Alain fitz Flaald

Alain Fitz Flaald came to England at the conquest and was baron of Oswaldestre, Salop and Mileham, Norfolk. He received the shrievalty of Shropshire from Henry I and died c. 1114. Wace (1. 11511), in recording "Sire de Dinan," undoubtedly referred to him. While his parentage is more or less obscure, there is evidence to show that Flaald, his father, lived in Brittany and was a brother of Alain, seneschal of Dol, descended from the old Armorican counts of Dol and Dinan. Alain Fitz Flaald was the father or grandfather of Walter Fitz Alan, steward to David I, king of Scotland, ancestor of the Stuarts, kings of that country. Alain Fitz Flaald was also the father of William Fitz Alan, to whom Henry II gave in second marriage Isabel de Say, baroness of Clun, the greatest heiress of Shropshire. He was ancestor of John Fitz Alan, who married Isabel, sister and coheiress of Hugh d'Albigny. Upon a division of Hugh's property at his death in 1243, the castle of Arundel was assigned to John, son of the aforementioned John and Isabel, who thus became the first earl of Arundel of the Fitz Alan line. This property eventually passed to Mary, daughter and heiress of Henry Fitz Alan, who carried it; together with the earldom and the barony of Maltravers, to her husband Thomas Howard, duke of Norfolk, in which family it still remains.

Clun Castle, Shropshire - Photo © Philip Halling, May 2006

Alain Fitz Flaald and his wife Adeline were benefactors to the Norfolk priory of Castle Acre, early in the reign of Henry I. Turchil Rufus or le Rous, who came to England in 1066, held lands from Alain in Norfolk. Cleveland affirms that Edmund Fitz Alan, great-grandson of john and Isabel Fitz Alan, was the first earl of this line summoned to parliament. --(This name appears on the Falaise Roll)

Alain founded Sporle Priory and made Clun the family's seat after being appointed Sheriff of Shropshire.