The Lord of the Isle of Wight was a feudal title, at times hereditary and at others by royal appointment in the

Kingdom of England The Kingdom of England (, ) was a sovereign state on the island of Great Britain from 12 July 927, when it emerged from various Anglo-Saxon kingdoms, until 1 May 1707, when it united with Scotland to form the Kingdom of Great Britain. On 1 ...

, before the development of an extensive peerage system.

William the Conqueror William I; ang, WillelmI (Bates ''William the Conqueror'' p. 33– 9 September 1087), usually known as William the Conqueror and sometimes William the Bastard, was the first House of Normandy, Norman List of English monarchs#House of Norman ...

granted the lordship of the

Isle of Wight The Isle of Wight ( ) is a county in the English Channel, off the coast of Hampshire, from which it is separated by the Solent. It is the largest and second-most populous island of England. Referred to as 'The Island' by residents, the Isle of ...

to his relative and close counsellor

William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford, Lord of Breteuil ( 1011 – 22 February 1071), was a relative and close counsellor of William the Conqueror and one of the great magnates of early Norman England. FitzOsbern was created Earl of Hereford ...

in 1066. He died in 1071 and was succeeded by his son

Roger de Breteuil, 2nd Earl of Hereford Roger de Breteuil, 2nd Earl of Hereford (1056 – after 1087), succeeded in 1071 to the earldom of Hereford and the English estate of his father, William Fitz-Osbern. He is known to history for his role in the Revolt of the Earls. Revolt of ...

, whose surname was taken from his father's lordship of Breteuil in

Normandy Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...

. Roger is known to history for his role in the

Revolt of the Earls The Revolt of the Earls in 1075 was a rebellion of three earls against William I of England (William the Conqueror). It was the last serious act of resistance against William in the Norman Conquest. Cause The revolt was caused by the king's refu ...

, for which he was deprived of his lands and titles and imprisoned in 1075. The next creation of the title was by

Henry I Henry I may refer to: 876–1366 * Henry I the Fowler, King of Germany (876–936) * Henry I, Duke of Bavaria (died 955) * Henry I of Austria, Margrave of Austria (died 1018) * Henry I of France (1008–1060) * Henry I the Long, Margrave of the ...

in 1101 for

Richard de Redvers Richard is a male given name. It originates, via Old French, from Old Frankish and is a compound of the words descending from Proto-Germanic ''*rīk-'' 'ruler, leader, king' and ''*hardu-'' 'strong, brave, hardy', and it therefore means 'stron ...

, who had been one of his principal supporters in the struggle against his brother

Robert Curthose Robert Curthose, or Robert II of Normandy ( 1051 – 3 February 1134, french: Robert Courteheuse / Robert II de Normandie), was the eldest son of William the Conqueror and succeeded his father as Duke of Normandy in 1087, reigning until 1106. ...

for control of the English throne. On his death in 1107 he was succeeded by his son Baldwin, who was created

Earl of Devon Earl of Devon was created several times in the English peerage, and was possessed first (after the Norman Conquest of 1066) by the de Redvers (''alias'' de Reviers, Revieres, etc.) family, and later by the Courtenay family. It is not to be co ...

in 1141. The lordship of the Isle of Wight was thereafter held with the earldom by the de Redvers family. The last holder of both titles was Isabella de Fortibus ''nee'' de Redvers, 8th Countess of Devon, who inherited them on the death her brother Baldwin in 1262. Widowed the previous year, she became the wealthiest woman in the

British Isles The British Isles are a group of islands in the North Atlantic Ocean off the north-western coast of continental Europe, consisting of the islands of Great Britain, Ireland, the Isle of Man, the Inner and Outer Hebrides, the Northern Isles, ...

who was not a member of a royal family. She lived in

Carisbrooke Castle Carisbrooke Castle is a historic motte-and-bailey castle located in the village of Carisbrooke (near Newport), Isle of Wight, England. Charles I was imprisoned at the castle in the months prior to his trial. Early history The site of Carisb ...

on the island and exercised her rights and privileges as feudal overlord. On her deathbed, she sold the island to Edward I for 6,000

marks Marks may refer to: Business * Mark's, a Canadian retail chain * Marks & Spencer, a British retail chain * Collective trade marks, trademarks owned by an organisation for the benefit of its members * Marks & Co, the inspiration for the novel ...

. The Lordship thereafter became a royal appointment. Its holders were usually close confidente's of, or closely related to, the monarch. For example, in the fourteenth century Edward II appointed his

favourite A favourite (British English) or favorite (American English) was the intimate companion of a ruler or other important person. In post-classical and early-modern Europe, among other times and places, the term was used of individuals delegated s ...

Piers Gaveston Piers Gaveston, Earl of Cornwall (c. 1284 – 19 June 1312) was an English nobleman of Gascon origin, and the favourite of Edward II of England. At a young age, Gaveston made a good impression on King Edward I, who assigned him to the househ ...

. Edward's son Edward, Earl of Chester, afterwards King Edward III was also appointed as were the latters' grandson

Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York Edward, 2nd Duke of York, ( – 25 October 1415) was an English nobleman, military commander and magnate. He was the eldest son of Edmund of Langley, 1st Duke of York, and a grandson of King Edward III of England. He held significant appointment ...

. In the fifteenth century

Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester Humphrey of Lancaster, Duke of Gloucester (3 October 139023 February 1447) was an English prince, soldier, and literary patron. He was (as he styled himself) "son, brother and uncle of kings", being the fourth and youngest son of Henry IV of E ...

