Baron Robert de Montalt Lord Mohaut ²

  General Notes:

The last, and most powerful, of the Montalts.
He distinguished himself in the wars of Scotland and Gascony and was in parliament.
When he died the barony became extinct and his extensive estates, according to a settlement, passed to Isabel, Queen consort of England, the mother of Edward III, for life, with remainder to John of Eltham, brother to the king, and his heirs forever.
(Note: Queen Isabel is possibly my 23rd great grandmother and Robert is possibly my 3rd cousin 23 times removed)

Plantagenet ancestry: a study in colonial and medieval families
By Douglas Richardson, Kimball G. Everingham

Page 21

King Edward's reliance on the Despensers aroused the resentment of his queen, Isabel, by inducing him to deprive her of her estates in 1324. While on a diplomatic mission in 1325 to Paris involving the dispute over Edward's French lands, Quern lsabel formed a close political connection with Roger dc Mortimcr, 1^st Earl of March [see MORTIMER 8], an exiled baronial opponent of Edward.
Isabel and Mortimer raised an army in Germany and the Low Countries and, in 1326, they invaded England, captured and executed the Despensers, and deposed her husband, Edward 20 Jan 1326/7, in favor of their son, Edward.
All real power, however was in the hands of the Queen and Mortimer.
EDWARD II OF ENGLAND, late King of England, was murdered in Berkeley Castle 21 Sept. 1327, apparently in an attempt to escape the castle, and was buried at St. Peter's, Abbey at Gloucester, now the cathedral.
In 1327 Robert de Mohaut and Emme, his wife, conveyed the castles and manors of Mold (or Mohaut) and Hawarden, Cheshire to Queen Isabel, for 10,000 marks subject to a life estate.
On the death of Robert de Mohaut in 1329, these estates came into the possession of the Queen.
In Oct. 1330 Isabel and Mortimer, who now lived almost openly together, were arrested at Nottingham by orders of her son, Edward, who speedily had Mortimer executed.
Isabel subsequently retired to Castle Rising, Norfolk (a Mohaut estate) where she lived a comfortable and somewhat luxurious life.
In 1338 she exchanged the Mohaut properties with William de Montagu, Earl of Salisbury, for an annuity of 600 marks from the tin revenue of Cornwall.
She devoted herself to pious works, almsgiving, and charm, and finally took the habit of the sisters of Santa Clam She died at Hertford Castle 22 August 1358, and was buried in the church of the Grey Friars, London.


A. 10947. Feoffment by Henry de Clif, clerk, to Sir Robert de Monte Alto, knight, and Emma his wife, and the heirs male of the body of the said Robert, with remainder, in default, to Isabel queen of England, for life, with remainder to lord John of Eltham, in tail, with remainder, in default, to the king and his heirs, of the castle, town and manor of Mold (de Monte Alto) in Wales, the castles (sic) of Hawardyn, with the stewardship of Chester, and the manors of Hawardyn, Lee, Bosele and Neston, co. Chester, the manor of Walton upon Trent, co. Derby, the manor of Cheylesmore, co. Warwick, and 107l. rent from the prior of Coventre, and his successors, together with the homage and service of the said prior, the castle of Rysyng, and the manors of Rysyng, Snetesham and Kenynghale, and a fourth part of the Tolbothe of Lenne, co. Norfolk, and the manors of Cassynglonde and Frammesden, co. Suffolk, with all advowsons, knights fees, &c. Witnesses:-John, bishop of Ely, the king's chancellor,William de Herle, Roger de Bilneye, Roger de Watevill, Nicholas de Gonevill and John Walewayn, knights, and others (named). Notyngham, 8 May, 1 Edward III. Fragment of seal.

http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=64432

A. 10948. Indenture being a release by Emma late the wife of Robert de Monte Alto, to Queen Isabel, of her life estate in the castle, town and manor of Mold (de Monte Alto) in Wales, the castle and manor of Hawardyn, the stewardship of Chester, the manors of Lee and Boselee and the manor of Neston, co. Chester, the reversion whereof, expectant on her decease, belonged to the said Queen, by virtue of fines thereof of late levied in the King's court and with his licence; to hold to the said Queen, with all regalities, knights' fees, advowsons, &c. from the day of date, in con- sideration of 400l. annuity payable to her quarterly in the city of London, at 'la Tour. Servat'; if she survived the said Queen the premises to revert to her. London, 3 December, 5 Edward III. Seal of arms, with two shields (1) Quarterly and a bordure chequy, (2) a lion rampant; bad impression, and broken.

