Ralph the Staller

rdf:langString Ralph the Staller

rdf:langString Ralph the Staller (or Radulf Stalre or Ralph l'Écuyer / Ralph the Squire (c. 1011 – 1069) was a noble and landowner in both Anglo-Saxon and post-Conquest England. He is said to have been born in Norfolk of high born Breton and English parentage. He was part of the court of Edward the Confessor, and is sometimes referred to as "squire", a generic title for important members of the royal court at the time, he is also designated as seneschal and courtier. He held the military post of staller, roughly equivalent to the continental constable, under King Edward the Confessor. He is recorded as witnessing charters, for instance in 1053, as a staller, and in 1053-55 he attested a charter between Earl Leofric and Godgifu, endowing a monastery at Stowe, St Mary in Lincolnshire. Ralph was a patron to the Abbey of Saint-Riquier in county Ponthieu, and also a patron to the Abbey of St Benet de Holme in Norfolk. He survived partaking in the Conquest of 1066 and gained the favour of William the Conqueror, who made him Earl of East Anglia. He married and had several children, including his heir, Ralph Guader, who succeeded to his earldom and Hardouin (French) or Hardwin (in English). He is also believed to be related to Hereward the Wake who had connections with Petersbourgh Abbey and Abbot Brand.