William Pantulf was an Anglo-Norman nobleman and Baron of Wem.
17 Facts About William Pantulf
1.
2.
William Pantulf was born in Hiemois, a county of Normandy, where his family had lived since around 1030.
3.
When Roger's son Robert of Belleme rebelled against King Henry I of England, William Pantulf did not take part and sided with the king.
4.
William Pantulf's family had lived there since at least around 1030, as a charter of Jumieges Abbey shows the family as vassals of the House of Montgomery in the Montgomery lands near Sees.
5.
William Pantulf's mother was named Beatrice, and his sister was named Helwise, but his father's name and other siblings are not known.
6.
William Pantulf was probably not present at the Battle of Hastings, likely due to Earl Roger's lack of participation in the campaign of conquest.
7.
William Pantulf lost his lands temporarily because he was suspected of murdering Roger's wife Mabel de Belleme, around 1077.
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Saint Nicholas 8.
William Pantulf came under suspicion because Mabel had seized a castle at Peray en Saonnais held by William Pantulf.
9.
When he was accused of the murder, William Pantulf was in southern Italy, which had been conquered by Normans.
10.
William Pantulf sought refuge at the Abbey of Saint-Evroul in Normandy while he was under suspicion; he and his family were under the protection of the abbot.
11.
William Pantulf regained his lands after he cleared himself of the charge, through the mechanism of a trial by ordeal.
12.
William Pantulf gave Saint-Evroul four altar frontals for the abbey's help after he was cleared of the charges.
13.
When Roger's son Robert de Belleme became Earl of Shrewsbury in 1098, William Pantulf was once more deprived of those lands he held as a vassal of the Earl.
14.
Besides controlling Stafford Castle, William Pantulf mediated between Henry and some of the Welsh princes, who had previously sided with Robert, and helped secure their support for the king.
15.
Later William Pantulf again acted as an envoy for the king, being sent to secure the switch of sides of Robert's men who were holding Bridgnorth.
16.
William Pantulf won their change of sides by offering the men lands worth 100 pounds on the king's behalf.
17.
In 1092 William Pantulf journeyed to southern Italy again, this time to secure a relic of Saint Nicholas for his foundation at Noron.