A. 10949. Feoffment by Robert de Monte Alto, steward of Chester, and Emma his wife to Henry de Clif, clerk, of the manors of Neston, co. Chester, Framesdene, co Suffolk, and Snetesham and Kenynghale, and of a fourth part of the Tolbothe of Lenne, co. Norfolk. Witnesses as in A. 10947. Peterborough, 14 April, 1 Edward III. Seals, one of arms (a lion rampant), broken.

History of Parliament Trust
Publication: A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 5
Author: H. C. Maxwell Lyte (editor)
Year published: 1906
Pages 61-77
Citation 'Deeds: A.10901 - A.11000', A Descriptive Catalogue of Ancient Deeds: Volume 5 (1906), pp. 61-77. ⁴

  Death Notes:

Buried in Shouldham Priory, Norfolk.
On his death the Barony became extinct.

  Noted events in his life were:

• Misc: DId homage and was awarded livery (suceeded), 7 Feb 1296. ⁵

• Misc: Summoned for service in Scotland, 30 Mar 1298. ⁶ With successive summonses for the like to the end of his life.

• Title: Became Lord Mohaut, 6 Feb 1298. ⁶ Summoned to parliament by writs directed Roberto de Monte Alto, or de Mohaut

• Misc: Ordered to raise 300 foot soldiers from his demesnes, 1298. ⁶ SImilar orders were given to him in later years

• Misc: He joined the Barons' letter to the Pope, 12 Feb 1300. ⁶ as Robertus de Montealto dominus de Hawarden.

• Misc: He was engaged in the wars of Scotland and Gascony, Between Jul 1300 and 1311. ⁶ Present at the siege of Carlaverock Jul 1300, 1303, 1310, 1311

• Misc: Attended the King's coronation, Jan 1307. ⁶ with a second summons in Feb to him and his consort.
Was one of the three gentlemen appointed to meet the King and Queen Isabel at Dover, and to attend her and her sister to London.

• Misc: Went on a pilgramage to Santiago, 1309. ⁶

• Misc: He was a plaintiff claiming as heir of his ancestor Roger, 1312, Chester, CHS, England, UK. ⁶

• Misc: One of the guarantors of the treaty of Lords, 1318. ⁶ between the King and Thomas, Earl of Lancaster.

• Misc: Abstained from the meeting at Doncaster of the "good peers" called by teh Earl of Lancaster, 1321. ⁶ Though said to have been agrieved by the Despensers, he joined the King's party

• Misc: Summoned to the muster at Coventry, Feb 1321. ⁶ prepared to march against the rebels, who were defeated at Boroughbridge in March

• Misc: He was one of the joint keepers of teh ports and coasts of Norfolk and Suffolk, 1324. ⁶

• Misc: He attended the council at Bristol, 26 Oct 1326. ⁶ After the return of the Queen in Sep 1326, and the flight of Edward II, and joined in the election of Prince Edward (styled Duke of Aquitaine) as regent and Custos of te realm

• Misc: He settled all his estates, May 1327. ⁶ Mold, Hawarden, Castle Rising, etc. on himself and his wife for life, and his own male issue, with remainder in default to Queen Isabel, her son John of Eltham and his heirs, and the King successively.
In return the King paid him 10,000 marks.

• Misc: Granted custody of te lands of John de St John, deceased, Aug 1329. ⁶ during the minority of his heir.

Robert married Emma on 25 Jan 1300.⁶ (Emma died on 26 Jan 1332 ⁷.)