Foundations - Vol. 1, No. 2 - Contents & Abstracts
Abstracts: Was Solomon, Count of Roussillon, a Jewish King of Narbonne? (David Kelley) This study supports the hypothesis of Arthur Zuckerman that Solomon, Count of Roussillon, was a Jewish king of Narbonne, but without definite evidence. Zuckerman’s further hypothesis that Solomon was identical with Bernard, Count of Auvergne, is rejected. The Origins of the Medieval Turbevilles of Worcestershire (William Humphreys) A thorough and extensive analysis of Turbeville entries in the Calendars of State Papers suggests the probability that the Turbevilles of Worcestershire shared common ancestry with Hardy’s ‘D’Urbervilles’ of Dorset. The criteria that subsequently emerge in an attempt to identify distinct branches of this family highlight the relevance and potential importance of prosopography in modern historical and genealogical writing.
Medieval Monarchs, Female Illegitimacy and Modern
Genealogical Matters: The second in a series of proposed articles, this paper explores the origins of an atypical medieval practice in which some royals exploited their female illegitimate children for political gain. As Henry I led the way in this respect, it is fitting to introduce the topic by evaluating the circumstances pertaining to his daughter, Sybilla, which were influenced by the political agendas of the kings of both England and Scotland. Medieval attitudes towards royal concubinage and gender roles are two important factors that help explain why female bastards were allowed to be players in high politics and why they should continue to be worthy of consideration by modern genealogists specialising in the history of royal families. Electronic Archiving and Medieval Genealogy: An unlikely but useful partnership (Steven Edwards) Electronics and computer technology develops with sometimes bewildering speed, so any form of e-archiving needs to be adopted with great care. A regular programme of review, refreshment, data transfer and migration to new platforms when necessary is vital to ensure that all digitised forms of data storage remain accessible and free from corruption over long periods of time. The paper suggests how electronic archiving might be applied to materials stored within the FMG. The Paternal Origins of the Counts of Geneva (Lindsay Brook) The maternal ancestry of Gérold, Count of Geneva, from the penultimate ‘Rudolfinger’ King of Burgundy has long been known. The identity of his father has, however, remained elusive. In a recent book, it is suggested that Gérold is descended in the male line from the counts of Dagsburg-Egisheim in Alsace. Moreover, this author proposes that the traditional parentage given for Hildegard, great-grandmother of the Emperor Friedrich I Barbarossa, is wrong. This note does little more than draw attention to these important conclusions, in the hope that readers will either challenge or endorse them. The Origin of the Morteynes (John Ellis) The evidence is reviewed for the early origins of the Morteyne family, ancestors of the Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire families of that name. Robert de Morteyne was son of Warner de Codnor, who was probably a son of Warner de Lisoriis. Possible links to the Norman Counts of Mortain, and to the House of Boulogne, are explored. Katherine Roet's Swynfords: a re-examination of interfamily relationships and descent – Part 1 (Judy Perry) Katherine (Roet) Swynford’s association with the family of the poet Geoffrey Chaucer has been the focus of much speculation. This article investigates some of the claims that have been made by examining the heraldry, lives, and offspring of the Roet, Swynford and Chaucer families. It will be concluded in the next issue of Foundations. |