Roger I de Montgomery, was the seigneur (lord) of Montgomery and vicomte of the Hiesmois in Normandy.
Roger was the son of Hugh de Montgomery and his wife Josceline.[1] She was the niece of Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy.[2] Roger held the lands of Saint-Germain-de-Montgommery and Sainte-Foy-de-Montgommery. Both had traces of early castles.[3] He became the Viscount of the Heismois about the same time Robert I of Normandy became Duke in 1027.[4] But as the viscount he witnessed a royal charter to the abbey of St. Wandrille c. 1031–1032.[5] Like Duke Robert, Roger began taking properties that belonged to the church.[a] These included (c. 1025–27) half the town of Bernay.[8] He took over a woodland at 'Crispus Fagidus' which belonged to Jumièges Abbey.[8] He put an end to a market[b] held by the same abbey and took it into his own domain.[10] Later he seemed to have a change of heart. He returned the market to the abbey and paid restitution for their losses.[10]
After 1035 Roger seems to have lost favor with the young duke William. He signed an early charter of Duke William simply as 'Roger of Montgomery'.[11] He apparently was no longer the viscount. In 1037 when rebellions broke out, Roger was one of the rebels. When he was defeated he fled to the court of Henry I of France.[12] Roger was forced into exile by Osbern the Steward. Osbern was later killed by William de Montgomery, Roger's son.[13] Where and when Roger died is unknown.[14] In 1068 his wife was still holding lands at Bures and Saint-Pair.
The name of Roger's wife is unknown but he had five sons:[15]