Here is a map of locations that are important to our story. Ranulf was born in Saxmundham and Acre is Ranulf’s place of death, Alnwick is the location of the Battle of Alnwick where Ranulf captured William the Lion! Bacton is one of Ranulf’s land holdings.

Bristol is where Henry’s Uncle Robert Earl of Gloucestershire died. Lyons-la-Foret is the place of Henry I’s death that began the long tale of the Anarchy.

Henry was born at Le Mans and died at Chinon. He enterred into the Treaty of Winchester at Wallingford.

Henry II (r.1154-1189) reigned from England down to the Pyrenees in Aquitaine and so Ranulf often was large and in charge in England (1180-1189) while Henry was out of England (OOE). It was also a huge swath of land in which to conduct diplomacy and military presence and it kept Henry’s right-hand man very busy.

These two men were a perfect match. Ranulf was well versed in the law, in politics, in the military world and was completely loyal to Henry, he was not pulled away by the church, by family or by greed. His bread was buttered on Henry’s side and all these things are what made Henry like him, use him and after Richard de Lucy was no longer Chief Justiciar Henry gave him that position.