Amice DE BRÉTEUIL, Countess of Leicester
- Married (1): Before 1170
- Married (2): Before 13 Jan 1187/8
- Died: 3 Sep 1215
- Buried: Haute-Bruyère Abbey near Montfort-l'Amaury, France
Research Notes:
A history of the foundation of St Mary’s abbey, Leicester names “Amiciam primogenitam…et Margaritam juniorem” as the two daughters of “Robertus” and his wife “Petronillam filiam Hugonis de Grantmenyl”, adding that Amice married “domino Symoni de Monteforti”. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines refers to the mother of "comes Symon Montisfortis et Guido frater eius" as "Guilelmum comitem Licestrie…sorore" but does not name her. "Simon de Monte Forti" donated money from "Rochefort" to Notre-Dame des Vaux de Cernay, with the consent of "Amicia uxore mea", by charter dated to [1180]. A charter dated Feb 1199 recalls a donation to the leprosery of Grand-Beaulieu near Chartres by "Amauricus de Monteforti", with the consent of "Amauricus parvus filius eiusdem Amaurici, qui erat sub custodia Amaurici de Mestenon", confirmed after his death by "Simon frater eius et successor", and a later donation by "Simon iste comes Ebroicensis et Mahaudis [presumably an error for Amicia] uxor eius".
She styled herself Ctss of Leicester after the death of her brother Robert. She surrendered Breteuil to Philippe II King of France in 1206 in return for other lands. Her second marriage is confirmed by the necrology of the Prieuré de Fontaines which shows that she had a daughter by her second husband when it records the death "23 Dec" of "domina Ameza…monacha, Willelmi de Barris et comitisse Montis Fortis filia".
The necrology of Chartres cathedral records the death "IV Id Sep" of "Amicia…comitissa Liecestrie et domina Montisfortis". The necrology of Haute-Bruyère lists members of the Montfort family who are buried in the abbey, including "…comte Simon…et de sa femme la contesse Amicie…" 1
Marriage Information:
Amice married Simon DE MONTFORT Seigneur de Rochefort, son of Simon "Le Chauve" DE MONTFORT Count of Evreux and Mathilde, before 1170. (Simon DE MONTFORT Seigneur de Rochefort was born about 1148 in Montfort-l'Amaury, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France, died before 18 Jul 1188 in Rochefort-en-Yvelines, Yvelines, Ile-de-France, France and was buried in Haute-Bruyère Abbey near Montfort-l'Amaury, France.
Marriage Information:
Amice also married Guillaume II DES BARRES, Comte de Rochefort, Seigneur d’Oissery et de la Ferté-Alais, son of Guillaume I dit "L’Achille de son temps" DES BARRES, Seigneur d’Oissery-les-Meaux et de Saint-Pathus, and Hélissende DE CHAUMONT, vicomtesse de Sens, dame de Chaumont-sur-Yonne.., before 13 Jan 1187/8. (Guillaume II DES BARRES was born in Cours-les-Barres, Nievre, Bourgogne, France and died on 23 Mar 1234 in Fontaine-les-Nonnes, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, France.) |