The Beaumont Family

The Beaumonts were one of the great baronial families of Norman England. Robert Beaumont, Count of Meulan, fought with William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and was made Earl of Leicester. His brother Henry was made Earl of Warwick by William Rufus.
Robert, Earl of Leicester, became one of Henry I's closest advisers. He married Isabel, a grand-daughter of King Henry I of France and in 1104 they had twin sons, Robert and Waleran. The boys were educated in the royal household whilst their older sister became one of the king's mistresses. On the Earl's death in 1118 his son Robert assumed the title and his brother Waleran became Count of Meulan. In 1124 Waleran joined a revolt in the interest of William Clito, son of Robert Curthose, and was imprisoned for five years before regaining his position.
The Beaumonts received great favour from King Stephen at the beginning of his reign. Waleran became Earl of Worcester and a third brother, Hugh, was made Earl of Bedford while a brother-in-law, Gilbert de Clare, became Earl of Pembroke. During the troubled times of Stephen's reign the Beaumonts found that to maintain their position they had to come to terms with the Angevin party of Geoffrey, Count of Anjou and the Empress Matilda. In 1153 Robert became a supporter of the future Henry II and was rewarded with the post of Chief Justiciar (head of the government) when Henry came to the throne. Robert de Beaumont remained the most powerful baron in England until his death in 1168.