General Notes

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REFN: P4363
William Fitz Osbern, was the illegitimate son of Osbern the Senesc hal,
who became one of the legal guardians of William the Conqueror after the
death of his father Robert, Duke of Normandy, in 1035. A number of Norman
barons would not accept an illegitimate son as their leader and in 1040
an at tempt was made to kill William. The plot failed but they did kill
the guardia ns Osbern the Seneschal, Gilbert of Brionne and Alan of
Brittany.
Fitz Osber n became a close friend of William the Conqueror and at the
Council of Lilleb onne, urged the Norman barons to invaDe England.
According to Norman chronicl ers, Fitz Osbern led the right wing of the
forces at the Battle of Hastings.
After his coronation in 1066, William the Conqueror claimed that all the
lan d in England now belonged to him. William retained about a fifth of
this land for his own use. The rest was distributed to those men who had
helped him De feat Harold. William Fitz Osbern was given vast estates,
notably in the Welsh Marshes.
After appointing Fitz Osbern and Odo of Bayeux as co-regents, Willia m the
Conqueror spent time in Normandy (March to December, 1067). While he wa s
away, disturbances broke out in Kent, Herefordshire, and in the north of
the country and Fitz Osbern played a leading role in putting down these
rebel lions.
To maintain control over his land Fitz Osbern built several castles
i ncluding those at Chepstow, Clifford and Wigmore. He had particular
problems with Edric the Wild in Herefordshire in 1070.
Fitz Osbern was one of William's senior administrators and worked on his
behalf in Normandy and Flanders. Wil liam Fitz Osbern was killed in a
battle at Cassel in February 1071.
The Conq ueror and His Companions
by J.R. Planché, Somerset Herald. London: Tinsley Bro thers, 1874.
Of the three great names at the head of this chapter [Wm F.O., Ro ger de
Montgomeri, Robt De Beaumont], that of William Fitz Osbern claims
pr ecedence as the nearest personal friend of the Conqueror, and the chief
offic er of his household. Son of that Osbern the son of Herfast,
otherwise Osbern De Crépon, who was foully murdered in the bed-chamber of
his young sovereign by William De Montgomeri, he succeeded him in his
office of Dapifer and the f avour of the Duke. No particular feat of arms
is recorded of him, though he m ust have fought in some, if not all, of
the battles in Normandy during the tw enty years or more which immediately
preceded the invasion of England, from t hat of Val-ès-Dunes in 1047 to
that of Varaville in 1060, and was probably wi th the Duke in his
expeditions against Conan in Brittany and his invasion of Maine in 1063.
We have proof at least of his presence at the siege of Domfron t in 1054,
when he was sent with Roger De Montgomeri to demand an explanation from
Geoffrey Martel of his conduct in marching into Normandy and seizing
Alençon. It is not, however, till the memorable year 1066 that he becomes
a p rominent person in the history of Normandy and of England. He appears
to have somewhat resembled his master in character, combining great
valour with much readiness of wit and astuteness of policy. We have seen
him entering the hal l of the Palace at Rouen "humming a tune," and
rousing the moody Duke from hi s silent and sullen consideration of the
news from England by bidding him bes tir himself and take vengeance on
Harold, who had been so disloyal to him; to call together all that he
could call, cross the sea, and wrest the crown fro m the perjured usurper.
William followed his advice, as most people do when t hey have already
determined on taking the course suggested, and "Osbern, of t he bold
heart," was very likely aware of that fact when he ventured to expres s
his opinion. The call was made first of the Duke's relatives and most
con fidential friends, and then of the whole baronage of Normandy. It is
at this last and large assembly at Lillebonne that the au