By Joshua Smith
Lost to antiquity are the names of those who moved mountains. The families who have left their silent fingerprint on human history, shaping the world we live in today. By name they may be known, but their stories and influence are hidden to our current times. Especially when their direct descendants are appointed to be “Keeper of the Scrolls” of the Tower of London Scroll Room, and suddenly many scrolls are noted to have gone “missing”.
Such families, like the ‘de Ros’ family, are rarely spoken of. A strange phenomena, as this is a family that was central to the Viking overthrow of England in the 11th century, whose signature is on the Magna Carta, who was instrumental in the creation and perpetuation of the Knights of Templar and so much more. The history of Europe can in some ways be told through the ‘de Ros’ family for the past 1000 years.
Until recently, not much was known about the ‘de Ros’ family. But thanks to the work of researcher S.G, Rose, access to privately owned archives and interviews conducted with ancestors have opened the door to learning about one of early Europe’s most influential and most forgotten families. Her research is a reminder to all of us that there is so much history waiting to be uncovered.
The Rose Clan: Hidden Backers of the Templars
Key insights are sometimes uncovered in the most unlikely places. While researching my significant other’s family lineage, I encountered the story of a little-known Scottish clan—the Rose Clan. What began as a casual exploration of genealogical sources quickly evolved into a deeper inquiry into early European power structures and a family repeatedly positioned at their center. From the Norman invasion of England to the founding of the Knights Templar, from the signing of the Magna Carta to the events surrounding Culloden, the de Ros family—later known as Rose—appears with striking consistency at pivotal moments in medieval history.
The earliest historical record of the de Ros name dates to 1066, at the Battle of Hastings. Five de Ros brothers arrived with William the Conqueror in his campaign for the English throne. Tracing the precise lineage of these brothers is complicated by the absence of standardized English spelling, which would not emerge for centuries. Nevertheless, researcher and author S. G. Rose has applied a reasoned and creative methodology to follow the family line beyond the limits of conventional historical reconstruction. One conclusion is difficult to dispute: this family operated in close proximity to power.
One of these brothers later became castellan—keeper and overseer—of Bonneville-sur-Touques Castle. The strategic importance of this site cannot be overstated. For centuries, it functioned as a royal base of operations, hosting Henry I, Henry II, William the Lion of Scotland, Richard the Lionheart, and King John. Throughout this period, the castle remained under de Ros control, placing the family at the center of royal activity across multiple reigns.
The family’s closeness to power extended beyond courtly proximity. The de Ros family was a primary financial backer of the Knights Templar. Robert I de Ros is recorded as a “Munificent Benefactor” to the order—a designation reserved for those who provided exceptionally generous financial support at its inception.
This Templar association did not end with Robert I. His descendant, Robert II “Furfan” de Ros, married the illegitimate daughter of King William the Lion of Scotland, who had previously been married to the great-uncle of the future Robert the Bruce. Robert II himself was a member of the Knights Templar and participated in the Third Crusade (1189–1192) alongside Richard the Lionheart. His effigy was carved into the Temple Church in London, a cast of which is now held by the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Robert II’s influence extended further still. He was among the producers and signatories of the Magna Carta. King John was held at the London Temple—the headquarters of the Knights Templar—and compelled to certify the document by Robert II de Ros and twenty-four other barons. While modern interpretations insist that King John was not held against his will, the outcome remains unchanged: Robert II and his peers prevailed.
Following King John’s suspicious death, his young son was entrusted to William Marshal. After Marshal’s death, guardianship of the future king passed to Robert II de Ros. Under his care and education grew Henry III. Notably, Henry III declared himself a crusader at his coronation and openly accepted vassalage to the Vatican under Pope Honorius III. The extensive consequences of Henry III’s reign are well documented elsewhere, and I defer to Cynthia and Matt’s work for a full accounting.
