Walter Devereux was an Anglo-Norman nobleman living during the reign of king Henry II of England and Richard I of England. The Devereux, along with the Baskervilles and Pichards, were prominent knightly families along the Welsh marches during the twelfth century, and linked to William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke, and the Braose and Lacy lordships of the region.Brock W. Holden. Lords of the Central Marches. (Oxford; Oxford University Press, 2008). page 92 William Devereux's descendants would later give rise to the Devereux Viscounts of Hereford and Earls of Essex.

Ancestry

Walter Devereux is descended from William DevereuxMorgan G. Watkins. Collections Towards the History and Antiquities of the County of Hereford in continuation of Duncumb’s History, Hundred of Radlow. (High Town [Hereford]: Jakeman & Carver, 1902). Page 42 to 49. Parish of Castle Frome, Genealogy contributed by Lord Hereford who held land in Hereford and Gloucester at Domesday in 1086.

William's son, Walter Devereux of Lyonshall, gained control of Lyonshall Castle as the caput of the Devereux marcher lordship. With the exile of Roger de Lacy in 1085, Walter of Lyonshall joined the retinue of Bernard de Neufmarché, Lord of Brecon.The Picards or Pychards of ... Brecknockshire; ... Herefordshire, and ... Worcestershire. (London; Golding and Lawrence, 1878). Pages 2-4, 171Walter of Lyonshall made a grant on the foundation charter of Neufmarche for Brecon Priory

On the death of Bernard about 1125; another Walter Devereux, son of Walter of Lyonshall, joined the retinue of Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford.Miles de Gloucester had married Sybil, daughter of Bernard de Neufmarché Taking advantage of the civil war between King Stephen and the Empress Matilda, this Walter Devereux increased his autonomy.Jim Bradbury. Stephen and Matilda, The Civil War of 1139-1153. (Somerset: Sutton Publishing, 1998). Pages 57.This was facilitated in 1138 when King Stephen, while in pursuit of Geoffrey Talbot, captured Hereford and Weobley for a time, and Hereford was set on fire Walter probably was present at the Battle of Lincoln,Jim Bradbury. Stephen and Matilda, The Civil War of 1139-1153. (Somerset: Sutton Publishing, 1998). Pages 90-98. and the Rout of WinchesterJim Bradbury. Stephen and Matilda, The Civil War of 1139-1153. (Somerset: Sutton Publishing, 1998). Pages 108-112. with the Earl of Hereford. A supporter of the Empress Maud, he was rewarded when her son, Henry II, finally took the throne.The Great Roll of the Pipe for the Sixth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Second, AD 1159-1160. Pipe Roll Society, Volume 2. (London: Wymand & Sons, 1884). Page 29 and 30.The Great Roll of the Pipe for the Tenth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Second, AD 1163-1164. Pipe Roll Society, Volume 7. (London: Wyman & Sons, 1886). Page 5 and 6.The Great Rolls of the Pipe from 1159 to 1164 during the reign of Henry II list in Herefordshire Walter Devereux being granted 9 shillings 'In terris datis.' With the end of the earldom of Hereford in 1155 and the death of the last of Miles de Gloucester's sons in 1165; Walter Devereux and his son, John, joined the retinue of William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber.William de Braose married Bertha, the eldest daughter of Miles de Gloucester, earl of Hereford. Through her he inherited the lordship of Brecon

When William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber, died; John Devereux joined the retinue of his son, William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber. John Devereux would campaign in Wales, France, and Ireland under the younger de Braose.

As one of the prominent knightly families of the Welsh Marches, the Devereux became closely entwined with the de Braose, de Lacy, de Longchamp, and Marshal families. Through these connections, and following the Norman invasion of Ireland in 1071, the Devereux family established holdings in Ireland over the next three generations.

