Betram Ashburnham or Betram de Ashburnham (c. 1010 – 1066) was an 11th-century English Nobleman who served as the last Anglo-Saxon Constable of Dover Castle for about ten months in 1066 following the coronation of Harold Godwinson.
Betram Ashburnham | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Constable of Dover Castle | |
| In office January – October, 1066 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1010 Ashburnham, East Sussex, England |
| Died | October 14 ― Early November, 1066 Possibly Hastings, Canterbury, or Dover, England |
Biography
editVery little is known about the life of Bertram Ashburnham, but it is believed that he was the son of Anchitel de Ashburnham and his mother being unknown. The name attributed to him directly connects his birthplace to Ashburnham. He is thought to have been married due to the existence of two sons. One named Philip de Ashburnham born around 1040 and another simply known as Michael, born at an unknown date.[1]
Some sources claim that Betram was a Baron of Kent.[2]
It is said that Bertram was Governor of Dover Castle, possibly under Edward the Confessor as part of the Cinque Ports prior to Harold Godwinson crowning himself king on January 6, 1066. This event caused Harold to anoint him with the title of Constable.[3] It is thought that not long after serving in the Battle of Hastings and Godwinson's death on October 14 that he was executed by William the Conqueror in Canterbury.[4] However, some sources state that Betram was killed during the battle, while others say that he was killed within Dover Castle during the Norman's march to Westminster Abbey following their victory.[5] It is generally believed that Bertram's sons were killed alongside him.
Regardless of his exact time of death, his time in said position would have been rather short as Norman Knight William Peverel would possibly serve for a short period in 1066 following the start of the Norman Conquest of England.[6] However it is confirmed that Odo of Bayeux, also of Norman origin, would take charge before the end of the year and serve as the Earl of Kent until 1082.[7]
References
edit- ^ O'Donoghue, Freeman. "Catalogue of Engraved British Portraits preserved in the Department of Prints and Drawings in the British Museum O'Donoghue 1908-25". The British Museum. London. Retrieved November 7, 2024.
- ^ The Duchess of Cleveland. (1889). "The Battle Abbey Roll. Vol. II". 1066 A Medieval Mosaic. WILLIAM CLOWES AND SONS, LIMITED, STAMFORD STREET AND CHARING CROSS.
- ^ "The Constables and Wardens". Dover.UK.com. Dover.UK.com. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "[Bertram de Ashburnham]". Grosvenor Prints. Grosvenor Prints. 1679. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "[In Memory of Bertram Ashburnham]". Sanders of Oxford. Sanders of Oxford. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ "List of Lord Wardens". The Cinque Ports. Confederation of the Cinque Ports. Retrieved November 6, 2024.
- ^ Statham, Samuel Percy Hammond (1899). "The history of tThe castle, town, and port of Dover". Internet Archive. London, New York, Bombay, Longmans, Green, and Co. p. 310. Retrieved January 10, 2025.