Robert II de Ros was also connected to the de Payen—or Payen, or Pagan—family. That name should ring a bell. Hughes de Payen was none other than the first Grand Master of the Knights Templar. Given the lack of standardized spelling prior to the late fifteenth century, tracing such relationships requires careful interpretation. The link appears through the twelfth-century marriage of Everard II de Ros to Rohse Trussebut. “Trussebut,” it turns out, was not a surname but an English rendering of the French Très Bouts de l’Eau—“Three Buckets of Water.” This phrase directly referenced the Payen family’s heraldry, which depicted three water buckets. The scribe recording Rohse’s name was identifying her lineage through heraldic symbolism rather than formal nomenclature. When Rohse’s father died without an heir, the family heraldry passed to Everard II de Ros and was subsequently used by the de Ros family. This Heraldry was certainly kept in mind by Bernard of Clairvaux, who designed Robert II de Ros’s Rievaulx Abbey.
Like many associated with the order, the de Ros family sought refuge in Scotland during the Templar persecutions initiated by King Edward II and his allies. This flight was not only physical but nominal. During this period, the Rose Clan formally emerged in Scotland through Hugo Rose of Geddes and his marriage to Marie de Bisset, First Lady of Kilravock. Kilravock Castle would serve as the clan’s seat for centuries. According to S. G. Rose’s examination of private archival materials, the figure recorded in official histories as “Hugo Rose” was frequently listed by contemporary scribes as “Hugo de Ros.” The incentive for such a name change during this era requires little imagination.
Reconstructing events from a millennium ago is inherently difficult, and this research would not have been possible without S. G. Rose’s meticulous ratiocination. One observation she raises is particularly striking. Charles G. Addison’s 1842 work on the Templars—long considered foundational—was written with full access to the Tower of London’s Scroll Room. In his foreword, Addison offers thanks to George Rose for his diligent assistance, lamenting that “so many scrolls [are] missing.” This remark is especially notable given that George Rose, a descendant of the de Ros lineage, had served as Keeper of the Records since 1772 and enjoyed unsupervised access. The implication that records may have been selectively removed is difficult to ignore.
The story deepens further. George Rose’s son, William, was closely associated with Sir Walter Scott. Scott’s Ivanhoe was initially published anonymously, with the author claiming he could not have written such a work without access to secret scrolls stored in “the third drawer of [Sir Arthur Waldorf’s] oaken cabinet.” He acknowledged being granted limited access to these materials during a visit to Scotland. Upon publication, the Antiquity Society of Scotland criticized Scott for merely disguising real historical events by changing names.
The Rose Clan’s motto—Constant and True—appears prophetic. Across centuries of political upheaval, the clan navigated Scotland’s shifting allegiances with remarkable success. The prevailing explanation is strategic neutrality: a consistent tendency to engage both sides while avoiding lasting retribution. In 1306, the Rose Clan assisted Robert the Bruce in capturing Inverness Castle. Yet after Bruce’s death, the clan suffered neither loss of land nor status. Centuries later, Kilravock Castle hosted Prince Charles Edward Stuart just two days before the Battle of Culloden in 1746. The very next day, the Duke of Cumberland was received at the same castle. Upon arrival, he reportedly remarked, “You have had my cousin here!” Despite the Duke’s brutal reprisals against supporters of the rebellion, the Roses emerged unscathed. He even assured the laird of Kilravock that no wrongdoing had occurred. Why the Roses were spared remains an open question.
Cynthia notes in her work that Robert the Bruce allegedly founded the Order of the Rosy Cross in 1314 following the Battle of Bannockburn. While speculation is unavoidable, the name is notable given that a powerful Templar-connected family bearing the name “Rose” supported Bruce against Edward II and had been involved in the management and financing of the Templars from their earliest days.
A further, albeit looser, connection to chivalric orders exists. Baron Robert I de Ros of Wark Castle, born in 1296, had his castle confiscated by Edward III on charges of treason. Ownership briefly passed to his cousin William II de Ros, who fought on England’s side. It was at Wark Castle that the Order of the Garter was later established.
There remains much to uncover about the de Ros family. For those interested in further study, S. G. Rose’s published research offers the most comprehensive account to date. Drawing on interviews with the current Rose Clan leadership and access to private historical records, her work provides an unparalleled window into the history of one of Europe’s most elusive and enduring families.
References:
“The Knights Templar Hiding in Plain Sight” by S. G. Rose
“The Roses Hold the Key” by Susan Gail Rose