Biography

Walter Devereux was born in 1173, the son of John DevereuxEvelyn Philip Shirley. Stemmata Shirleiana. (Westminster: Nichols and Sons, 1873). page 103 and a woman named Constance.David Crouch. William Marshal, 3rd Edition. (New York: Routledge, 2016). Page 126Constance may have been a member of the Marshal family. Stephen Devereux (c1191-1228), Walter Devereux's son, is referred to as a 'cousin' of William Marshal. The use of cousin in this context refers to being a member of an extended family. Constance presents a good candidate for the link between the two families His father died in 1187 possibly from involvement in the de Braose campaigns in Wales and France. The Pipe Rolls of 1190 show 8 pounds and 13 pence of oblations due the king's court were pardoned for the lands of John Devereux in Herefordshire.Joseph Hunter (editor). The Great Roll of the Pipe for the First Year of the Reign of King Richard the First, 1189-1190. (London: Public Record Office, 1844). Page 144 to 145, 1 Richard I, De Oblatis Curiae As Walter was under-age his lands and 2 castles (including Lyonshall) were taken into the hands of the king and placed in the possession of the sheriff of Hereford, William de Braose. Devereux participated in the expansion of the Norman holdings in Ireland, and in 1210 Walter Devereux was listed as having been responsible to John (fitzJohn) Marshal for 20 shillings of fees for the maintenance of soldiers ‘beyond the water that is called Stiuthe,' and 2 marks for those at Carrickfergus in IrelandT Duffus Hardy (editor). Rotuli de Liberate ac de Misis et Praestitis, Regnante Johanne. London: George E. Etre and Andrew Spottiswoode, 1844. Page 194, and 205

Walter Devereux came of age in 1194. His father had granted a church on his lands in Oxenhall, Gloucester, to the Knights Hospitaller in 1186, and on 27 October 1194 Walter Devereux filed an Assize of mort d'ancestor against the Order over 2 marks rent in Oxenhall.Placitorum in domo capitulari Westmonasteriensi asservatorum abbrevatio, temporibus regum Ric. I., Johann., Henr. III, Edw. I, Edw. II. Printed by Command of His Majesty King George III in pursuance of an address of The House of Commons of Great Britain. 1811. Page 2Francis Palgrave (editor). Rotuli curiae Regis: rolls and records of the court held before the King’s justices, volume 1, From the sixth year of King Richard I to the ascension of King John. London, 1835. Page 14.Assise de morte antecessoris inter Walter de Euereus et fratres Ospitalis Jerusalem de 2 marcas redditus in Reneshullis est in praesentia domini Cantuariensis per literas suas directas justiciaris itinerantibus et recognicio non venerunt nisi vis et Henri de Saers esse se per Walter filius Walter et Walter de Wurmesle esse se per Hugonis filius Elie

About 1186 Walter had witnessed with his father the land grant of Maud de Hagarnel to the priory of Brecon.Theophilus Jones. A History of the County of Brecknock, Containing the Chorography, General History, Religion Laws, Customs, Manners, Language, and System of Agriculture Used in That County. London: Phillimore & Co, 1898 Edition. Page 212 About 1190 Devereux granted 12 acres of land near Berrington (Worcestershire) to the same priory ‘for the love he bore his lord, William de Braose the younger.’Brock W. Holden. Lords of the Central Marches. Oxford; Oxford University Press, 2008. Page 70. Cartularium Prioratus S. Johannis Evang. De Brecon, 14.33 This identifies Walter Devereux as a member of the military retinue of the Braose family. Devereux also witnessed the grant of land by William de Bradfelde of lands in Bradfield,Charles J. Robinson. A History of the Mansions and Manors of Herefordshire. (London: Longman’s & Co, 1872). Page 31Bradfield is a manor situated on the north-east limit of Bodenham parish Petercroft, Laneglege, lands near Mara, Estlege, and in Weteroft near the chapel to the priory of Brecon.Theophilus Jones. A History of the County of Brecknock. (London: George North, 1809). Volume 2, Part 1, Pages 87 to 88 In 1211, Walter Devereux was listed as having held 1/2 knight's fee of the honor of Brecon.Hubert Hall (Editor). The Red Book of the Exchequer. London: Printed for H. M. Stationery Off., by Eyre and Spottiswoode, 1896. Page 602, Part 2

Marriage

Walter Devereux married Cecilia de Longchamp, daughter of Hugh de Longchamp.The Longchamp family held Wilton Castle in Herefordshire. Cecilia was the sister of William de Longchamp, Bishop of Ely; and Stephen de Longchamp who granted land to her eldest son, Stephen Devereux.

