Stogursey

Who he is

Name

Alice de Courcy, daughter of William de Courcy, and her husband Warin FitzGerold

Title

Lady and lord of Stogursey

Since

Not pinned (Warin gained Stogursey castle by the marriage, whose date is not given)

Born

Warin about 1167; Alice not pinned

Family

Warin FitzGerold is the son of Henry FitzGerold, chamberlain to the king, and serves John as chamberlain of the Exchequer; he fought on the Third Crusade. Their daughter Margaret will marry Baldwin de Redvers, heir of the earl of Devon, and then Falkes de Breaute.

Confidence

low

If Alice and Warin had not yet married by 1 January 1200, she holds as an heiress (with or without the king's guardian). John de Courcy, the conqueror of Ulster, is often said to be a cadet of this family.

Overlord

King John

What it holds

• Stogursey castle and manor
• The Courcy fees in Somerset and beyond

How it was acquired

The Courcys held it from the early twelfth century; it passes through Alice to FitzGerold.

Allies and rivals

Neighbours: the Mohuns of Dunster, the Paynel and Briwere interest at Bridgwater.

How things stand that morning

Held by Alice de Courcy, with Warin FitzGerold if married by then (not pinned).

Wealth

Coastal lowland and the Quantock edge. No figures.

Military

Stogursey castle (ringwork and bailey).

Places of note

• Stogursey castle: Caput

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: Warin's marriage and the castle come from the Wikipedia article on him; dates are missing.

On the map: Only the caput is drawn.

Primary sources for England

Chronicles, registers, sagas and inscriptions written in or near 1200 that cover this entry. Each has its own page with editions, translations and where to read it.

• Chronicle of Jocelin of Brakelond, Jocelin of Brakelond (about 1198 to 1203). An inside account of Bury St Edmunds under Abbot Samson, written while the events were fresh. Read online
• Chronicle of Melrose, Anonymous (monks of Melrose abbey) (about 1173 to 1270, in many hands; the 1200 entries are near contemporary). The main Scottish annal for the year, kept at a Cistercian house on the Tweed. Read online
• Chronicle of Roger of Howden, Roger of Howden (about 1192 to 1201). The fullest single narrative for the year. Read online
• Chronicle of the Princes, Anonymous (Welsh translation of a lost Latin chronicle kept at Strata Florida) (Latin original to about 1282, compiled from contemporary annals; Welsh versions about 1300 and later). The native Welsh record of the year. Read online
• Chronicle; Deeds of the Kings, Gervase of Canterbury (Chronica about 1188 to 1199; Gesta Regum about 1199 to 1210). The Chronica stops in 1199, so for 1200 the witness is the briefer Gesta Regum, which notes John's peace with Philip, the coronation of Isabella at Westminster on 8 October 1200, and matters touching Canterbury: the archbishop Hubert Walter as chancellor, the cathedral priory's quarrel with him, and the Lambeth college dispute lately settled by the pope. Read online
• English Chronicle of Ralph of Coggeshall, Ralph of Coggeshall (about 1200 to 1224, in stages). Short but independent entries for 1200 from a Cistercian house in Essex: John's levy on the Cistercians and the carucage, the peace with Philip, the king's new marriage and the queen's coronation, and the death of Hugh of Lincoln. Read online
• Flowers of History, Roger of Wendover (about 1220 to 1235 at St Albans). For 1200 Wendover is mostly Howden rewritten, so he is a second witness only where he adds St Albans material: a long account of Hugh of Lincoln's last months, death and funeral, and anecdotes about John's conduct toward the Cistercians and his new queen. Read online
• Images of History, Ralph de Diceto (about 1188 to 1202). A London view of the year from the dean of St Paul's, who knew the justiciar and the bishops personally. Read online

22 more in the sources library for The British Isles.