Richard d'Avranches

1094 (age 26)

Due to his age, a stewardship would have ruled until he was old enough. He probably became Earl of Chester in 1107. At the age of twenty, in 1114, Richard was on military campaign and was styled the Earl of Chester. Together with King Alexander of Scotland, he led an Anglo-Norman army into Gwynedd as part of a three-pronged campaign organised by Henry I of England against Gwynedd, and Gruffudd ap Cynan. Gruffudd, rather than risk battle, satisfied the King with an oath of homage and a suitable fine. The campaign soon fizzled out, and Richard returned to Chester. The ship went down, drowning all but one boy, in the year 1120. Richard died aged twenty-six, leaving no issue. The earldom then passed through his father Hugh's sister Maud to Richard's first cousin Ranulph I, in 1121.

Richard d'Avranches

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Background

He was seven years old when his father, known as Hugh the Fat, died.

Career

Due to his age, a stewardship would have ruled until he was old enough. He probably became Earl of Chester in 1107. At the age of twenty, in 1114, Richard was on military campaign and was styled the Earl of Chester.

Together with King Alexander of Scotland, he led an Anglo-Norman army into Gwynedd as part of a three-pronged campaign organised by Henry I of England against Gwynedd, and Gruffudd ap Cynan. Gruffudd, rather than risk battle, satisfied the King with an oath of homage and a suitable fine. The campaign soon fizzled out, and Richard returned to Chester.

The ship went down, drowning all but one boy, in the year 1120. Richard died aged twenty-six, leaving no issue. The earldom then passed through his father Hugh's sister Maud to Richard's first cousin Ranulph I, in 1121.

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