Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk

Hugh Bigod
Born	1095 Belvoir Castle
Died	1177 Palestine
Title	1st Earl of Norfolk
Tenure	1141-1177
Nationality	English
Wars and battles	The Anarchy
Offices	Constable of Norwich Castle
Successor	Roger Bigod, 2nd Earl of Norfolk
Spouse(s)	Juliane de Vere Gundreda de Beaumont
Parents	Roger Bigod Adeliza de Tosny

Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk (1095–1177) was the second son of Roger Bigod (also known as Roger Bigot) (d. 1107), sheriff of Norfolk and royal advisor, and Adeliza, daughter of Robert de Tosny.

After the death of his elder brother William, who perished without issue in the sinking of the White Ship on 26 November 1120, Hugh was allowed to inherit his brother's office of royal steward and many estates in East Anglia. He also succeeded his aunt Albreda, heiress of her brother Berengar de Tosny, with lands in Yorkshire and in Normandy. Hugh became Constable of Norwich Castle in 1122.

Hugh initially supported Stephen of Blois as king of England. On the death of Henry I in 1135, his nephew Stephen usurped the throne, despite the oath Stephen and the barons had sworn to accept Henry's daughter Empress Matilda as his successor. It was Bigod who asserted that, in his last days, Henry I had named Stephen to become king at the expense of his daughter Matilda.Civil war resulted when, in 1139 Matilda, commanded the military strength necessary to challenge Stephen within his own realm.

King Stephen had the initial support of the English barons, but in 1136 he was stricken with sickness and the report of his death was quickly spread abroad. Hugh Bigod seized and held Norwich castle. Stephen, quickly recovering, laid siege to the city and Hugh was compelled to surrender. In February 1141 Bigod fought on Stephen's side in the First Battle of Lincoln, after which the Earl deserted the captured king. In July of that year he was granted the earldom of Norfolk by the Empress Matilda but he appears to have assumed a position of armed neutrality during the civil war, rather than actively siding with the supporters of the empress.

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