According to Domesday Descendants, Renaud de Saint-Valéry was the son of "Bernard de Saint-Valéry and grandson of Domesday’s Walter de Saint-Valéry" but no corresponding primary source is cited. The primary source which confirms his parentage has not yet been identified. The Historia Fundationis of Kingswood priory in Wiltshire records that King Stephen granted “illi de Kingswode Haseldene…terras Reginaldo de sancto Walerico” to "Johanne de sancto Johanne", in the early years of his reign.
Steward [Dapifer] of Normandy from [1146] to [1153]. "…Raginaldo de Sancto Walerico dapiffero…" witnessed the charter dated to [1146/50] under which "G. dux Norm et comes And et H. filius eius" confirmed the rights of the abbey of Fécamp. "…Raginaldo de Sancto Walerico…" witnessed the charter dated to [1151/52] under which Henri Duke of Normandy ordered an enquiry about "la banlieue de Cambremer" with a view to its use being transferred to Bayeux abbey as it had been in the time of "Ricardus filius Sansonis" [Richard de Douvres] during the reign of King Henry I. "…Rainaldo de Sancto Walerico dapifero meo…" witnessed the charter dated to [Sep 1151/Jan 1153] under which "Henricus dux Norm et comes Andeg" donated property to the abbey of Mortemer. Henry Duke of Normandy confirmed a donation to Fontevraud abbey by "Raginaldus de Santo Walerico…sive filius eius Bernardus" to Fontevraud abbey, in the presence of "patris mei et mea fratrisque mei Willelmi" and with the consent of "Bernardus eius filius", by charter dated to [Sep 1151/Jan 1153] witnessed by "…Mathilde amita mea Fontis Ebraudi abbatissa". The cartulary of Cercamp includes a charter of Bernard de Saint-Valéry which recalls the pilgrimage of "pater meus" (Renaud [I] de Saint-Valéry) to Jerusalem". Renaud [I] de Saint-Valéry is recorded in one source as Lord of Harenc, but it is not at all clear that this can be correct. The precise date of Renaud’s arrival in Palestine is not known. "…Rainaudus de S. Valerio…" witnessed the charter dated 1159 under which Mélisende Queen of Jerusalem donated property to the leprosarium of St Lazarus. "…Rainaldus de S. Gallerico…" witnessed the charter dated 1160 under which "Hugo de Ybelino dominus Ramathensis" donated property to the church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem. Other sources name Renaud [I] de Saint-Valéry in England and France between [1160/61] and 1163, suggesting that he left Palestine soon after witnessing the charter dated 1160. The Red Book of the Exchequer refers to "Reginaldus de Sancto Valerico c m - l milites" in Oxfordshire in [1160/61], and "Reginaldo de Sancto Valerico i m" in Berkshire in [1161/62] (although these entries do not prove that he was present in England at the time). "…Raginaldo de Sancto Walerico…" witnessed a charter dated 1162 under which Henry II King of England donated the forest of Hogues to Fécamp abbey. Robert de Torigny records that "Rotrocus episcopus Ebroicensis et Rainaldus de Sancto Walerio" recognised the rights of Henry II King of England in Normandy in 1163. Henry II King of England addressed a writ to "R[otrou] bishop of Evreux and R[eginald] de Sancto Walerico" confirming the possession of the church of Lion by the canons of Briweton. In contrast to this, we have a single primary source which indicates that Renaud de Saint-Valéry was Lord of Harenc in 1158: Robert de Torigny records that "Balduinus rex Jerosolimitanus" captured "Cæsaream magnam Palestinæ" near Antioch, and also "castrum Harenc", adding that he granted the latter to "Rainaldo de Sancto Valerico", dated to 1158 from the context. This source contradicts the Chronicle of Patriarch Michel le Grand which records that "Hérim" was captured by "le roi de Jérusalem" who gave it "au fils de Djoslin qui portait le même nom que son père et qui était héritier de Romgla" [referring to Joscelin [III] de Courtenay, son of Joscelin [II] Count of Edessa], adding that the latter ravaged Aleppo in revenge for the death of his father but after two years was captured and died in chains.... William of Tyre does not help much in resolving the conflict between the two texts as he records that Baudouin King of Jerusalem besieged and recaptured "castrum urbi Antiochiæ vicinum" (which is not named in the text, but named "castrum Harenc" in the heading of the relevant chapter) and records that the king restored it to "domino principi, cuius jurisdictionis fuerat", the old French text specifying that "li rois bailla le chastel au conte Renaut, por ce qu’il devoit estre de sa princée" (presumably indicating Renaud de Châtillon Prince of Antioch, as the suzerain of the area), dated to 1157 from the context. However, the History of Kamel-Altevarykh dates the capture of Joscelin [III] de Courtenay to 1164 when it records that "au mois de ramadhan Nour-eddin Mahmoud" conquered "le château de Harem" from the Franks and that "le prince Boémond souverain d’Antioche, le comte, maître de Tripoli…le fils de Josselin…et le duc" were captured. If this date is correct, Joscelin probably held Harenc until its capture by Nur ed-Din, which leaves no room at all for Renaud de Saint-Valéry to have been lord of Harenc. There appears no way of reconciling these texts other than by suggesting that Robert de Torigny was in error and that he had meant to indicate Renaud de Châtillon Prince of Antioch when he named Renaud de Saint-Valéry. This would be surprising, as otherwise Robert de Torigny appears to be an accurate and reliable source, although it would provide the link to William of Tyre who, as noted above, indicates that the castle was returned to Renaud de Châtillon.
The necrology of Ulterioris Portus monastery records the death "5 Aug" of "Reginaldus de Sancto Walarico et eius uxor".... The necrology of Ulterioris Portus monastery records the death "5 Aug" of "Reginaldus de Sancto Walarico et eius uxor". 2
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