, p. 140, Courtenay, Barons Courtenay, Earls of Devon]