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Robert I, 6th Duc de Normandie also went by the nick-name of Robert 'the Devil'. Robert I, 6th Duc de Normandie also went by the nick-name of Robert 'the Magnificent'. He succeeded to the title of 6th Duc de Normandie on 6 August 1028.

Robert the Magnificent (French: le Magnifique) (22 June 1000 - 3 July 1035), also called Robert the Devil (French: le Diable), was the Duke of Normandy from 1027 until his death. Owing to uncertainty over the numbering of the Dukes of Normandy he is usually called Robert I, but sometimes Robert II with his ancestor Rollo as Robert I. He was the son of Richard II of Normandy and Judith, daughter of Conan I of Rennes. He was the father of William the Conqueror.

When his father died, his elder brother Richard succeeded, whilst he became Count of Hiémois. When Richard died a year later, there were great suspicions that Robert had Richard murdered, hence his other nickname, "the Devil". He is sometimes identified with the legendary Robert the Devil.

Robert aided King Henry I of France against Henry's rebellious brother and mother, and for his help he was given the territory of the Vexin (1032). He also intervened in the affairs of Flanders, supported his cousin Edward the Confessor, who was then in exile at Robert's court, and sponsored monastic reform in Normandy.

By his mistress, Herleva of Falaise, he was father of the future William I of England (1028-1087). He also had an illegitimate daughter, but the only chronicler to explicitly address the issue, Robert of Torigny, contradicts himself, once indicating that she had a distinct mother from William, elsewhere stating that they shared the same mother. This daughter, Adelaide of Normandy (1030 - c. 1083), married three times: to Enguerrand II, Count of Ponthieu, Lambert II, Count of Lens, and Odo II of Champagne.

After making his illegitimate son William his heir, he set out on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. According to the Gesta Normannorum Ducum he travelled by way of Constantinople, reached Jerusalem, and died on the return journey at Nicaea on 2 July 1035. Some sources attribute his death to poison and date it to 1 or 3 July. His son William, aged about eight, succeeded him.

According to the historian William of Malmesbury, William sent a mission to Constantinople and Nicaea, charging it with bringing his father's body back to be buried in Normandy. Permission was granted, but, having travelled as far as Apulia (Italy) on the return journey, the envoys learned that William himself had meanwhile died. They then decided to re-inter Robert's body in Italy.

Robert the Magnificent (French: le Magnifique) (22 June 1000 - 1-3 July 1035), was the Duke of Normandy from 1027 until his death. Owing to uncertainty over the numbering of the Dukes of Normandy he is usually called Robert I, but sometimes Robert II with his ancestor Rollo as Robert I. He was the father of William the Conqueror.

Life

He was the son of Richard II of Normandy and Judith, daughter of Conan I, Duke of Brittany. He was also grandson of Richard I of Normandy, great-grandson of William I of Normandy and great-great grandson of Rollo, the Viking who founded Normandy. Before he died, Richard II had decided his elder son Richard III would succeed him while his second son Robert would became Count of Hiémois. In August of 1026 their father, Richard II, died and Richard III became duke, but very soon afterwards Robert rebelled against his brother, was subsequently defeated and forced to swear fealty to his older brother Richard.

Early reign

When Richard III died a year later there were suspicions that Robert had something to do with his brother's death and although nothing can be proved, Robert had most to gain. But the civil war Robert I had brought against his brother Richard III was still causing instability in the duchy. Private wars between neighboring barons raged resulting in a new aristocracy which rose in Normandy during Robert’s reign. It was also during this time that many of the lesser nobility left Normandy to seek their fortunes in southern Italy and elsewhere. Soon after assuming the dukedom, however, possibly in revenge for supporting his brother against him, Robert I assembled an army against his uncle, Robert, Archbishop of Rouen and count of Évreux. Only a temporary truce allowed his uncle to leave Normandy in exile but with an edict of excommunication placed on all of Normandy, which was only lifted when Archbishop Robert was allowed to return and his countship was restored. Robert also attacked another powerful churchman, his cousin Hugo III. d'Ivry, Bishop of Bayeux, banishing him from Normandy for an extended period of time. Robert also seized a number of church properties belonging to the abbey of Fecamp.

