Rape of Chichester
| Rape of Chichester | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Area | |
| • 1831 | 145,840 acres (590.2 km2) |
| Population | |
| • 1801 | 21,608 |
| • 1811 | 24,200 |
| • 1831 | 38,929 |
| Density | |
| • 1831 | 0.27 inhabitants per acre (67/km2) |
| History | |
| • Created | by 1275 |
| • Succeeded by | Sussex (western division) |
| Status | Rape (county subdivision) |
| • HQ | Chichester |
| Subdivisions | |
| • Type | Hundreds |
The Rape of Chichester is one of the rapes, the traditional sub-divisions unique to the historic county of Sussex in England. The most westerly of the Sussex rapes, the rape of Chichester is a former barony, originally centred on Chichester Castle in the city of Chichester.
The rape is not mentioned independently of 'the rape of Earl Roger' in the Domesday Book and passed by inheritance as a single unit, out of all proportion to the other rapes in size, until the 13th century. First mentioned as the 'Bailiwick (Balliua) of Chichester' in 1264, it first appeared by name as the rape of Chichester in the Hundred Rolls of 1275. It was referred to as the Rape de Cycestre in 1279,le rape de Cicestre in 1376 and of Chichestre in 1495.
The rape of Chichester was created out of the larger rape of Arundel. It would seem likely that the creation of this new division was connected with the partition of the estates of Hugh d'Aubigny, 5th Earl of Arundel, the last Earl of Arundel of his line, between his co-heirs after his death in 1243. While John FitzAlan acquired Arundel, Robert de Mohaut obtained the overlordship of the twelve fees constituting the honor of Halnaker, and certain other estates in the vicinity. The unity of overlordship being thus lost, it may have appeared convenient to divide this district into two separate rapes, which would be of a similar size and nature to those in the rest of Sussex. No trace of any orders given or measures taken to create the division of the old rape of Arundel has been found.
It is possible that the rape of Chichester may have existed before the Norman conquest. The rapes in general pre-date the Norman conquest and many rapes are based on King Alfred's fortifications in the Burghal Hidage. As Chichester was also a fortification in the Burghal Hidage, it is quite possible that it existed as a separate administrative unit in the Saxon era and was merged with neighbouring Arundel rape by William the Conqueror and given to Earl Roger of Montgomery. William might of course have created five rapes only, one of which, out of all proportion to the others in size, was afterwards divided, but for this there is no evidence.
...
Wikipedia