Robert de 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.

Career 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. 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. to advise them. William pointed out that the site the two chose was unsuitable and also advised them to restore the ancient abbey of Saint-Evroul instead. That same year Robert entered the abbey as a monk and became abbot there in 1059.

Troubles at Saint-Evroul 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. Explaining his position in Normandy had become untenable, that he had been falsely accused, and that no ecclesiastical court had been convened, he asked the pope for his help. The monks of Saint-Evroul on being notified of Osbern being judged an intruder and being excommunicated, left to join their lawful abbot Robert. Those too young or too old to travel remained behind. He brought with him a total of eleven monks from Saint-Evroul, and all were well received by Pope Alexander II, who had just succeeded Pope Nicholas II, and who, after hearing of their troubles in Normandy, gave Robert and his monks the temporary use of the church of Saint-Paul the Apostle in Rome. To find a more permanent situation Robert sought help from his cousin, William of Montreuil, then in the service of Pope Alexander II, who gave Robert and his monks half the town of Aquino. In Robert founded the abbey of Sant'Eufemia Lamezia in Calabria and in 1062 Guiscard also granted him the abbey of Venosa. In 1080 the duke then granted him the church of Saint-Michael of Mileto. Robert died on November 21, and was interred in his church of Saint-Mary, Mother of God, which he built.

Family Robert was a member of the de Grandmesnil family and also identified closely with his mother's Giroie family of Échauffour and Montreuil-l'Argillé, members of which family were vassals as well as rivals of the de Bellême family. Robert's mother eventually retired to become a nun at Montivilliers along with two of Robert's sisters, their brother Hugh providing for them. Hugh, who left Normandy with Robert, returned in time to accompany William the Conqueror at the Battle of Hastings, and subsequently was sheriff of Leicester and held sixty-seven manors at Domesday. Orderic Vitalis, himself a monk at Saint-Evroul, made no mention of Robert ever being married or of having any children.