Henry d'Essex

Henry d'Essex (died c. 1170) was a Norman noble who held the manor of Raleigh in Essex and the offices of Constable of England and Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports during the reign of King Henry II.

Hythe, in Kent, one of the Cinque Ports, was once of such significance that it was defended by two castles, s Saltwood and Lympne. Saltwood Castle derives its name from the village in its shadow, and was the home of Henry d'Essex, Baron of Raleigh and Royal Standard Bearer. The surviving structure of Saltwood Castle is considered to be the work of Henry d'Essex from 1154, particularly the 'curtain wall' which it has been claimed was begun during the reign of Henry I.(d 1135). (The de Montforts lost possession of Saltwood Castle early in the twelfth century).

Henry d'Essex was however 'disgraced on the battlefield', and fell from grace. The reason is unknown, but it seems probable Essex was implicated in Thomas Becket's argument with Henry II, since he enjoyed his rule at Saltwood as a tenant of the archbishop of Canterbury. King Henry II transferred the castle to Henry de Broc as a 'reprisal for the treason of Henry de Essex', which further aggravated Becket's quarrel with the King.

"When Henry of Essex was deposed and forced into a monastery by the king, the archbishop's claim to the castle was not acknowledged."

Henry d'Essex is thought to have died the same year as Becket, in 1170 (Andrew J. Müller and Roy Barton 2001).

Henry of Essex is mentioned in The Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond. The monk details Henry’s trial by battle with Robert de Montfort (relation to Henry) in 1163 on an island in the River Thames at Reading. They fought over Henry’s alleged cowardice at the pass of Coleshill during the Welsh war in 1157. Henry is accused of abandoning Henry II’s standard upon hearing the mistaken news of the king’s death. During the contest Henry of Essex is struck down and thought dead, only to revive later in the company of the monks about to bury him. He decides to join them in their monastic life. Jocelin notes that it was Roger de Clare, 3rd Earl of Hertford who took up Henry II's standard to prevent defeat in that battle. In Reading today, there are two roads, named De Montfort Road and De Bohun Road named after the protagonists.

Arms of Henry of Essex

"Arms, Argent, an Orle Gules. Eodem anno, as in Madox's Exch. p.685 John de Bidun."

Family

Gunnor de Essex was the daughter of Henry de Essex by Cecilia de Valognes."

"Agnes de Valognes had settled land on Gunnora, her grand daughter, in Cambridgeshire to provide for her, following the confiscation of de Essex family estates."

Robert de Essex: probable brother of Henry, and uncle of Gunnor de Essex, 'who occurs in a dispute with the Valognes family over property of Binham'.

¹ Around Historic Kent; Malcolm John.

 

Preceded by: Unknown

Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports 1150–1154

Succeeded by: Unknown