Biography of Ranulf Gernon 4th Earl Chester 1099-1153

Paternal Family Tree: Gernon

Maternal Family Tree: Lucy Bolingbroke Countess Chester

Around 1083 Ivo Taillebois (age 47) and [his mother] Lucy Bolingbroke Countess Chester were married.

After 1094 Roger Roumare 1st Baron Kendal and [his mother] Lucy Bolingbroke Countess Chester were married.

In 1097 [his father] Ranulf le Meschin Gernon 3rd Earl Chester (age 27) and [his mother] Lucy Bolingbroke Countess Chester were married.

In 1099 Ranulf Gernon 4th Earl Chester was born to Ranulf le Meschin Gernon 3rd Earl Chester (age 29) and Lucy Bolingbroke Countess Chester at Château Guernon, Guernon.

In Nov 1120 [his father] Ranulf le Meschin Gernon 3rd Earl Chester (age 50) succeeded 3rd Earl Chester. [his mother] Lucy Bolingbroke Countess Chester by marriage Countess Chester.

In Jan 1129 [his father] Ranulf le Meschin Gernon 3rd Earl Chester (age 59) died. He was buried at Chester Cathedral [Map]. His son Ranulf Gernon 4th Earl Chester (age 30) succeeded 4th Earl Chester.

Around 1130 Combermere Abbey [Map] was founded by Hugh Malbank, Baron of Nantwich, confirmed in 1130 by Ranulf Gernon 4th Earl Chester (age 31) who was one of the witnesses of its foundation charter. Other witnesses included Hugh Malbank's son, William, and Roger de Clinton, the Bishop of Coventry. The original grant included the manor of Wilkesley, comprising two Domesday manors worth 18 shillings pre-Conquest; the villages of Dodcott, Lodmore and Royal; land at Burleydam; a mill and fishery at Chorley; and woods at Brentwood, Light Birchwood and Butterley Heyes. The Abbey originally belonged to the Savigniac order, which merged with the Cistercian order by 1147.

In 1132 Ranulf Gernon 4th Earl Chester (age 33) founded Basingwerk Abbey [Map]. The first location of the abbey was at the nearby Hen Blas. In 1147 the abbey joined the Cistercian Order. It was a daughter house of Combermere Abbey [Map].

First Battle of Lincoln

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1140. Thereafter died William, Archbishop of Canterbury; and the king (age 46) made Theobald (age 50) archbishop, who was Abbot of Bec. After this waxed a very great war betwixt the king (age 46) and Randolph, Earl of Chester (age 41); not because he did not give him all that he could ask him, as he did to all others; but ever the more he gave them, the worse they were to him. The Earl held Lincoln against the king (age 46), and took away from him all that he ought to have. And the king (age 46) went thither, and beset him and his brother William de Romare in the castle.

On 02 Feb 1141 the army of Empress Matilda (age 38) commanded by [his future father-in-law] Robert Normandy 1st Earl Gloucester (age 42) defeated the army of King Stephen I England (age 47). Matilda's army included Ranulf Gernon 4th Earl Chester (age 42) and Madog ap Maredudd Mathrafal Prince Powys. King Stephen I England (age 47), Gilbert Gaunt 1st Earl Lincoln (age 15), William "The Younger" Peverell (age 61) and Ilbert Lacy 3rd Baron Pontefract were captured. William "Fat" Blois 1st Earl Albemarle aka Aumale 1st Earl York (age 40) fought for Stephen, his cousin.

In or before 1147 Ranulf Gernon 4th Earl Chester (age 48) and Matilda Fitzrobert Countess Chester were married. She by marriage Countess Chester. She the daughter of Robert Normandy 1st Earl Gloucester (age 48) and Mabel Fitzhamon Countess Gloucester. He the son of Ranulf le Meschin Gernon 3rd Earl Chester and Lucy Bolingbroke Countess Chester. They were half third cousins. She a granddaughter of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.

In 1147 [his illegitimate brother-in-law] Robert Fitzrobert and Hawise Redvers were married. She the daughter of Baldwin Redvers 1st Earl Devon and Adelisa Baluun Countess Devon. He the illegitmate son of Robert Normandy 1st Earl Gloucester (age 48). He a grandson of King Henry I "Beauclerc" England.