Helias of Saint Saëns (?–1128),Stephanie L. Mooers, "Backers and Stabbers": Problems of Loyalty in Robert Curthose's Entourage, Journal of British Studies, Vol. 21, No. 1, (Autumn, 1981). p. 17 Count of Arques was a Norman magnate of the eleventh and twelfth century, a loyal supporter of Robert Curthose and protector of his son William Clito.C. Warren Hollister, 'War and Diplomacy in the Anglo-Norman World The Reign of Henry I', Anglo-Norman Studies VI: Proceedings of the Battle Conference 1983, ed. R. Allen Brown, The Boydell Press, Woodbridge, (1984). p. 79 His support of the latter eventually brought him into conflict with Henry I of England, ending in his willing exile from Normandy.Stephanie L. Mooers, "Backers and Stabbers": Problems of Loyalty in Robert Curthose's Entourage, Journal of British Studies, Vol. 21, No. 1, (Autumn, 1981). p. 4
Life Helias was an important baron in Upper Normandy who held the fortress-stronghold of Saint-Saëns.Frank Barlow, William Rufus, (Methuen, London, 1983), p. 275 In 1090 he supported William Rufus against his brother Duke Robert of Normandy and led the attack on Rouen.William Farrer, Charles Travis Clay, Early Yorkshire Charters, Volume VIII - The Honour of Warenne (The Yorkshire Archaeological Society, 1949), p. 6 n. 1 But within a year, Duke Robert gave him an illegitimate daughter in marriage,Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band III Teilband 1, Herzogs und Grafenhäuser des Heiligen Römischen Reiches Andere Europäiche Fürstenhäuser (Marburg, Germany: Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 81 whose maritagium included the county of Arques along with the lordship of Bures-en-Bray.C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2003), p. 69 From this time on, Helias was a loyal supporter of Duke Robert and later to his son William Clito.
In 1094, William Rufus crossed over from England and, after failing at diplomacy, raised an army of mercenaries at Eu and attacked south into Normandy. His first victory was in capturing Helias' castle of Bures-en-Bray, at the time garrisoned by Duke Robert's men.Frank Barlow, William Rufus, (Methuen, London, 1983), p. 332 During the period from 1104 to 1106, Helias supported Robert Curthose,Stephanie L. Mooers, "'Backers and Stabbers': Problems of Loyalty in Robert Curthose's Entourage", Journal of British Studies, Vol. 21, No. 1, (Autumn, 1981). p. 9 but in 1106 after the Battle of Tinchebray (in which Robert Curthose was captured and imprisoned by Henry) Helias seems to have been on curiously good terms with Henry I.C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2003), p. 204 n. 1 Secure in his victory, Henry encountered young William Clito, Duke Robert's son, at Falaise. To show he was compassionate, he placed the boy, then about three years old, under the protection of Count Helias.C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2003), p. 206 By the time William Clito was seven or eight, he had become the focal point of resistance to Henry I's rule of Normandy and support was growing for William to be Henry's rival for Normandy and perhaps even England.C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2003), p. 227-8
In 1111, Henry I ordered Robert de Beauchamp, Viscount of Arques, to capture his nephew, William Clito, at the castle of Saint-Saëns. Helias was absent from the castle at the time, but before the Viscount arrived, the boy was taken out of Normandy to join Helias.Ordericus Vitalis, The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy, Translated by Thomas Forester, Volume III (Henry G. Bohn, London, 1854), p. 431 The boy and his protector eventually found safe haven at the court of Baldwin VII, Count of Flanders. Meanwhile, Robert de Beauchamp seized the castle of Saint-Saëns and held it for Henry I, who then gave it to his cousin (consobrinus) William de Warenne, 2nd Earl of Surrey. At the Battle of Bremule in 1119, William Clito fought on the side of Louis VI of France, but for some reason Helias did not participate in the battle.C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2003), p. 264 Fighting against Thierry of Alsace, William Clito died in July 1128 of an infected wound suffered during a siege. His followers, including Helias, kept his death a secret and kept fighting.Ordericus Vitalis, The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy, Translated by Thomas Forester, Volume IV (Henry G. Bohn, London, 1856), p. 93 William had written letters to his uncle, Henry I, asking for his followers to be pardoned; Henry did as requested. Some followers returned to Henry I while others set out for the crusade.C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2003), p. 325
Helias died about 1128.
Family His father was Lambert of Saint-Saëns,M. Guizot, Collection des memoires relatifs à l'histoire de France, (J. L. J. Briere, Paris, 1826, p. 304 who was a son of Richard de Lillebonne, viscount of Rouen. He descended from one of the nieces of Gunnor, Duchess of Normandy, and hence was a distant cousin of the English royal family.K. S. B. Keats-Rohan, "Aspects of Torigny's Genealogy Revisited", Nottingham Medieval Studies 37:21-7Elisabeth M. C. van Houts, "Robert of Torigni as Genealogist", Studies in Medieval History presented to R. Allen Brown, p.215-33
References
External links Robert de Torigny and the family of Gunnor, Duchess of Normandy