Outside of Normandy

Despite his domestic troubles Robert decided to intervene in the civil war in Flanders between Baldwin V, Count of Flanders and his father Baldwin IV whom the younger Baldwin had driven out of Flanders. Baldwin V, supported by king Robert II of France, his father-in-law, was persuaded to make peace with his father in 1030 when Duke Robert promised the elder Baldwin his considerable military support. Robert gave shelter to Henry I of France against his mother, Queen Constance, who favored her younger son Robert to succeed to the French throne after his father Robert II. For his help Henry I rewarded Robert with the French Vexin. In the early 1030s Alan III, Duke of Brittany began expanding his influence from the area of Rennes and appeared to have designs on the area surrounding Mont Saint-Michel After sacking Dol and repelling Alan's attempts to raid Avranches, Robert mounted a major campaign against his cousin Alan III. However, Alan appealed to their uncle, Archbishop Robert of Rouen, who then brokered a peace between Duke Robert and his vassal Alan III. His cousins, the Athelings Edward and Alfred, sons of his aunt Emma of Normandy and Athelred, King of England had been living at the Norman Court and at one point Robert, on their behalf, attempted to mount an invasion of England but was prevented in doing so, it was said, by unfavorable winds. Gesta Normannorum Ducum stated that King Cnut sent envoys to Duke Robert offering to settle half the Kingdom of England on Edward and Alfred. After postponing the naval invasion he chose to also postpone the decision until after he returned from Jerusalem.

The Church and his pilgrimage

Robert's attitude towards the Church had changed noticeably certainly since his reinstating his uncle's position as Archbiship of Rouen. In his attempt to reconcile his differences with the Church he restored property that he or his vassals had confiscated, and by 1034 had returned all the properties he had earlier taken from the abbey of Fecamp.

After making his illegitimate son William his heir, he set out on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. According to the Gesta Normannorum Ducum he travelled by way of Constantinople, reached Jerusalem, fell seriously ill and died[b] on the return journey at Nicaea on 2 July 1035. His son William, aged about eight, succeeded him.

According to the historian William of Malmesbury, decades later his son William sent a mission to Constantinople and Nicaea, charging it with bringing his father's body back to be buried in Normandy. Permission was granted, but, having travelled as far as Apulia (Italy) on the return journey, the envoys learned that William himself had meanwhile died. They then decided to re-inter Robert's body in Italy.

Issue

By his mistress, Herleva of Falaise, he was father of:

William I of England (c.1028-1087).

By Herleva or possibly another concubine, he was the father of:

Adelaide of Normandy, who married firstly, Enguerrand II, Count of Ponthieu. She married secondly, Lambert II, Count of Lens, and thirdly, Odo II of Champagne

Robert — Herleva de Falaise. Herleva (daughter of Fulbert of Falaise and Duxia) was born Between 1003 and 1012; died Abt 1050, France; was buried France. [Group Sheet]

1. William I 'the Conqueror', King of England was born Between 1027 and 1028, Falaise, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France; died 09 Sep 1087, Rouen, Caux, France; was buried Aft 09 Sep 1087, Caen, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France.
2. Adeliza, Countess of Aumale was born 1029, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France; died Between 1087 and 1090.

Notes:

Richard II, 4th Duc de Normandie was born circa 963 at Normandy, France. He was the son of Richard I, 3rd Duc de Normandie and Gunnor de Crêpon. He married, firstly, Judith de Bretagne, daughter of Conon I de Rennes, Duc de Bretagne and Ermengarde d'Anjou, circa 1000. He married, secondly, Astrid Sveynsdottir, daughter of Sveyn I 'Forkbeard' Haraldsson, King of Denmark and England and Sigrid 'the Haughty' (?), between 1017 and 1027. He and Astrid Sveynsdottir were divorced before 1024. He married, thirdly, Papia of Envermeu circa 1024. He died on 28 August 1027 at Normandy, France. Richard II, 4th Duc de Normandie also went by the nick-name of Richard 'the Good'. He succeeded to the title of 4th Duc de Normandie on 20 November 996.

Richard II (born 23 August 970, in Normandy, France - 28 August 1026, in Normandy), called the Good (French: Le Bon), was the eldest son and heir of Richard I the Fearless and Gunnora.

Biography

Richard succeeded his father as Duke of Normandy in 996 but the first five years of his reign were spent with Count Ralph of Ivry wielding power and putting down a peasant insurrection.

