Theobald Walter, 1st Baron Butler

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Theobald Walter
Died 1205 or 1206
Occupation Baron Butler ?
Sheriff of Lancaster
Hereditary Butler of England and Ireland
Spouse Maud le Vavasour
Children Theobald le Botiller
Parents Hervey Walter
Maud de Valoignes

Theobald Walter or Theobald Butler or Theobald Walter le Boteler was the eldest brother of Hubert Walter, Archbishop of Canterbury and justiciar and Lord Chancellor of England. Theobald was the ancestor of the Butler family of Ireland, and was also involved in the invasions of Ireland by Kings Henry I of England and John of England. He also held the office of Butler of England and Butler of Ireland, and was for a time sheriff of Lancaster. [1]

[edit] Life

He was the son of Hervey Walter and his wife Maud de Valoignes, who was one of the daughters of Theobald de Valoignes. Bertha, Maud's sister, married Ranulf de Glanvill, the great justiciar of Henry II. Theobald and Hubert, were thus nephews of Ranulf de Glanvill. Hubert rose under the eye of his kinsman to an important position in the Curia Regis. Theobald was the ancestor of the Butler family of Ireland.[2][3]

Theobald's father had been the hereditary holder of the office of butler of England, and when Theobald accompanied Prince John to Ireland in 1185,[4] he was named Butler of Ireland, as well as a large section of the northeastern part of the kingdom of Limerick.[3] He was active in the war that took place when Rory O'Connor attempted to regain his throne after retiring to a monastery, as Theobald's men were involved in the death of Dermot MacCarthy during a parley in 1185 near Cork.[5] In 1194 Theobald supported his brother during Hubert's actions against Prince John, with Theobald receiving the surrender of John's supporters in Lancaster. Theobald was rewarded with the office of sheriff of Lancaster, which he held until Christmas of 1198. He was again sheriff after John took the throne in 1199.[6]

In early 1200, however, John deprived Theobald of all his offices and lands because of Theobald's irregularities as sheriff. His lands were not restored until January of 1202.[7]

Theobald founded the Abbey of Woney or Wotheny in County Limerick Ireland around 1200.[8] He also founded the Cockersand Abbey in Lancaster, Abbey of Nenagh in County Tipperary, and a monastic house at Arklow in County Wicklow.[2]

He married Maud le Vavasour, heiress of Robert le Vavasour, probably around 1200. He died between August 4, 1205 and February 14, 1206, and was buried at Woney. They had one son, Theobald le Botiller.[2]

[edit] References

  1. ^ M. T. Flanagan, ‘Butler , Theobald (d. 1205)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 accessed 7 Nov 2007
  2. ^ a b c Cokayne, George Edward The Complete Peerage: Volume Two Bass to Canning Vicary Gibbs & H. A. Doubleday eds. Microprint reprint edition Stroud:Sutton Publishing 2000 ISBN 0-904387-82-8 p. 447-448
  3. ^ a b Otway-Ruthven, A. J. A History of Medieval Ireland New York: Barnes & Noble 1993 ISBN 1-56619-216-1 p. 67
  4. ^ Poole, A. L. Domesday Book to Magna Carta 1087-1216 Second Edition Oxford:Clarendon Press reprint 1986 ISBN 0-19-821707-2 p. 313
  5. ^ Otway-Ruthven, A. J. A History of Medieval Ireland New York: Barnes & Noble 1993 ISBN 1-56619-216-1 p. 69
  6. ^ Joliffe, J. E. A. Angevin Kingship London:Adam and Charles Black 1955 p. 66
  7. ^ Joliffe, J. E. A. Angevin Kingship London:Adam and Charles Black 1955 p. 67-68
  8. ^ Otway-Ruthven, A. J. A History of Medieval Ireland New York: Barnes & Noble 1993 ISBN 1-56619-216-1 p. 73
Persondata
NAME Walter, Theobald
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Butler, Theobald; Boteler, Theobald Walter le
SHORT DESCRIPTION possible Baron Butler, Sheriff of Lancaster
DATE OF BIRTH
PLACE OF BIRTH
DATE OF DEATH about 1205
PLACE OF DEATH
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