Philip de Braose

Philip was born about 1070 to 1073, the son of William de Braose, 1st Lord of Bramber (d. c. 1093/96) by his wife Eve de Boissey or Agnes de St. Clare. William de Braose had participated in the Norman conquest of England. He had been rewarded with the feudal barony of Bramber in Sussex and smaller holdings in Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire and Surrey.^[2]

As heir, Philip consolidated his paternal lands, and expanded them by conquering Builth and New Radnor, in the Welsh borderlands, and establishing new Norman lordships over them. He acquired the lordship of Totnes (Devon) through his wife. He supported Henry I against Robert of Normandy, but in 1110 revolted against Henry, his estates being confiscated. He regained possession in 1112 and after 1130, the estates passed to his eldest son, William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber.^[3] Philip constructed a motte-and-bailey fortification at the site where King Edward I later built Builth Castle in the 13th century.^[4]

He married Aenor de Totnes, sister and co-heiress of Alfred de Totnes (d. pre-1139), son of Juhel de Totnes (d. 1123/30), feudal baron of Totnes (which he forfeited c.1087^[5]) and of Barnstaple, both in Devon.^[6] In right of his wife Aenor, Philip acquired a moiety of the feudal barony of Barnstaple, the other moiety of which was held by Henry de Tracy (d. pre-1165), Aenor's brother-in-law.^[6] He had the following children:

• William de Braose, 3rd Lord of Bramber, his eldest son and heir
• Philip II de Braose
• Basilia, a daughter
• Gillian, a daughter