Roesia de Verdun (c. 1204 - 10 February 1247), also spelled Rohese and Rose, was a Norman femme sole and one of the most powerful women of Ireland in the 13th century.

When her husband died at Poitou in 1230 during the English invasion of France, de Verdun claimed her inheritances and paid the taxes to be allowed remain unmarried.

As time went on however the pressure to marry again increased until de Verdun decided to become a nun.

Though originally buried at the priory, in the aftermath of the dissolution of the monasteries, the villagers of Belton reburied her in their parish church.

[2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9] After the building of her castle on the edge of the Irish frontier de Verdun garnered a violent reputation.