William de Braose became the third lord of Bramer in 1137. Stephen became King of England in 1135, only three weeks after Henry I died. This was done in spite of the fact that Henry I had forced his Barons to swear fealty to his daughter, Matilda, as his successor. In May of 1138, Robert of Gloucestor, the half-brother of Matilda, renounced his homage to Stephen. William served Stephen. In 1139 Matilda and Robert landed in England took refuge at Arundel Castle, the home of Matilda’s stepmother, Adeliza. Stephen marched on Arundel Castle and lay siege. Robert managed to escape but Matilda and Adeliza were besieged. The war should have ended with Matilda the captive of Stephen and his throne secure, but Stephen was persuaded by Bishop Henry and Adeliza to end the siege and provide Matilda with a safe escort to Bristol. William was a member of that escort. Because of this act of chivalry this civil war continued for some time.
William married Bertha de Pitres, the daughter of Milo the Earl of Hereford. They had the following children; William, Maud who married John de Brompton, Sibilla who married William de Ferrers, Berta who married William de Beauchamp and Roger. After Bertha’s father and brothers died without heirs, Bertha and her sisters inherited all of his holdings. William and Bertha received the lordships of Brecon and Abergavenny in Wales. William became one of the most powerful of the ‘Marcher Lords’. William fought campaigns in Ireland and Wales. In 1174, William was made the sheriff of Herefordshire. He held this position until 1175 when his son, William, replaced him. William died in 1193.
Philip became the lord of Radnor and Builth. The Marcher Lords were involved in a continuous series of skirmishes and battle. The Welsh people and their leaders did not gracefully submit to Norman rule. They attempted to drive out the Normans for many years. The Marcher Lords were all powerful within their grants. They ruled with an ‘iron fist’, and met force with force. The De Braose’s seem to have stood out as harsh rulers.
In 1097, Philip traveled to Jerusalem on the first Crusade. He became aquatinted with the Templars and gave them gifts of land in Shipley and Bramber. Philip later fought on the continent where he ran afoul of King Henry I who confiscated his lands in 1110. Within two years he had managed to regain the king’s favor and had his lands restored.