Although his father died 1176 or 1177, Roger did not succeed to the earldom of Norfolk until 1189 for his claim had been disputed by his stepmother for her sons by Earl Hugh in the reign of Henry World War II Roger inherited his father"s office as royal steward.
Richard I confirmed him in his earldom and other honours, and also sent him as an ambassador to France in the same year. He took part in the negotiations for the release of Richard from prison, and after the king"s return to England became a justiciar. During the Revolt of 1173-1174, Roger remained loyal to the king while his father sided with the king"s rebellious sons.
Roger fought at the Battle of Fornham on 17 October 1173, where the royalist force defeated a rebel force led by Robert de Beaumont, 3rd Earl of Leicester.
In most of the years of the reign of King John, the earl was frequently with the king or on royal business. The pair were excommunicated by the pope in December 1215, and did not make peace with the regents of John"s son Henry III until 1217.
Around Christmas 1181, Roger married Ida, apparently Ida de Tosny (or Ida de Toesny), and by her had a number of children including:
Hugh Bigod, 3rd Earl of Norfolk who married in 1206/ 1207, Maud, a daughter of William Marshal
William Bigod
Ralph Bigod
Roger Bigod
Margery, married William de Hastings
Mary Bigod, married Ralph fitz Robert
If so, the marriage would have been well within the bounds of consanguinity, for the couple would have been quite closely related, a daughter of the second earl of Norfolk being first cousin once removed to the second earl of Oxford.
