Simon I de Montfort born about 1025 in Montfort l'Amaury, Ile de France, France and died 1087. He is buried in Epernon, Normandy, France. He was the son of Amaury de Montfort (c 1000-1031) and Bertrade de Gometz. Simon I first married Isabel de Broyles (b. 1034, Broyes, Marne, France), daughter of Hugh Bardoul. Their children were Amauri de Montfort (c. 1056-1089) and Isabel (Elizabeth) de Montfort (b. 1057), who married Raoul III de Tosny.[1]
Progeny
Simon I's second marriage was to Agnes d'Evreux (b. 1030), daughter of Richard d'Evreux of Rouen, Normandy. Their children were:
- Bertrade de Montfort (c. 1059-1117), became Queen of France.
- Richard de Montfort (c. 1066-1092), slain in attack on abbey at Conches.
- Simon II de Montfort (c. 1068-1101)
- Amauri de Montfort (c. 1070-1137), married Richude (Richilde) de Hainault and Agnes de Garland.
- Guillaume de Montfort (c. 1073-1101)
- Adeliza de Montfort (b. 1075)[2]
Appearance in Chinese records
According to Chinese scholar Yang Xianyi, Simon is identified in Chinese records as an official sent to Song Dynasty China baring gifts for the Emperor. The records read, "In the 10th month of the 4th year of Yuanfeng (November 1081), [the Roman] king Mieliyiling Gaisa for the first time sent the great official Nisiduling Simengpan to present a tribute of horses with saddles, sabres, swords, and pearls." [3] Simon is said to be Nisiduling Simengpan (儞廝都令廝孟判), while King Mieliyiling Gais (王灭力伊灵改撒) is said to be Melissenos Kaisar, the brother-in-law of Alexios I Komnenos.[4] However, another source names the King as being Michael VII Parapinaces Caesar.[5] Yang Xianyi also suggests that the sudden burst of diplomatic activity between Constantinople and the Chinese capital of Kaifeng was part of the same effort at finding allies against the Seljuk Turks that led to the First Crusade in 1095. However, this remains speculation since the objective of two proceeding missions ten years later in 1091 is unknown - the only details given are that the Song emperor gave the ambassador various gifts, including 200 bolts of silk, to bring back to 'Rome'.[4]
References
- ^ Ancestral Roots of Certain American Colonists Who Came to America Before 1700 by Frederick Lewis Weis; Lines 50-25, 98A-24, 118-23, 125-28
- ^ Foundation for Medieval Genealogy on Simon I de Montfort
- ^ Chinese: 元丰四年十月，其王灭力伊灵改撒始遣大首领儞廝都令廝孟判来献鞍马、刀、剑、真珠。
- ^ a b Fundamental Historical Research by Yang Xianyi
- ^ East Asian History Sourcebook: Chinese Accounts of Rome, Byzantium and the Middle East, c. 91 B.C.E. - 1643 C.E.
