2 thoughts on “The Curious Case of Pillam FitzErembald – Igor Koturbash”
Thats a nice essay. There is another twist that you might care to consider. On Ash Wednesday in 1127 (March 2nd), Charles the Good – Count of Flanders – was brutally murdered whilst at prayer. He was murdered by the prominent Erembald family who had been accused by Charles of ramping up the price of grain. Charles was popular and there was a backlash against the Erembald family and many of them were arrested and tortured to death. Doubtlesss any Erembalds who escaped might have found it expedient to leave the Low Countries and flee overseas. Without a shred of evidence – it seems to me that perhaps one of these Erembalds started the mining and coin minting business. The timiing seems approximatly right. I imagine that these renegades took with them some capital to start up new business ventures in their new home.
(author reply) Thank you so much for your feedback and interesting comment! This totally fits into the picture, as there is no earlier document than pipe roll of 1130 to confirm FitzBaldwin’s presence in England. Henry I BMC Type 15 coinage spans 1125-1135, so the position of a moneyer at Carlisle mint could be open for several years until it was taken by Erembald in 1128 or so.
BNS Research Blog 
Thats a nice essay. There is another twist that you might care to consider. On Ash Wednesday in 1127 (March 2nd), Charles the Good – Count of Flanders – was brutally murdered whilst at prayer. He was murdered by the prominent Erembald family who had been accused by Charles of ramping up the price of grain. Charles was popular and there was a backlash against the Erembald family and many of them were arrested and tortured to death. Doubtlesss any Erembalds who escaped might have found it expedient to leave the Low Countries and flee overseas. Without a shred of evidence – it seems to me that perhaps one of these Erembalds started the mining and coin minting business. The timiing seems approximatly right. I imagine that these renegades took with them some capital to start up new business ventures in their new home.
regards
Graham Birch
(author reply) Thank you so much for your feedback and interesting comment! This totally fits into the picture, as there is no earlier document than pipe roll of 1130 to confirm FitzBaldwin’s presence in England. Henry I BMC Type 15 coinage spans 1125-1135, so the position of a moneyer at Carlisle mint could be open for several years until it was taken by Erembald in 1128 or so.