View source for Bertha of Hereford

{{EngvarB|date=March 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{short description|12th-century Anglo-Norman noblewoman}}
{{Infobox noble
|name       =Bertha of Hereford
|title     ='Lady of Brecknock'''<br>'''Lady of Abergavenny'''<br>'''Lady of Hay'''<br>'''Lady of Bramber'
|birth_date =c. 1130
|birth_place=England
|death_date =unknown
|spouse     =[[William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber]]
|issue   =[[William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber]]<br>Roger de Braose<br>Bertha de Braose<br>Sibyl de Braose<br>Maud de Braose
|father    =[[Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford]]
|mother    =[[Sibyl de Neufmarché]]
|noble family=de Pitres
|}}
'''Bertha of Hereford''', also known as '''Bertha de Pitres''' (born c. 1130), was the daughter of [[Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford]], and a wealthy heiress, [[Sibyl de Neufmarché]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bryant |first=Chris |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YyitDQAAQBAJ&dq=bertha+of+hereford&pg=PT88 |title=Entitled: A Critical History of the British Aristocracy |date=2017-09-07 |publisher=Random House |isbn=978-1-4735-2551-1 |language=en}}</ref> She was the wife of [[William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber]]<ref>{{Cite book |last=Pollock |first=M. A. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8aGfBwAAQBAJ&dq=bertha+of+hereford&pg=PA252 |title=Scotland, England and France After the Loss of Normandy, 1204-1296: "Auld Amitie" |date=2015 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer Ltd |isbn=978-1-84383-992-7 |language=en}}</ref> to whom she brought many castles and Lordships, such as [[Lordship of Brecknock|Brecknock]] (including [[Hay Castle]]), and [[Abergavenny]].
==Family==
Bertha was born in England in about 1130. She was a daughter of Miles, Earl of Hereford (1097- 24 December 1143) and [[Sibyl de Neufmarché]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lundy|2010|p=10257 § 102563}} cites {{harvnb|Cokayne|2000|p=21}}.</ref> She had two sisters, [[Margaret of Hereford]],<ref>{{harvnb|Lundy|2011|p=10257 § 102564}} cites {{harvnb|Cokayne|2000a|p=457}}</ref> who married [[Humphrey II de Bohun]], by whom she had issue,<ref>{{harvnb|Lundy|2006|p=21390 § i213894}} cites {{harvnb|Cokayne|2000a|p=457}}.</ref> and Lucy of Hereford, who married Herbert FitzHerbert of Winchester, by whom she had issue.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} Her brothers included [[Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford]], [[Walter de Hereford]], [[Henry Fitzmiles]], [[William de Hereford]], and [[Mahel de Hereford]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lundy|2011|p=10257 § 102564}} cites {{harvnb|Cokayne|2000|pp=20, 21}}</ref>
Bertha's paternal grandparents were [[Walter de Gloucester|Walter FitzRoger de Pitres]], Sheriff of Gloucester and Bertha de Balun of Bateden,<ref>{{harvnb|Lundy|2004|p=62 § 615 }} cites {{harvnb|Cokayne|2000|p=20}}</ref> a descendant of [[Hamelin de Balun]],{{citation needed|date=November 2012}} and her maternal grandparents were [[Bernard de Neufmarché]], Lord of Brecon, and [[Nesta ferch Osbern]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lundy|2003|p=10257 § 102565}} cites {{harvnb|Cokayne|2000|p=20}}</ref> The latter was a daughter of Osbern FitzRichard of [[Richard's Castle]], and [[Nesta ferch Gruffydd]].<ref>{{harvnb|Lundy|2008|p=10257 § 102568}} cites {{harvnb|Weir|1999|p=36}}</ref> Bertha was a direct descendant, in the maternal line, of [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]] (1007- 5 August 1063) and [[Edith of Mercia|Edith (Aldgyth)]], daughter of Elfgar, Earl of [[Mercia]].{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}
Bertha's father Miles served as [[Constable]] to King [[Stephen of England]]. He later served in the same capacity to [[Empress Matilda]] after he'd transferred his allegiance. In 1141, she made him Earl of Hereford in gratitude for his loyalty. On 24 December 1143, he was killed whilst on a hunting expedition in the Forest of Dean.{{sfn|Round|1890|pp=438–430}}
== Marriage and issue ==
[[Image:Abergavenny Castle 2.jpg|thumb|right|[[Abergavenny Castle]] in Monmouthshire, Wales, was one of the castles Bertha of Hereford brought to her husband William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber]]
In 1150, Bertha married William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber (1112–1192), son of Philip de Braose, 2nd Lord of Bramber and Aenor, daughter of Judael of Totnes. William and Bertha had three daughters and two sons, including William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber.
In 1173, Bertha's brothers all having died without issue, she brought the Lordships and castles of Brecknock and Abergavenny, to her husband.{{sfn|Round|1890|pp=438–430}} Hay Castle had already passed to her from her mother, Sibyl of Neufmarche in 1165, whence it became part of the de Braose holdings.
In 1174, Bertha's husband became [[Sheriff]] of Hereford.
Bertha's children include
* [[William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber]], (1144/1153- 11 August 1211, Corbeil),<ref>{{harvnb|Lundy|2010|p=10257 § 102563}} cites {{harvnb|Cokayne|2000|p=22}}.</ref> married [[Maud de Braose|Maud de St. Valery]], daughter of Bernard de St. Valery, by whom he had 16 children.