When he took power he strengthened his alliance with the Capetians by helping Robert II of France against the duchy of Burgundy. He formed a new alliance with Brittany by marrying his sister Hawise to Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany and by his own marriage to Geoffrey's sister, Judith.

He also repelled an English attack on the Cotentin Peninsula that was led by Ethelred II of England. He pursued a reform of the Norman monasteries.

Connections to England

In 1013 AD, England was invaded by the Danes and Æthelred the Unready fled to his brother-in-law in Normandy. His marriage to Emma of Normandy, sister of Richard, had made them unpopular among the English.

Connections to Norway

In 1015 AD, Olaf II of Norway was crowned king. Prior to this, Prince Olaf had been in England and on his way to unite Norway he wintered with Duke Richard II of Normandy. In 881 AD, this region had been conquered by the Norsemen. As Duke Richard was an ardent Christian, and the Normans had converted to Christianity, Prince Olaf was baptized in Rouen.

Richard II (right), with the Abbot of Mont Saint Michel (middle) and Lothair of France (left).

Marriages

Richard attempted to improve relations with England through his sister Emma of Normandy's marriage to King Ethelred, but she was strongly disliked by the English. However, this connection later gave his grandson, William the Conqueror, part of his claim to the throne of England.

He married firstly (996) Judith (982-1017), daughter of Conan I of Brittany, by whom he had the following issue:

Richard (c. 1002/4), duke of Normandy
Alice (c. 1003/5), married Renaud I, Count of Burgundy
Robert (c. 1005/7), duke of Normandy
William (c. 1007/9), monk at Fécamp, d. 1025
Eleanor (c. 1011/3), married to Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders
Matilda (c. 1013/5), nun at Fecamp, d. 1033

Secondly he married Poppa of Envermeu, by whom he had the following issue:

Mauger (c. 1019), Archbishop of Rouen
William (c. 1020/5), count of Arques

Other marriages / children

Traditionally, Richard had a third wife named Astrid (Estritha), daughter of Sweyn Forkbeard, King of England, Denmark, and Norway, and Sigrid the Haughty. This is extremely unlikely, however, given the political situation.

An illegitimate daughter of Richard I, sometimes called "Papia", is also at times given as a daughter of Richard II. Tancred of Hauteville's two wives Muriella and Fredensenda are likewise given as daughters of "Duke Richard of Normandy", referring to either Richard I or Richard II.

Richard married Judith of Brittany 996. Judith (daughter of Conan I of Rennes and Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou) was born Abt 982; died 1017; was buried Bernay, Eure, Haute-Normandie, France. [Group Sheet]

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Judith of Brittany (982-1017) was the daughter of Conan I, Duke of Brittany and Ermengarde of Anjou, and the mother of Robert the Magnificent.

She was the first wife of Richard the Good, Duke of Normandy, whom she married in 996. They had six children:

Richard (c. 1002/4), duke of Normandy
Alice of Normandy (c. 1003/5), married Renaud I, Count of Burgundy
Robert (c. 1005/7), duke of Normandy
William (c. 1007/9), monk at Fécamp, d. 1025
Eleanor (c. 1011/3), married to Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders
Matilda (c. 1013/5), nun at Fecamp, d. 1033

The duchess Judith died in 1017 and was buried in the abbey of Bernay, which she had founded.

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Richard I, 3rd Duc de Normandie was born on 28 August 933 at Fecamp, Normandy, France. He was the son of Guillaume I 'Longsword', 2nd Duc de Normandie and Sprota. He married, firstly, Emma de Paris, daughter of Hugues of Neustria, Comte de Paris and Hedwig von Sachsen, in 960. He married, secondly, Gunnor de Crêpon, daughter of unknown de Crepon, in 962. He died on 20 November 996 at age 63 at Fecamp, Normandy, France. Richard I, 3rd Duc de Normandie also went by the nick-name of Richard 'the Fearless' (French, Sans Peur). He succeeded to the title of 3rd Duc de Normandie on 17 December 942; he is considered the first to have held that title.

Birth

He was born to William I of Normandy, ruler of Normandy, and Sprota. He was 10 years old when his father died on 17 December 942. His mother was a Breton concubine captured in war and bound to William by a Danish marriage. After William died, Sprota became the wife of Esperleng, a wealthy miller; Rodulf of Ivry was their son and Richard's half-brother.

