Judith d'Évreux

Judith d'Évreux
Wedding of Judith and Roger
Spouse(s)	Roger I of Sicily
Noble family	House of Normandy
Father	William d'Évreux
Mother	Hawise de Giroie
Born	Normandy
Died	1076 Sicily

Judith d'Évreux ( 1076) was a Norman noblewoman and Countess of Sicily.

Judith was the daughter of William d'Évreux and Hawise de Giroie, widow of Robert I de Grantmesnil. Her father was the first cousin of William the Conqueror and her mother was the daughter of Giroie, Lord of Échauffour, a wealthy Norman baron.

Her half-brother Robert de Grandmesnil, abbot of the Norman Abbey of Saint-Evroul, was her guardian. After quarreling with Duke William in January 1061, Robert fled Normandy with Judith, her brother and sister, to Rome. Eventually he turned to Robert Guiscard, Duke of Calabria, who treated the abbot with great respect and invited him and his monks to settle in Calabria. The Duke's brother Roger I of Sicily had known Judith from Normandy, and his status and fortunes had now changed considerably. No longer the poor son of a lesser Norman family, when Count Roger heard that Judith was in Calabria he went to meet her. They were married immediately and he took his bride to Mileto where the marriage was celebrated.

But Roger soon left Judith in Mileto and returned to his campaigns in Sicily. The following summer he joined Judith and brought her with him to Sicily where he and his army of three hundred went to Troina. Leaving Judith in the care of his garrison he continued his campaign. Greek residents then attacked his fortifications attempting to take Countess Judith prisoner and ransom her in exchange for the Norman's leaving Troina. The garrison held out until Roger returned and rescued Judith and the troops guarding her. For four more months the Normans fought the Greeks who had now joined forces with the Saracens. Judith shared the hardships with her husband and the Norman troops living in the cold with little food. Finally Roger was able to overcome the Saracens and regain control of Tronia. Roger needed to return to the mainland to replenish their horses and supplies and left Judith once again. This time Judith took command of the citadel herself until Roger returned. Judith died, still a young woman, in Sicily in 1076.

Judith bore Roger a daughter, who married Hugh of Jarzé ( 1076). Other children of Judith were: