Robert of Grandmesnil

Robert de Grantmesnil (de Grandmesnil) also known as Robert II, was a Norman nobleman; a member of a prominent Norman family. He first became a monk, then abbot at the Abbey of Saint-Evroul in Normandy and later Bishop of Troina in the Norman Kingdom of Sicily.

Robert was the second son of Robert I de Grantmesnil and Hawisa d'Échauffour, daughter of Giroie, Lord of Échauffour. His family was from Calvados, arrondissement of Lisieux, in the canton of Saint-Pierre-sur-Dives. As a child he applied himself to learning and came to be known for his retentive memory and seemed to be destined for the church. But Robert also had a love of arms and fighting and was for five years an esquire to Duke William, who at the end of that period knighted him and rewarded him generously for his service. In 1040 when Robert I died, his three sons, including Robert, all shared in their father's inheritance.

In 1050, Robert and his elder brother Hugh de Grandmesnil had decided to found a monastery and asked their uncle, William fitz Giroie, to advise them. William pointed out the site the two chose was unsuitable and also advised them to restore the ancient abbey of Saint-Evroul instead. The brothers agreed and compensated the monks of Bec who owned the old ruins and then generously funded, along with contributions from their mother's fitz Giroie family, the restoration of the abbey. In his confirmation charter to this refounding of Saint-Evroul Duke William subscribed it with the sign of the cross and had added to the charter a warning against anyone doing any harm to the abbey or any of its members under pain of excommunication. That same year Robert entered the abbey as a monk and became abbot there in 1059.

About 1059 there were several quarrels between Duke William's barons, in particular members of the Giroie family and Mabel de Belleme. In one instance she and her husband Roger convinced Duke William to confiscate the lands of Arnold d'Échauffour (Robert's uncle), and turn them over to her. Also caught up in this and having his lands suddenly taken was Hugh de Grandmesnil (Robert's brother). At the same time Robert de Grandmesnil, as abbot of Saint-Evroul was summoned before the duke to answer charges. Upon learning these were false and discovering the Duke had intentions of harming him, Robert consulted Bishop Hugh of Lisieux. The bishop advised Robert to guard against William's wrath and for his own safety he should remove himself from Normandy. Duke William then had Osbern, a monk of the Holy Trinity, Rouen, installed as abbot of Saint-Evroul in Robert's place.