William d'Aubigny (died 1139)

From a family originating in the village of Aubigny in Loire region of France and born before 1070, William was the eldest surviving son of Roger d’Aubigny and his wife, Amice. William‘s brother was Nigel d'Aubigny. ==Career==

Not mentioned as a landholder in the 1086 Domesday Book, he was associated with King William II of England by 1091 and in that decade is recorded as an important landholder in the county of Norfolk. He was also a benefactor to his father-in-law's foundation of Thetford Priory and, in Normandy, to the Benedictine abbey of Lessay that his father had supported. When Stephen became king in 1135, William initially retained his place at court, but had died by June 1139, and was buried at Wymondham. ==Founder of Wymondham Priory==

In or before 1107, William d'Aubigny, founded the Priory of Wymondham in Norfolk as a subordinate cell to the Monastery of St. Albans Abbey in Hertfordshire, and it continued as such until 1448, when it was converted into an independent abbey by a bull of Pope Nicholas V. Its original foundation occurred during the tenure of William's uncle, Richard d'Aubigny, Abbot of St. Albans from 1097 until his death in 1119. ==Family==

He married Maud, daughter of Roger Bigod of Norfolk and sister of Hugh Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk, and had issue: • William d'Aubigny, 1st Earl of Arundel ==References==