* Roger de Braose or Reynold de Briouse
* Sibyl de Braose (died after 5 February 1227), married [[William de Ferrers, 3rd Earl of Derby]] (1136- 21 October 1190 at [[Acre (city)|Acre]] on [[crusade]]), son of [[Robert de Ferrers, 2nd Earl of Derby]] and [[Margaret Peverel]], by whom she had issue.
* Maud de Braose, married John de Brompton, by whom she had issue.<ref>Eyton's Antiquities of Shropshire, Vol 4, p 246</ref>
==Legacy==
Bertha died on an unknown date. She was the ancestress of many noble English families which included the de Braoses, de Beauchamps, de Bohuns and de Ferrers; as well as the Irish families of de Lacy and de Burgh.
==Ancestry==
{{unreferenced section|date=November 2012}}
{{ahnentafel
|collapsed=yes |align=center
|boxstyle_1=background-color: #fcc;
|boxstyle_2=background-color: #fb9;
|boxstyle_3=background-color: #ffc;
|boxstyle_4=background-color: #bfc;
|boxstyle_5=background-color: #9fe;
| 1 =  '''Bertha of Hereford'''
| 2 = [[Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford]]
| 3 = [[Sibyl de Neufmarché]]
| 4 = [[Walter de Gloucester|Walter FitzRoger de Pitres]]
| 5 = Bertha de Balun of Bateden
| 6 = [[Bernard de Neufmarché]], Lord of Brecon
| 7 = Nesta ferch Osbern
| 8 = [[Roger de Pitres]]
| 9 = Eunice de Balun
| 10= de Balun
| 11=
| 12= Geoffrey de Neufmarché
| 13= Ada de Hugleville
| 14= [[Osbern fitzRichard]]
| 15= Nest ferch Gruffydd
| 18= [[Hamelin de Balun]]
| 19=
| 20= [[Hamelin de Balun]]
| 21=
| 22=
| 23=
| 24= Thurcytel de Neufmarché
| 25= Papia of England
| 26= Richard FitzGulbert, Seigneur de Hugleville
| 27= Ada de Hugleville
| 28= [[Richard FitzScrob]]
| 29=         de Essex
| 30= [[Gruffydd ap Llywelyn]] of Wales
| 31= [[Edith of Mercia]]
}}
==References==
{{Reflist|2}}
===Sources===
*{{Citation |last=Cokayne |first=George E |authorlink=George Cokayne |title=The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant |edition=new, 13 volumes in 14 (1910–1959; reprint in 6 volumes|location=Gloucester, UK|publisher=Alan Sutton Publishing |year=2000 |volume=I |pages=20, 21, 22}}
*{{Citation |last=Cokayne |first=George E |authorlink=George Cokayne |title=The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant, Extinct or Dormant |edition=new, 13 volumes in 14 (1910–1959; reprint in 6 volumes|location=Gloucester, UK|publisher=Alan Sutton Publishing |year=2000a |volume=VI |page=457}}
*{{Citation|last=Dugdale |first=William, Sir |authorlink=William Dugdale |year=1894|title=Monasticon Anglicanum |volume=6 |chapter=Lanthony Abbey, Gloucestershire: Num. II: ''Fundatorum Progenies'' |publisher= T.G. March |page=[https://books.google.com/books?id=WmtPAAAAcAAJ&pg=PA134 134]}}
*{{cite web |last=Lundy |first=Darryl |date=6 April 2003 |url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p10257.htm#i102565 |title=Sybil de Neufmarché |page=10257 § 102565 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}
*{{Citation|last=Lundy |first=Darryl |date=24 February 2004 |url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p62.htm#i615 |title=Walter Fitz Roger de Pîtres]|page=62 § 615 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}
*{{Citation|last=Lundy |first=Darryl |date=17 December 2006 |url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p21390.htm#i213894 |title=Margaret of Gloucester |page=21390 § i213894 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}
*{{Citation|last=Lundy |first=Darryl |date=13 September 2008 |url=
http://www.thepeerage.com/p10257.htm#i102568 |title=Osbern FitzRichard |page=10257 § 102568 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}
*{{Citation |last=Lundy |first=Darryl |date=19 April 2010 |url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p10257.htm#i102563 |title=Bertha of Hereford |page=10257 § 102563 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}
*{{Citation|last=Lundy |first=Darryl |date=17 May 2011 |url=http://www.thepeerage.com/p10257.htm#i102564 |title=Miles of Gloucester |page=10257 § 102564 |accessdate=1 November 2012}}
*{{cite DNB|last=Round|first=John Horace |wstitle=Gloucester, Miles de|volume=21 |pages=438–430}}
*{{Citation |last=Weir |first=Alison |title=Britain's Royal Family: A Complete Genealogy |location=London, UK |publisher=The Bodley Head |year=1999|page=36}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bertha of Hereford}}
[[Category:Anglo-Normans]]
[[Category:Anglo-Norman women]]
[[Category:1130s births]]
[[Category:Year of death unknown]]
[[Category:Daughters of British earls]]
[[Category:12th-century English women]]
[[Category:12th-century English nobility]]