CHESTER, EARLS OF. The important palatine earldom of Chester was first held by a Fleming named Gherbod (11. 1070), and then from 1071 by Hugh of Avranches (d. '100, a son of Richard, viscount of Avranches. As the friend of St. Anselm, Hugh showed the customary liberality to religious houses. His life was spent in fighting in Wales and Normandy, and he died on July 27, I I01. Hugh's only son Richard, who was childless, was drowned in the White Ship, in Nov., 1120. Among subsequent holders were Ralph, or Randulph, de Gernon (d. I15;,), promi nent in the civil wars under Stephen, fighting first on one side and then on the other ; and his son Hugh de Kevelioc (1147-81), who shared in the rising against Henry II. in 1173. The most cele brated of the earls was Ralph Ranulf, or Randulph, de Blundevill (c. 1172-1232), who succeeded his father Hugh de Kevelioc in 1181, and was created earl of Lincoln in 1217. He married Con stance, widow of Henry II.'s son, Geoffrey, of Brittany, and is sometimes called duke of Brittany and earl of Richmond. He fought in Wales, sided with John against the barons, and fought for Henry III. against the French invaders and their allies. In 1218 he went on crusade to the Holy Land and took part in the capture of Damietta. He died at Wallingford, in Oct. 1232. Stubbs calls him "almost the last relic of the great feudal aris tocracy of the Conquest." In the Vision of Piers Plowman Ran ulf's name is linked with that of Robin Hood. Ranulf being childless, in Nov. 1232 the earldom was granted to his nephew John the Scot, earl of Huntingdon (c. 1207-1237). In 1246 it was annexed to the English crown.
In 1254 Prince Edward, afterwards Edward I., was created earl of Chester, and since then the earldom has always been held by the heirs apparent to the English crown. Since 1399 the earls of Chester have been also princes of Wales, although the act of Richard II. (1398), which created Chester into a principality to be held by the king's eldest son, was revoked by Henry IV.