Home > William d'Aubigny

The two families are distinguished by the appellation of either Pincerna or Brito.

1 The "Brito" family

This family held the honor of Belvoir.

William d'Aubigny "Brito" (d. 1155/6) was an itinerant justice under Henry I. He fought at the Battle of Tinchebray. He acquired the honor of Belvoir, which became the center of the family estates, as marriage portion from his wife, Cecily, daughter of Roger Bigod.

William d'Aubigny "Meschin" (d. 1167/8) (son of the above)

William d'Aubigny (d.1236) (son of the above) was prominent during the baronial rebellions against king John. He stayed neutral at first, only joining the rebels after the early success in taking London in 1215. He was one of the 25 guaranteors of the Magna Carta. In the war that followed the signing of the charter, he held Rochester for the barons, and was imprisoned (and nearly hanged) after John captured the castle. He became a loyalist on the accession of Henry III, and was a commander at the Battle of Lincoln in 1217.

2 The "Pincerna" family

William d'Aubigny "Pincerna", married Maud, daughter of Roger Bigod.

William d'Aubigny "Pincerna", 1st Earl of Arundel (d. October 12, 1176) (son of the above) was an important member of Henry I's household. After Henry's death he married the king's widow Adeliza, and became lord of Arundel in her right. He was loyal to Stephen, who made him Earl of Arundel (or more technically, of Sussex). In 1165 he helped arrange the truce between Stephen and Henry Plantagenet. When the latter ascended the throne as Henry II, he confirmed William's earldom and gave him direct possession of Arundel Castle (instead of the possession in right of his wife he had previously had). He remained loyal to the king during the 1173 revolt of Henry the Young KingHenry the Young King ( February 28, 1155 June 11, 1183) was the second of five sons of Henry II of England and Eleanor of Aquitaine. Fostered by Thomas a Becket, in June 1170 the fifteen-year-old Henry was crowned king during his father's lifetime, but he, and helped defeat the rebellion.

William d'Aubigny, 2nd Earl of Arundel (d. 1196) (son of the above)

William d'Aubigny, 3rd Earl of Arundel (d. 1221) was a favorite of king John. He was one of the 25 guarenteors of the Magna Carta. He took part in the Fifth CrusadeThe Fifth Crusade ( 1217- 1221) was an attempt to take back Jerusalem by first conquering the powerful Muslim state in Egypt. In 1213 Pope Innocent III issued the bull Quia maior calling all Christians to join a new crusade, except the kings and emperors, and died in Italy on his journey home.