Hamo Dapifer[1] (died c. 1100) (aliasHaimo[2]) was anAnglo-Norman royal official under both KingWilliam I of England (r. 1066–1087) and his son KingWilliam II of England (r. 1087–1100). He held the office, from which hisepithet derives, known in Latin asdapifer and in Frenchseneschal, in English "steward", as well as the office ofSheriff of Kent.
Hamo was the son ofHamon Dentatus, a Norman noble who held thelordship ofTorigni-sur-Vire nearManche in Normandy. Hamon Dentatus rebelled against Duke William, laterWilliam the Conqueror, and died in about 1047.[3]
Hamo was steward to both King William I and his son King William II.[4] He was acting as royal steward by 1069.[5] Hamo was appointed to the office ofSheriff of Kent in 1077 and held it until his death.[3]
During the reign of William II, Hamo was one of five known stewards, the others beingEudo Dapifer, Eudo's brotherHubert of Ryes,Roger Bigod, 1st Earl of Norfolk, andIvo Taillebois.[6]
The historian Emma Mason suggests that Hamo, along withRanulf Flambard,Urse d'Abetot,Robert FitzHamon (Hamo's son), Roger Bigod and Eudo Dapifer, were the first recognisableBarons of the Exchequer under William II.[7] These men were often associated together as royal officials in government and jointly witnessed documents.[8] Hamo witnessed sixwrits of William II.[9] Hamo's involvement in the higher levels of government dates especially from King William II's absence from England in the late 1090s.[10] In 1099, when William II was in Normandy, Hamo was one of the main assistants to Flambard, who had been left as regent of England in the king's absence.[1]
According toDomesday Book, Hamo held lands in Kent, Surrey, and Essex, his estates in Essex being larger than those in the other two counties.[11]
Hamo was still witnessing royal documents in September 1099,[12] and was one of the witnesses to the letter which KingHenry I (1100–1135), William II's brother and successor, wrote toAnselm,Archbishop of Canterbury, shortly after his accession.[13] Hamo died shortly after witnessing these documents.[3]
Hamo had two sons, Hamo, who became sheriff after him, andRobert Fitzhamon.[3] Robert was probably the elder, as he received his father's lands in Normandy after Hamo's death. The younger Hamo received the English lands.[4]