RIDDELLS OF NORMANDY AND ARDNAMURCHAN.
47
Earl of Angoulesme, who stands at the head of his family. His wife had
been married to William, Duke of Gascony, but was separated from him
on account of relationship. He had two sons, and dying in 1075 A. D.,
was succeeded by the eldest.
Arnold Ridel (2), third son of Galfridus (1), was born at Angoulesme,
France, and received from his elder brother the barony of Montausier, in
consequence of which he was called Arnold de Montausier.
William Ridel' (4), fourth son of Galfridus" (1), was born at Angou-
lesm, France, and became bishop of that earldom. He died young and
was succeeded by his brother, of whom hereafter.
Aymar Ridel (1), fifth son of Galfridus (1), was born at Angoulesme,
France, and succeeded his brother, before mentioned, as bishop of that
earldom.
EIGHTH GENERATION.
Helias Ridel (1), eldest son of Galfridus (2), was born at Angoulesme,
and succeeded to the earldom of Piragord; he also became ancestor of the
earls named Helias Ridel III, IV, and V, Bosco Ridel II, and of Jordana
Ridel, Countess of Piragord, married to Archibald V, Viscount of Com-
borne, who became the stock of the succeeding earls. Helias was of the
Ridels, barons of Bergerac, in Piragord, who all bore, for several genera-
tions, the Christian name and surname of Helias Ridel. This branch ended
in Margaret Ridel, who was married to Rignald de Pons, ancestor of the
once celebrated house of De Pons, in France.
Galfridus Ridel (3), second son of Galfridus (2), succeeded to his
father's paternal inheritance of Blaye, in Guinne, and became renowned for
his warlike exploits. He assisted the Normans in the reduction of Apulia*
(see coat-of-arms), and William the Conqueror in his expedition against
England, when he was rewarded (after William was crowned), with large
landed estates by that prince. His name appears on the roll of Battle
Abbey as "Monsieur Ridel." He married the sister of Roger Biggot,
Earl of Norfolk, and died in 1098, leaving four sons, of whom more here-
after.
NINTH GENERATION.
Galfridus Ridel' (4), eldest son of Galfridus (3), succeeded his father
as Earl of Blaye, in Guinne, and became Lord Justiciary of all England,
the highest office under the crown, in the time of Henry I. He married
Geva, the daughter of Hugh Lumpus, Earl of Chester (and Geva his first
wife, daughter of Robert de Buci), nephew to William the Conqueror, by
whom he had one daughter, his heir. The authority on which he was
called chief justiciary of England, is that of Huntingdon, in his Epistlæ
de Mundi Contemptu, one copy of which, however, omits his name. ˆ Dug-
dale mentions him as united with Ralph Basset and others, in a com-
mission to hear and determine a case relating to the privilege of sanctuary
in the church of Ripon, and then adds that he succeeded Ralph Basset as
Justice of England. He came to his death Nov. 25, 1120, with prince
William, when on his return from Normandy in the " Blanche-Nef," from
the carelessness of a drunken crew. The sons of King Henry I, William
Apulia, in the southeastern part of Italy, was taken possession of by the
Normans, 1043 A. D. Now named Puglia. Once a province of importance. Now
the towns are depopulated, industry has disappeared, and commerce, once so
flourishing, has passed away. Agriculture is in a low condition, and the roads are
infested with banditti. The people are ignorant and superstitious, but hospitable.
