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Brien FitzcountBrien FitzCount was the Lord of Wallingford and Baron of Abergavenny, and a staunch supporter of the Empress Maud during the Anarchy. He was the illegitimate son of Alan IV, Duke of Brittany; his date of birth is unknown but Brien was almost certainly born before his father became a monk in 1112. He was sent to be fostered at the court of King Henry I of England. He married an English heiress, Matilda D'Oyly, and through her obtained Wallingford by 1127. Brien also inherited the castle and barony of Abergavenny from his uncle, Hamelin de Balon. He declared for the Empress Maud in 1139, and was beseiged by the forces of King Stephen but Stephen failed to take Wallingford Castle and had to retreat. Brien and Matilda had two sons who were both stricken with leprosy, and who died young. Brien made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and died there sometime around 1147. Matilda became a nun at Bec and died a few years later, and as they had no heirs their lands and castles were confiscated by the Crown. Sources Stephens & Lee. Dictionary of National Biography, 1891.
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