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The Warenne Story: Sections 5 and 6
6 minutes read time Section Five: William de Warenne, 5th Earl of Surrey (c.1166–1240): Power and Loyalty in the Age of Magna Carta The death of Hamelin Plantagenet in 1202 left his son, 36 year old William de Warenne, as the 5th Earl of Surrey and heir to one of the most powerful noble houses in England. William inherited not only the vast Warenne estates and castles but his family’s loyalty to the Plantagenet Kings, though his loyalty would be sorely tested during the reign of King John. Service to King John By the early 13th century, the Warenne family remained among the foremost aristocrats in England. William Earl Warenne’s…
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The History of the Warenne Family: Sections 3 and 4
8 minutes read time. Section 3: William III de Warenne, 3rd Earl of Surrey (1119-1148) Loyalty in an Age of Anarchy The death of William II de Warenne in 1138 marked the end of an era of relative stability for the Warenne family. His son, William III de Warenne, inherited the title of 3rd Earl of Surrey along with vast estates. Born around 1119, William came into his inheritance aged about 19, during one of the most chaotic periods in English history. The succession crisis following the death of Henry I in 1135 had plunged England into turmoil. King Henry’s only legitimate son had died tragically in the White Ship…
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The History of the Warennes Section Two: William II de Warenne, Second Earl of Surrey and his wife Isabel de Vermandois
8 minutes read time Growing Power and Influence When Guillaume de Warenne, the first Earl of Surrey died, in 1088, his vast English estates in Sussex, Norfolk and Yorkshire, plus his Norman lands at Bellancombre and Mortemer, passed to his eldest son, William II de Warenne. He would hold the earldom for 50 years (apart from a 2-year break) until his death. Aged around 18-20 when his father died, William II inherited not only land and wealth but also the noble title of his father. William II had grown up in a world transformed by conquest. His father’s loyalty to the crown had secured the Warenne family’s place among the…
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The Warennes of Sandal Castle, Earls of Surrey and Lords of the Manor of Wakefield: from Hastings in 1066 to their Extinction in 1347
How to follow the story The story is told over 8 generations of the family. You can begin here and at the end of each section is a link to the next…or you can find links for the whole series, culminating in the Elland Feud, in the Medieval Section on the main menu. 6 minute read time Introduction to Section 1: History often comes alive through the stories of families whose fortunes rose or fell as power shifted. My own writing is frequently inspired by family history research, and the tale of the Warenne family, Earls of Surrey and Lords of the Manor of Wakefield, is no exception. This time,…
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New Video – The Grey Apple Tree – Causes and Events Leading to the Norman Conquest
As told by the Bayeux Tapestry This updated AV has additional content and is now available in 4K video. The Grey Apple Tree brings to life the gripping tale of ambition, betrayal, and the battle that shaped a nation. From the death of Edward the Confessor, through the fierce rivalry of four claimants to the English throne, the story unfolds against the backdrop of one of the most decisive clashes in history—the Battle of Hastings. The battle marked the defeat of King Harold II by William, Duke of Normandy, bringing an end to more than 500 years of Anglo-Saxon rule. This victory established William as King of England and ushered…
