Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Richard d'Avranches, 2nd Earl of Chester (1094-1120) was son to Hugh, 1st Earl of Chester and Ermentrude of Clermont. He was just seven years old when his father, Hugh the Fat, died.

He probably came into his inheritance in 1107. He was handsome, loyal and amiable and was married to Lucia-Mahaut, , daughter of Stephen, Count of Blois. At the age of 20, in 1114 he was on campaign and was styled the Earl of Chester. In 1114, Richard with King Alexander of Scotland led an Anglo-Norman army into Gwynedd as part of a three-pronged campaign organised by Henry I of England against Gwynedd, and Gruffydd ap Cynan. The prudent Prince, without risking battle, satisfied the king with an oath of homage and a suitable fine. The campaign soon fizzled out after the oath giving, without combat, and Richard returned to Chester.

The line of the d'Avranches as Earls of Chester failed when Richard, with his illegitimate half-brother Ottuel, joined the young William, heir to the English King Henry aboard the doomed White Ship. The ship went down, drowning all but one boy, in the year 1120. Richard died aged 26, leaving no issue.

The earldom then passed through his father Hugh's sister Maud to Richard's first cousin Ranulph I, in 1121.