William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel


William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Lincoln and 1st Earl of Arundel, also known as William d'Albini, William de Albini and William de Albini II, was an English nobleman. He was the son of William d'Aubigny "Pincerna" of Old Buckenham Castle in Norfolk, and Maud Bigod, daughter of Roger Bigod of Norfolk.

Life and career

William fought loyally for King Stephen of England, who made him first Earl of Arundel and then Earl of Lincoln. In 1153 he helped arrange the truce between Stephen and Henry Plantagenet, known as the Treaty of Wallingford, which brought an end to The Anarchy. His first known appearance as "earl" was at Christmas 1141. When Henry Plantagenet ascended the throne as Henry II, he confirmed William's earldom and gave him direct possession of Arundel Castle. He remained loyal to the king during the 1173 revolt of Henry the Young King, and helped defeat the rebellion.
In 1143, as Earl of Lincoln, he made two charters confirming a donation of land around Arundel in Sussex to the abbey of Affligem in Brabant, with William's brother, Olivier, present.
He was the builder of Castle Rising Castle at Castle Rising, Norfolk.
William is the first proven English supporter of the crusader Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem and before 1146 had granted them land at Wymondham and built a Leper Hospital near his castle in Norfolk. His wife, Adeliza, was also a major benefactor to leper hospitals at Wilton, Wiltshire and Arundel and his cousin, Roger de Mowbray and his family, were to become the most significant patrons of the Order's headquarters at Burton Lazars Hospital.

Marriage and issue

The younger William was an important member of Henry I of England's household. After Henry's death, William married his widow, Queen Adeliza in 1138. William and Adeliza were parents to the following children: