Biography of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1056-1130

Around 1044 [his father] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and [his mother] Mabel Belleme were married.

Around 1056 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury was born to Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Mabel Belleme.

After 1079 [his father] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Adelaide du Puiset Countess Shrewsbury were married.

On 2nd December 1079 [his mother] Mabel Belleme was murdered.

Before 9th September 1087 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 31) and Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (age 7) were married. The difference in their ages was 24 years. She the daughter of Bishop Guy Ponthieu (age 60). He the son of Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury and Mabel Belleme.

Around 1093 [his son] William "Talvas" Montgomery III Count Ponthieu was born to Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 37) and [his wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (age 13).

In 1094 [his father] Roger "The Great" Montgomery 1st Earl of Shrewsbury died. His son [his brother] Hugh succeeded 2nd Earl of Shrewsbury 1C 1071. His son Robert (age 38) succeeded 2nd Count Ponthieu. [his wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (age 14) by marriage Countess Ponthieu.

In 1098 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 42) succeeded 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury 1C 1071. [his wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (age 18) by marriage Countess of Shrewsbury.

On 13th October 1100 [his father-in-law] Bishop Guy Ponthieu (age 73) died. His daughter [his wife] Agnes (age 20) succeeded I Countess Ponthieu. Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 44) by marriage Count Ponthieu.

Bridgnorth Castle [Map]. Around 1101 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 45) founded Bridgnorth Castle [Map].

1101. Bridgnorth Bridge [Map] was commissioned around 1101 by Robert de Belleme (age 45), when the town of Bridgnorth was established in Shropshire. The fortified bridge had a gatehouse and a chapel, and was a key crossing over the River Severn. It was rebuilt in 1823, and only fragments of masonry now survive.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1102. In this year at the Nativity was the king Henry (age 34) at Westminster, and at Easter in Winchester, Hampshire [Map]. And soon thereafter arose a dissention between the king and the Earl Robert of Belesme (age 46), who held in this land the earldom of Shrewsbury, that his father, Earl Roger, had before, and much territory therewith both on this side and beyond the sea. And the king went and beset the castle at Arundel [Map]; but when he could not easily win it, he allowed men to make castles before it, and filled them with his men; and afterwards with all his army he went to Bridgenorth, and there continued until he had the castle [Map], and deprived the Earl Robert (age 51) of his land, and stripped him of all that he had in England. And the earl accordingly went over sea, and the army afterwards returned home. Then was the king thereafter by Michaelmas at Westminster; and all the principal men in this land, clerk, and laity.

In 1102 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 46) forfeit his Earldom of Shrewsbury for having rebelled against King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 34) and supported Robert Curthose (age 51).

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1104. Afterwards were reconciled the Earl Robert (age 53) of Normandy and Robert de Belesme (age 48), whom the King Henry (age 36) had before deprived of his lands, and driven from England; and through their reconciliation the King of England and the Earl of Normandy became adversaries. And the king sent his folk over sea into Normandy; and the head-men in that land received them, and with treachery to their lord, the earl, lodged them in their castles, whence they committed many outrages on the earl in plundering and burning.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1105. And then before Christmas came Robert de Belesme (age 49) hither to the king (age 37). This was a very calamitous year in this land, through loss of fruits, and through the manifold contributions, that never ceased before the king went over [to Normandy], or while he was there, or after he came back again.

After 1105 [his former wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury (deceased) died.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1106. In this year was the King Henry (age 38) on the Nativity at Westminster, and there held his court; and at that season Robert de Belesme (age 50) went unreconciled from the king out of his land into Normandy. Hereafter before Lent was the king at Northampton [Map]; and the Earl Robert (age 55) his brother came thither from Normandy to him; and because the king would not give him back that which he had taken from him in Normandy, they parted in hostility; and the earl soon went over sea back again.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1112. All this year remained the King Henry (age 44) in Normandy [Map] on account of the broils that he had with France, and with the Earl of Anjou (age 23), who held Maine [Map] against him. And whilst he was there, he deprived of their lands the Earl of Evreux, and William Crispin, and drove them out of Normandy. To Philip of Braiose (age 42) he restored his land, who had been before deprived of it; and Robert of Belesme (age 56) he suffered to be seized, and put into prison. This was a very good year, and very fruitful, in wood and in field; but it was a very heavy time and sorrowful, through a severe mortality amongst men.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. 1113. In this year was the King Henry (age 45) on the Nativity and at Easter and at Pentecost in Normandy. And after that, in the summer, he sent hither Robert of Belesme (age 57) into the castle at Wareham, Dorset [Map], and himself soon¹⁴² afterwards came hither to this land.

Note 142. "Mense Julio".-Flor.

Around 1115 [his son] William "Talvas" Montgomery III Count Ponthieu (age 22) and [his daughter-in-law] Helie Burgundy Countess Ponthieu (age 35) were married. She by marriage Countess Ponthieu. She the daughter of Odo "Red" I Duke Burgundy and Sybilla Ivrea Duchess Burgundy. He the son of Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (age 59) and [his former wife] Agnes Ponthieu Countess Ponthieu and Shrewsbury. They were fourth cousins.

After 1130 Robert II Belleme 2nd Count Ponthieu 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury (deceased) died. His son [his son] William (age 37) succeeded III Count Ponthieu.