Earl of
Northampton
Simon de
St.Liz, otherwise known as Simon de Sancto Lizio, commonly called
de Senlyz or de Senlis, is a legendary, almost mythical figure. He
came over from Normandy in 1066 with William the Conqueror. Born
around 1044 in Normandy, he was to marry Maud Huntington, eldest
daughter of Judith of Lens. Judiths husband was the earl of
Northampton, Waltheof II, the sole remaining English nobleman until
he was beheaded in 1073.
His first marriage however, was to Jeanne de Montfort around 1064.
They had no children and in 1088-9, she died. Simon remarried that
same year to Maud who had by then become hieress to her fathers
vast possessions. By right of his new wife, Simon subsequently
became Earl of Northampton and Huntingdon. Maud gave birth in
subsequent years to three children (two boys and a girl). The
eldest son took the title of 2nd Earl of Northampton as it passed
down.
Simon de St. Liz III became the 8th Earl of Huntingdon and Northampton between 1174 and 1184. He died in June 1184. The Earldom of Northampton became extinct on his death. Simon de St. Liz III is buried in St. Andrews, Northampton. Ironically, the church of St Andrews was built by the first Earl for his own burial place.
Northampton castle and it's defences were built by Simon around 1089 to prevent any Saxon uprising. He was the founder of the Cluniac priory of St. Andrew's, the builder of the first castle, the Norman churches of the Holy Sepulchre and All Saints, and, according to tradition, of the town wall. Simon was a religious man and almost thirty years after fighting along side William the Conqueror, he made a pilgimage to the Holy Lands. This crusade was about to unite the major powers of Europe for the first time.
On his return from the first pilgrimage
in 1100, Simon had plans to build a church which would be in the
same style as one he saw in Jerusalem. This church was called the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre which still stands today 900 years on.
Tradition has it that he also built South Bridge which dates back
to c. 1100. Simon didn't restrict his building to just Northampton.
He has churches and abbeys throughout Northamptonshire
On return from his second crusade to the holy lands, Simon fell ill
and died shortly afterwards in an abbey, La Charite-Sur-Loir,
Nievre, France. It was the year 1115 and Simon was about 70 years
old. His wife, Maud, remarried later that same year. By marrying
David 1, King of Scotland, she became Scotlands queen.