The Bloody Feud Over the Coveted Castle Of Ivry
The history of the Castle of Ivry is one of betrayal and bloodshed. Its very construction ended in violence. Countess Aubrée, who had the castle built, was so impressed with it that she had the architect Lanfred killed to prevent him from building another fortress like it. She herself was in turn killed by her husband who wished to possess the castle himself. The impressive castle on the border between the Duchy of Normandy and the Kingdom of France remained at the centre of many feuds, none bloodier and crueller than that between William de Breteuil and Ascelin Goël at the end of the 11th century.
The ruins of the donjon at Château d'Ivry-la-Bataille (Nitot/ CC BY-SA 3.0)
The Coveted Castle of Ivry
At the time of the 11th century the border between Normandy and France was not a clear line on the map. It was not defined by significant geographical obstacles, nor was there a language barrier. People, then as now, continually crossed and re-crossed these borders, working, trading, and living on either side of it, and noblemen like Robert Beaumont, Count of Meulan, held land both in Normandy and France owing allegiance to both the King of France and the Duke of Normandy. The control of the Duke of Normandy over his territory – particularly along the border – therefore depended on which of the noblemen were willing to follow his lead rather than that of the King of France. This caused constant friction between the two rulers, giving even smaller lords who held border castles leverage to greatly enhance their power and influence and it made border castles highly desirable places to hold.
As one of the oldest and strongest fortifications on the Norman-French border, the formidable Castle of Ivry situated above the river Eure was one of those highly coveted border castles. It has been argued that Ivry was the model for the White Tower in London.
The White Tower in London, seen from the southeast (Bernard Gagnon/ CC BY-SA 3.0)
The history of the castle is one of betrayal and bloodshed. In the 12th century, the monk Orderic Vitalis relates that Aubrée, wife of Ralph, Count of Bayeux and half-brother of Richard I, Duke of Normandy, commissioned the castle to be built. The finished castle was so impressive that Aubrée had the architect Lanfred beheaded to prevent him from building another fortress like it. She herself was in turn killed by her husband who wished to possess the castle himself. Though this tale has all the hallmarks of a sensational legend some facts support the gist of the story. At the beginning of the 11th century the castle was held by Hugh, Bishop of Bayeux, one of the sons of Ralph, Count of Bayeux until it was taken into the hands of Robert I, Duke of Normandy in about 1028.
Robert I the Magnificent Duke of Normandy portrayed on the Genealogical Chronicle of the English Kings (Public Domain)
