Barons and castellans · Kingdom of England · as at first light, 1 January 1200

Trematon

The Valletort honour guards the Tamar crossing into Cornwall: Trematon castle above the Lynher, the borough of Saltash at the ferry, and some sixty knights' fees, almost all held of the earldom of Cornwall rather than directly of the king.

With the earldom vacant, the Valletorts answer to the king's sheriff.

Who he is

Name
Roger de Valletort (died 1206)
Title
Lord of Trematon
Since
Not pinned (after Ralph de Valletort, died before 1173)
Born
Not pinned
Family
The Valletorts (Vautort) hold Trematon of the earldom of Cornwall; his heir is Reginald de Valletort
Confidence
medium

Holder by the order of succession on the feudal barony page; the date he succeeded is not given.

Overlord

The earldom of Cornwall, now in the king's hand

What it holds

  • Trematon castle
  • Saltash and its Tamar ferry
  • About sixty knights' fees in 1166, 59 of them held of the earl of Cornwall and one in chief

How it was acquired

Held of the earls of Cornwall since the twelfth century.

Allies and rivals

Neighbours: Plympton (earl of Devon) across the Tamar, the king's manors of Calstock and Climsland.

How things stand that morning

Held by Roger de Valletort.

Wealth

The Tamar ferry and fisheries, east Cornish manors. No figures.

Military

Trematon castle (motte with shell keep); the honour's knights.

Threats

  • A new earl of Cornwall would become their lord

Places of note

  • Trematon castle: Caput

Where the sources disagree

Evidence: From the feudal barony page (after Sanders).

On the map: Only the caput district 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.

Sources and studies

  1. Feudal barony of Trematon (Wikipedia)

Last revised 4 November 2026. Published 4 November 2026. Suggest a correction on the OMNIA Discord.