The Barons de Braose were a formidable force in medieval England
and Wales. Their origins were in Briouze, Normandy and after
1066 the family settled in the Adur Valley of West Sussex,
England. In Wales the spirit of conquest sustained them for 250
years. The terror of their reputation had few equals although
they were themselves overwhelmed by injustice and tragedy
several times. Strangely, the name de Braose receives little
attention in history books today. It isn't easy for local people
to identify and appreciate their medieval heritage. Many
families across the world have discovered a personal link with
the Braoses through their genealogy. This remarkable ancestry
has often been difficult to trace with accuracy. Our history of
the Braoses has been pieced together from the charters,
chronicles and other documents which have survived the
centuries, and the later work of historians. There is still a
great deal more to discover and to understand. The story of the
Braoses is also written in the stones of churc