Geoffrey de Mandeville, Earl of Essex and Gloucester, Surety of the Magna Carta

Geoffrey de Mandeville, 2nd Earl of Essex and 6th Earl of Gloucester (d. 23 February 1216)

Geoffrey de Mandeville, the Surety, upon paying King John 20,000 marks, obtained a license in 1214 to marry Avisa or Isabella, daughter of William, Count of Meullent, who had first been King John's wife, but who was repudiated in 1200 because of consanguinity, since both the King and Queen were great grandchildren of King Henry I. Geoffrey died two years after their marriage, and Avisa was promised to Hubert de Burgh, but the marriage never took place, and she died without issue. In right of his wife Geoffrey de Mandeville became Earl of Gloucester, and was placed in full possession of all the liberties belonging to this Earldom and to the lordship of Glamorgan in Wales. He was one of the wealthiest of the Barons opposed to King John. He was excommunicated for adhering to the Barons' party. His life was short. He was mortally wounded in a tournament in London in February 1216, and died 23 February, without issue. He was interred in the Priory of the Holy Trinity in the suburbs of the City.

He was succeeded by his brother William de Mandeville, who also took the part of the Barons and maintained it, even after the death of King John, for he had assisted Louis of France in the siege of Berkamstead Castle, which was occupied by the King's forces. William died without issue 8 January 1227, when the Earldom of Essex devolved upon his sister, Maud Bohun, Countess of Hereford, while the lands which he inherited passed to his half brother, John FitzGeoffrey, whose wife was Isabel Bigod, widow of Gilbert de Lacie and daughter of Hugh Bigod, the Surety.

Geoffrey de Mandeville's Castle at Gloucester is nothing but a city jail, yet once it was a Saxon Castle and later a Norman stronghold.

GEOFFREY de Mandeville (-London 23 Feb 1216, bur Trinity Prior within Aldgate). The History of the foundation of Walden abbey names “Galfridus…Willielmus cognomina Mandavilla…et Matildis, Humfrido de Bohun comiti Herefordiæ maritata” as children of “domino Galfrido filio Petri” & his wife[557]. He succeeded his father in 1213 as Earl of Essex. He became Earl of Gloucester on his marriage, by right of his wife. He supported the barons against King John in 1215, and was excommunicated by the Pope 16 Dec 1215 and his lands given to Savary de Mauleon 20 Dec 1215 or before. He was mortally wounded at a tournament in London[558]. m firstly MATILDA, daughter of ROBERT FitzWalter of Woodham Walter, Essex & his first wife Gunnor de Valoignes (-1212, bur Dunmow Priory). The 13th century Histoire des ducs de Normandie et des rois d´Angleterre records that "Joffrois de Mandeville" married "la fille Robiert le fil Gautier"[559]. m secondly ([16/26] Jan 1214) as her second husband, ISABEL [Avise] Countess of Gloucester, divorced wife of JOHN King of England, daughter of WILLIAM FitzRobert Earl of Gloucester & his wife Avise de Beaumont ([before 1176]-14 Oct or [18 Nov] 1217, bur Canterbury Cathedral Church). The Chronica de Fundatoribus et Fundatione of Tewkesbury Abbey records the second marriage of “Isabellam” and “Galfrido de Mandevile comiti Essexiæ”, and her third marriage to “Huberto de Burgo justiciario Angliæ”[560]. She must have been considerably older than her second husband, although his precise birth date is not known. Her lands and title were confiscated on the death of her second husband. She married thirdly ([Sep] 1217) as his second wife, Hubert de Burgh, who was created Earl of Kent in 1227. The Annals of Waverley record the death in 1217 of “Isabel comitissa Gloucestriæ”[561]. The Annals of Dunstable record that “Johannam comitissam Gloucestriæ” died “paucos dies” after her marriage to “Hubertus de Burgo justiciarius Angliæ” and was buried “apud Cantuarium”[562].