Gernons, Ranulph des, Earl of Chester
Notes:
Weis' "Ancestral Roots. . ." (125:27), (132A:27).
Cokayne's "Complete Peerage" (Chester, pp.166-167).
According to the "Dictionary of National Biography", Randulf took no promimenent part in public affairs during the reign of KING HENRY I (RIN 789). Upon his accession in 1135, KING STEPHEN (RIN 3890) gave estates to PRINCE HENRY OF SCOTLAND (RIN 1912), which Randulf felt should have been his - specifically Lincoln and Carlisle. Randulf bided his time, making a mostly unsuccessful attempt to add to his holdings on the Welsh frontier. In 1140 Randulf attempted to intercept PRINCE HENRY during his return to Scotland. He then captured the keep of Lincoln castle by way of intrigue. KING STEPHEN laid a siege, but Randulf slipped out and gathered forces, including some Welsh allies, and his father-in-law - ROBERT, EARL OF GLOUCESTER (RIN 797). He then went to STEPHEN's rival for the throne, THE EMPRESS MATILDA (RIN 788), and offered allegiance to her in return for her help. With his father-in-law and the forces they had gathered, Randulf reached Lincoln on 2 Feb 1141, and, in the battle beneath its walls, took a foremost part, charging THE KING in person. Entering the city in triumph, on the defeat of the enemy,
he allowed his Welsh troops to sack it. In 1141, Randulf joined MATILDA's forces at the siege of Winchester, but took no prominent part. In 1142, Randulf made peace with STEPHEN. In 1144, after biding his time, STEPHEN unsuccessfuly attacked Lincoln. Randulf maintained the upper hand in his struggles with STEPHEN and, by 1146, is said to have practically ruled over a third part of the realm represented by a triangle with its apex at Chester and its bases at Coventry and Lincoln. Becoming alarmed at STEPHEN's growing power, Randulf suddenly renewed his friendship with him. He joined vigorously in the siege of
Bedford, and on its fall, assisted the king with 300 knights in pushing the siege of Wallingford. However, he never really earned THE KING's trust and was arested and imprisoned while attending the king's court. In exchange for his release, Randulf had to surrender his castles and give hostages. His nephew, RICHARD DE CLARE, EARL OF HERTFORD (RIN 1079) had to pledge himself and his castles for Randulf's good behavior. Randulf almost immediately broke his pledge, unsuccessfuly attacked
Lincoln and Coventry, narrowly escaping death. When the EMPRESS MATILDA's son - the future KING HENRY II (RIN 761) came to England in 1159, Randulf allied himself with him. A powerful alliance was formed between Randulf, HENRY PLANTAGENET, and HENRY OF SCOTLAND (Randulf's old nemesis), but before it could be exploited, Randulf found STEPHEN offering to outbid any offers that HENRY would make for Randulf's support. The result, as stated in the DNB was that "Lincoln was to be restored to him under certain eloborate conditions, and he was to receive large grants of escheated and crown lands, including the land 'between Mersy and Ribble', together with Belvoir Castle and its appendant estates. Besides lands in Nottinghamshire, Leicesyershire, and Warwickshire, he obtained Torksey and Grimsby in Lincolnshire, his dominion thus
practically extending from sea to sea, with a port on both coasts." In 1153, when HENRY PLANTAGENET returned to England, he outbid even STEPHEN's concessions in England and also gave Randulf estates in
Normandy. Randulf died on 16 Dec 1153. It was beleived that he was poisoned by WILLIAM PEVEREL OF NOTINGHAM (RIN 997), whose lands had been granted to Randulph by KING HENRY Ranulph's wife has also been said by some to have been involved in the plot.