Giroie, Lord of Échauffour
| Giroie, Lord of Échauffour | |
|---|---|
| Spouse(s) | Gisle of Montfort-sur-Risle |
| Noble family | Giroie |
| Father | Arnold-le-Gros, of Courcerault |
| Died | 1033 Normandy |
Giroie (Latin: Geroianus, a.k.a. Géré) ( 1033), Lord of Echauffour and Montreuil-l'Argillé. a knight from Brittany who became a Norman nobleman and the progenitor of a large family in Normandy, England, and Apulia.
Giroie was the son of Arnold-le-Gros, of Courcerault, who was in turn the son of Abbo the Breton. Giroie's arrival in Normandy from Brittany did not apparently raise concerns with Richard II, Duke of Normandy, but was challenged by Gilbert, Count of Brionne whose lands nearby were threatened by the newcomer and his followers. Duke Richard intervened only to maintain the peace in the area and not to repel the newly settled Giroie.
Giroie was a formidable knight and a vassal of William of Bellême. In battle against Herbert I, Count of Maine, William and his followers were overwhelmed and fled the battlefield, but Giroie and his small force held their ground and defeated Herbert's forces completely. It was a famous victory at the time and Heugon, a powerful Norman, offered Giroie his only daughter in marriage along with the lordships of Montreuil, Echauffour and all adjoining lands. Unfortunately, though, the lady died before the wedding could take place. William de Bellême then introduced Giroie to Richard II, Duke of Normandy at Rouen, who, in recognition of his great accomplishments granted the lands of Heugon to Giroie. On returning from Rouen, Giroie then married Gisle, daughter of Thurston de Bastembourg lord of Montfort-sur-Risle. He and several of his relatives were vassals of the de Belléme family.
After succeeding to the lands of Heugon, Giroie discovered the ecclesiastical houses in his domain were under no bishopric. He further inquired to find the most devout of the bishops surrounding his lands and found that to be Roger, Bishop of Lisieux. Giroie then convinced several of his neighbors including Baldric de Bauquencei and his sons-in-law Wascelin du Pont-Echanfré and Roger de Merlerault to place their religious houses under the same bishopric. They approached Roger, Bishop of Lisieux who granted their requests and further granted the clergy of these churches an exemption from any and all archdeacon’s visitations. This same privilege was enforced after Giroie's death by his son William.
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