Monastic Wales.








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Bernard of Neufmarché; Newmarket; Newmarch , landowner

Died: 1121x1125   

One of Henry I's barons, he undertook the conquest of Brycheiniog and established the borough of Brecon. c. 1100 Bernard granted St John's, Brecon, to Battle Abbey which established a priory there.

c.1086 x 1088 Bernard King William (I or II) granted Bernard lands in Herefordshire and he increased his holdings there through his marriage to Osbern fitz Richard's daughter, Nest (Agnes). He also had holdings in Shropshire, Somerset and Berkshire.
In 1088, Bernard participated in the rebellion against William Rufus and seemingly undertook the conquest of the minor Welsh kingdom of Brycheiniog. Following the death of the Welsh ruler, Rhys ap Tewdwr, Bernard established himself as the power in this region of south Wales - Brycheiniog, Talgarth; he built a castle at Aberhonddu and established the borough of Brecon.

Sites associated with this person

Brecon Priory, Powys (founder)

Bibliographical sources

Printed sources

The Chronicle of Battle Abbey, Oxford Medieval Texts, ed. Eleanor Searle (Oxford, 1980) p. 86

Burton, Janet, 'Transition and transformation: the Benedictine houses', in Monastic Wales: New Approaches, ed. Janet Burton and Karen Stöber (University of Wales: Cardiff, 2013) pp. 23-24

Web links (open in new window)

Maund, K. L., Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online - Bernard de Newmarche (View website) (Subscription reqd.)


 
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