"son, brother and uncle of kings" was appointed, as were members of the Beaufort and Woodville families during the

Wars of the Roses The Wars of the Roses (1455–1487), known at the time and for more than a century after as the Civil Wars, were a series of civil wars fought over control of the English throne in the mid-to-late fifteenth century. These wars were fought bet ...

. The last appointee, Edward Woodville, ''styled'' Lord Scales, who had supported Henry VII in that conflict, died in 1488.

Lords of the Isle of Wight, 1st creation (1066)

(died 1071) *

(1075 seized)

Lords of the Isle of Wight, 2nd creation (1101)

(died 1107) *

Baldwin de Redvers, 1st Earl of Devon Baldwin de Redvers, 1st Earl of Devon (died 4 June 1155), feudal baron of Plympton in Devon, was the son of Richard de Redvers and his wife Adeline Peverel. He was one of the first to rebel against King Stephen, and was the only first rank magn ...

(died 1155) *

Richard de Redvers, 2nd Earl of Devon Richard de Redvers, 2nd Earl of Devon (died 1162) was Earl of Devon from 1155 until his death and was feudal baron of Plympton in Devon.Sanders, I.J. English Baronies: A Study of their Origin and Descent 1086-1327, Oxford, 1960, pp.137-8, Barony o ...

(died 1162) *

Baldwin de Redvers, 3rd Earl of Devon Baldwin is a Germanic name, composed of the elements ''bald'' "bold" and ''win'' "friend". People * Baldwin (name) Places Canada * Baldwin, York Regional Municipality, Ontario * Baldwin, Ontario, in Sudbury District * Baldwin's Mills, ...

(died 1188) *

Richard de Redvers, 4th Earl of Devon Richard de Redvers, 4th Earl of Devon (died 1193) was Earl of Devon from 1188 until his death and was feudal baron of Plympton in Devon. He inherited the title on the death of his elder brother Baldwin de Redvers, 3rd Earl of Devon, who died child ...

(died c. 1193) *

William de Redvers, 5th Earl of Devon William de Redvers, 5th Earl of Devon (died 10 September 1217) (or de Reviers), of Tiverton Castle and Plympton Castle, both in Devon, was feudal baron of Plympton in Devon. Origins He was the son of Baldwin de Redvers, 1st Earl of Devon by h ...

(died 1217) * Baldwin de Redvers, 6th Earl of Devon (died 1245) *

Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon Baldwin de Redvers, 7th Earl of Devon (1 January 1236 – 1262), feudal baron of Plympton in DevonSanders, I.J. English Baronies: A Study of their Origin and Descent 1086-1327, Oxford, 1960, pp. 137–8, Barony of Plympton and Lord of the Isl ...

(died 1262) * Isabella de Fortibus, 8th Countess of Devon (died 1293)

Appointed Lords and Ladies of the Isle of Wight

* 1307: Piers Gaveston, 1st Earl of Cornwall (killed 1312) * Edward, Earl of Chester (became King Edward III in 1327) * 1385:

William de Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury William Montagu, 2nd Earl of Salisbury, 4th Baron Montagu, King of Mann, Order of the Garter, KG (25 June 1328 – 3 June 1397) was an English people, English nobleman and commander in the English army during King Edward III of England, Edward I ...

(died 1397) * 4 June 1397:

(died 1415 in action) * 10 December 1415:

Philippa de Mohun Philippa de Mohun (c. 1367 – 17 July 1431) was Duchess of York, as a result of her third marriage to Edward of Norwich, 2nd Duke of York (c.1373–1415), Lord of the Isle of Wight, a grandson of King Edward III (1327–1377). She succeeded h ...

(died 1431 at Carisbrooke Castle) * 1415 (presumably in reversion):

(died 1447) * 1452:

Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset Edmund Beaufort, 2nd Duke of Somerset, 4th Earl of Somerset, 1st Earl of Dorset, 1st Marquess of Dorset styled 1st Count of Mortain, KG (140622 May 1455), was an English nobleman and an important figure during the Hundred Years' War. His rival ...

(died 1455) * 1457:

Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset Henry Beaufort, 3rd Duke of Somerset (26 January 143615 May 1464) was an important Lancastrian military commander during the English Wars of the Roses. He is sometimes numbered the 2nd Duke of Somerset, because the title was re-created for his ...

(died 1464) * 1474:

Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers Anthony Woodville, 2nd Earl Rivers (c. 144025 June 1483), was an English nobleman, courtier, bibliophile and writer. He was the brother of Queen Elizabeth Woodville who married King Edward IV. He was one of the leading members of the Woodvi ...

(died 1483) * 1485: Edward Woodville, ''styled'' Lord Scales (died 1488).

Notes and references

* G. E. C., ''

The Complete Peerage ''The Complete Peerage'' (full title: ''The Complete Peerage of England, Scotland, Ireland, Great Britain, and the United Kingdom Extant, Extinct, or Dormant''; first edition by George Edward Cokayne, Clarenceux King of Arms; 2nd edition rev ...

'', vol. III (1890
p. 100, note f
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lord of the Isle of Wight History of the Isle of Wight

Lords of the Isle of Wight, 1st creation (1066)

Lords of the Isle of Wight, 2nd creation (1101)

Appointed Lords and Ladies of the Isle of Wight

See also

Notes and references