11 ғасырдағы Норфолк графинясы Эмма де Гуадер

11th century Countess of Norfolk

Emma Fitz Osborn or Emma de Breteuil, and later Emma de Guader (died after 1096), was a Norman noblewoman, the wife of Ralph de Guader and the daughter of William FitzOsbern, Lord of Breteuil and later first Earl of Hereford of a new creation, who was a cousin and close adviser of William the Conqueror. William's opposition to their marriage led to the unsuccessful Revolt of the Earls.

Emma was first named Emma de Breteuil, born to William Fitz Osbern and his wife Adeliza, the daughter of Roger I of Tosny and his wife Adelaide (the daughter of Ermesinde of Carcassonne, regent countess of Barcelona). She was born in or around 1059 in Breteuil in Normandy. Unreliable source: date=December 2022

At Exning in Cambridge, at 1075 she married Ralph de Gael the earl of East Anglia, after his father. King William I is believed to have opposed the match. Some writers believe that William's opposition was possibly due to the fact that uniting two huge estates and royal lines could be perceived as a threat, noting that he had previously poisoned relatives that stood in his way to the throne.

At the "brides ale" or wedding feast, her brother and husband then planned a rebellion against William the Conqueror but were betrayed. Emma stayed to defend Norwich Castle which was besieged by William. Despite the odds against her, and those at the castle, she bravely refused to give in to the king's men. She organised the defense of the town for so long that William eventually had to compromise with her to restore peace. Part of the settlement included a safe passage for herself and her troops in exchange for her castle. The Countess left for Brittany, where she was joined by her husband. They had at least three children, and her son Raoul II inherited their estates.

She was an active participant in the first Crusade, which she joined in 1096 along with her husband and her son Alan; they served under Robert Curthose. Emma died some time after 1096 on the road to the Holy Land. Emma's granddaughter Amice, the daughter of her son Raoul II, married Robert de Beaumont, 2nd Earl of Leicester.