• Born: Abt 1170, Oswestry, Powys, Wales
• Married: 3 Feb 1188
• Died: 28 Oct 1232, Wallingford
• Buried: Abbey of St Werburgh, Chester, England

  Research Notes:

The Annales Cestrienses record in 1170 the birth of “Ranulphus III filius Hugonis comes Cestrie”. The accuracy of this date depends on the accuracy of the dating of his parents’ marriage which, as noted above, is reported in 1169 or 1170 in different sources. A manuscript narrating the descent of Hugh Earl of Chester to Alice Ctss of Lincoln records that “Ranulfus filius eius” succeeded on the death of “Hugo”, son of “Ranulfus de Gernons”.

He succeeded his father in 1181 as Earl of Chester, Vicomte d'Avranches. The Annales Cestrienses record in 1188 that “Rannulphus comes Cestrie” was knighted by King Henry II “in die circumcisionis domini apud [Cadomum]”. Earl of Richmond, Duke of Brittany from 1189, de iure uxoris, until his divorce in 1199. He supported John King of England against the rebellious barons in 1215. He was created Earl of Lincoln 23 May 1217-1231. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names “...comes Renoldus de Cestra cum Savarico de Malleone” among those who set out on crusade in 1219 and fought “ante Damietam”. The Annales Cestrienses record in 1220 that “dominus Rannulphus comes Cestrie” returned “de Damata” and arrived “Cestriam in crastino Assumpcionis”. He resigned the earldom of Lincoln [Apr 1231/1232] in favour of his sister Hawise.

A manuscript narrating the descent of Hugh Earl of Chester to Alice Ctss of Lincoln records the death “VII Kal Nov” of “Ranulfus” and his burial at St Werburgh’s, Chester. The Annals of Dunstable record that “Ranulfus comes Cestriæ” died in 1232. The Annals of Tewkesbury record the death “VII Kal Nov apud Walingeford” in 1232 of “Randulfus comes Cestriæ” and his burial “apud Cestriam”. The Annales Cestrienses record the death “VII Kal Nov apud Walingford” of “Rannulphus comes Cestrie et Lincoln” and his burial “III Non eiusdem apud Cestrie”. ¹