They had children: Stephen Devereux, his heir and a retainer of William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke. John Devereux,Roger Dodsworth. Monasticon Anglicanum by William Dugsdale. (London: 1673). Vol. 3, Additions to Volume 2, Stephen Devereux Charters for Lyonshall, page 49, 53Excerpta E Rotulis Finium in Turri Londinensi Asservatis, Henrico Tertio Rege, 1216-1272. 1831. Entry 504, membrane 4, 2 September 1245Robert William Eyton. Antiquities of Shropshire. (London: JR Smith, 1857). Pages 204-205HC Maxwell Lyte (editor). Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III, Volume 1, 1227-1231. Published 1902. 2 April 1229, membrane 12HC Maxwell Lyte (editor). Calendar of Close Rolls, Henry III, Volume 2, 1231 to 1234. Published 1905. 17 August 1233, membrane 6d. Knight of Bodenham and Decies (Ireland). He was enfeoffed by Thomas fitzAnthony,Thomas Duffus Hardy. Rotuli Chartarum In Turri Londinensi Asservati: Pars 1. Ab anno MCXCIX ad annum MCCXVI, volume 1. Printed by Command of His Majesty King William IV. 1837. Page 94, membrane 8, 25 March 1229 the loyal retainer of William Marshal.John Devereux witnessed his brother, Stephen Devereux’s, grant to Wormsley Priory. He is known to have had a son, Walter Devereux, who was given as hostage for his good behavior to King Henry III. Nicholas Devereux,Liber Feodorum. The Book of Fees Commonly Called Testa de Nevill, Reformed From the Earliest Mss. By The Deputy Keeper of the Records. Part 1, AD 1198 -1242. London: Published by his Majesty’s Stationery Office. 1920. Pages 631-2Robert William Eyton. Antiquities of Shropshire. (London: JR Smith, 1857). Pages 26-29 Lord of Chanston (Hereford), and Steward of Meath (Ireland) for Walter de Lacy, Lord of MeathHe had children that were in possession of Chanstone and other lands in Hereford throughout the 13th century.M.A. Faraday (editor). Deeds of the Palmer's Gild of Ludlow. (Shropshire: 2012). Page 243

Death

Walter Devereux died about 1197,Thomas Duffus Hardy (editor). Rotuli Normanniae in turri Londinensi Asservati, Johanne et Henrico Quinto, Angliae Regibus, Volume 1 1200-1205. London. 1835. Page 86 and as a member of the retinue of William de Braose this probably occurred in May 1197. At this time Braose was accompanying Richard I as England resumed its wars in France to recapture lands lost during his captivity. Many knights from the Welsh border were injured in the assault on the castle at Milly-sur-Therain where William Marshall himself led many into the fray.Thomas Asbridge. The Greatest Knight. (New York: Harper Collins, 2014). Page 249As noted above, Walter Devereux was a member of William Marshal's extended family

Landholdings

After Walter's death, his sons were fostered for training as knights: Stephen Devereux with William Marshal, 1st Earl of Pembroke; Nicholas Devereux with Walter de Lacy, Lord of Meath; and John Devereux with William de Braose, 4th Lord of Bramber. These sons would sire the three Devereux families that would play an integral role in controlling the Welsh marches during the thirteenth century. Also following the death of her husband, Cecilia began a series of legal fights to establish her dower rights which when added to the holdings of her eldest son, Stephen Devereux, provides an indication of the extent and influence of the Devereux holdings at the time.