Nigel D'Aubigny

  General Notes:

Nigel's grants were in Buckinghamshire, Bedfordshire, Warwickshire and Leicestershire. He was bow-bearer to the king in the reign of William II (Rufus) and was knighted by Henry I, who gave him the manor of Egmanton with parks in Sherwood Forest, but Nigel passed these on to Robert Davil.

For his valour and military skill, Henry I granted him tenancy of Camvile and Wyvile. This caused Nigel to support to Henry I against his brother Robert Curthose - in the battle of Tinchebrai, Nigel slew the horse of Curthose and brought him to the king. For this, Henry I gave him the lands of Robert, Baron of Frontebeof - Stutevile in England which Robert had fortified for Curthose. Later, Henry I was besieging a castle in Normandy - Sir Nigel captured it for him and was remunerated by a royal grant of the forfeited lands of his maternal uncle Robert de Montbray, Earl of Northumberland - lands both in England and Normandy, including the castle of Bayeaux. As a result Nigel held 120 knight's fees each in Normandy and England, making him one of the most powerful persons of his time.

Nigel married firstly Matilda, (or Maud) daughter of Richard de Aquila, by permission of Pope Paschall, as she was the wife of Robert de Montbray, still alive but imprisoned. This marriage produced no issue and ended in divorce on grounds of co-sanguinity. He married secondly, in 1118, Gundred de Gorney, by special advice of Henry I, and had two sons:-.

Roger, his successor who assumed by command of Henry I the surname of Mowbray.

Henry, ancestor of the Albini feudal lords of Camho.

Nigel married Gundred de Gournay in Jun 1118.