Page 19 - Gen Mag Online November 2020

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Although Roger was probably not created Earl of Norfolk after de Gael’s downfall, he probably acted
as though he was. His son, Hugh Bigod was in fact created Earl of Norfolk in in 1141.

However, undeterred, in 1101 Roger’s fortunes as a loyal servant of the crown were rewarded even
further when Henry I granted him a licence to build a castle at Framlingham in Suffolk. This massive
estate became the family seat until the families fall from grace in 1307. Another of Roger’s castles
was Bungay Castle, also in Suffolk. Further, as Sheriff of Norfolk, he acquired other estates.

Strangely, while he had been loyal to the crown for many years, Roger did join a rebellion in 1088,
when he joined other barons in England against William II. The barons hoped to depose in favour
of Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, William II’s brother. The rebellion failed however and Roger
lost his lands. He did later regain them after reconciling with the king.

As an important member of the court now,the BIgods often witnessed charters and other crown
documents. A Robert Bigod (Bigot) - in 1100, was a witness to the Charter of Liberties.
In 1101, there was another attempt to bring in Robert of Normandy by removing King Henry I, but
this time Roger Bigod stayed loyal to the king.

Roger died on 9
Ruins of Thetford Priory,
September 1107 and is
Norfolk buried in Norwich.

After he died, the Bishop of Norwich, Herbert Losinga, and
the monks at Thetford Priory disputed as to where Roger
should be buried. The monks claimed Roger told them that
they could take his body for burial in the priory according
to the foundation charter. This was common practice at the
time. However, the bishop of Norwich stole the body and
had him buried in the new cathedral.

Over the years, historians have argued about the marital arrangement of Roger Bigod. Some believed
he two wives, Adelaide/Adeliza and Alice/Adeliza de Tosny. It is now believed these were the same
woman, Adeliza (Alice) de Tosny (Toeni, Toeny). Alice was also the sister and co-heiress of William
de Tosny, Lord of Belvoir.

Roger was succeeded by his eldest son, William Bigod. Sadly, latter drowned in the sinking of the
White Ship, a major disaster that occurred in 1120. As such, Roger was succeeded by his second
son, Hugh Bigod, who was created 1st Earl of Norfolk.

Roger also had several daughters: including Gunnor, who married Robert fitz Swein of Essex, Lord
of Rayleigh, Cecily, who married William d'Aubigny "aka Brito" and Maud, who married William
d'Aubigny "aka Pincerna". She was the mother of William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel.

The fortunes of the Bigod continued to rise over the next couple of hundred years but by the 14 th
century their influence waned.

th
From my own research it seems that Roger Bigod, Sheriff of Norfolk was my 26 great grand father
via 2 of his daughters - Cecily and another daughter, Jane who historians believe was the second
st
wife of Richard fitzEustace, Baron of Halton in Cheshire and mother of Roger fitzRichard, 1 Baron
Warkworth. However this is conjectural, and as yet unproved..

I recently visited Framlingham Castle. It must have been a fabulous sight when first built. It’s now
owned by English Heritage.

Overleaf is a drop down chart of some of the early descendants of Roger Bigod.