Life

When his father died, Louis IV of France seized Normandy and split the lands, giving lands in lower Normandy to Hugh the Great. Louis kept Richard in confinement at Lâon, but he escaped with the assistance of Osmond de Centville, Bernard de Senlis (who had been a companion of Rollo of Normandy), Ivo de Bellèsme, and Bernard the Dane (ancestor of families of Harcourt and Beaumont).

In 946, Richard agreed to "commend" himself to Hugh, Count of Paris. He then allied himself with the Norman and Viking leaders, drove Louis out of Rouen, and took back Normandy by 947. The rest of his reign was mainly peaceful, apart from conflict with Theobald I, Count of Blois marked by the restoration of Church lands and monasteries.

Richard cemented his alliance with Hugh by marrying his daughter Emma. When Hugh died, Richard became vassal to his son Hugh Capet who became king in 987. Although married to Emma, they produced no offspring. His children were from his relationship with Gonnor, a woman of Danish origin who gave him an heir, Richard.

He quarrelled with Ethelred II of England regarding Danish invasions of England because Normandy had been buying up much of the stolen booty.

Richard was bilingual, having been well educated at Bayeux. He was more partial to his Danish subjects than to the Franks. During his reign, Normandy became completely Gallicized and Christianized. He introduced the feudal system and Normandy became one of the most thoroughly feudalized states on the continent. He carried out a major reorganization of the Norman military system, based on heavy cavalry.

Marriages

His first marriage (960) was to Emma, daughter of Hugh "The Great" of France, and Hedwiga de Sachsen. (She is not to be confused with Emma of France.) They were betrothed when both were very young. She died 19 March 968, with no issue.

Richard & his children

According to Robert of Torigni, not long after Emma's death, Duke Richard went out hunting and stopped at the house of a local forester. He became enamoured of the forester's wife, Seinfreda, but she being a virtuous woman, suggested he court her unmarried sister, Gunnor, instead. Gunnor became his mistress, and her family rose to prominence. Her brother, Herefast de Crepon, may have been involved in a controversial heresy trial. Gunnor was, like Richard, of Norse descent, being a Dane by blood. Richard finally married her to legitimize their children:

Richard II "the Good", Duke of Normandy (996), died 1026.
Robert, Archbishop of Rouen, Count of Evreux, died 1037.
Mauger, Earl of Corbeil, died after 1033
Robert Danus, died between 985 and 989
another son (On tapestry name looks like Lillam, Gillam, Willam)
Emma of Normandy (c.985-1052) wife of two kings of England.
Maud of Normandy, wife of Odo II of Blois, Count of Blois, Champagne and Chartres
Hawise of Normandy (b. ca. 978), d. 21 February 1034. m. Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany

Mistresses

Richard was known to have had several other mistresses and produced children with many of them. Known children are:

Geoffrey, Count of Eu, (b. ca. 970)
William, Count of Eu (ca. 972-26 January 1057/58)[2] m. Leseline de Turqueville (d. 26 January 1057/58).
Beatrice of Normandy, Abbess of Montvilliers d.1034 m. Ebles of Turenne (d.1030 (divorced)
Robert
"Papia" m. Gilbert de St Valery (based on a claim his wife as a daughter of "Richard of Normandy" -- the only Richard who chronologically fits is Richard I. Name is not confirmed in any source. ref)

Possible other children

Late chroniclers claimed that two of the De Hautevilles of Naples/Sicily were nephews of "Duke Richard". As the two were children of Tancred of Hauteville by different mothers, this would mean that both of Tancred's wives had been sisters of a Duke Richard, and by chronology, of Richard II, although this is not backed up by contemporary source. If true, Richard would have had at least two more illegitimate children:

Fressenda (ca. 995-ca. 1057)
Muriella

Death

He died in Fecamp, France on 20 November 996 of natural causes.

Richard I of Normandy (933-996), also known as Richard the Fearless (French, Sans Peur), was the Duke of Normandy from 942 to 996. He was called dux by Dudo of Saint-Quentin, who Richard commissioned to write his De moribus et actis primorum Normanniae ducum (Concerning the Customs and Deeds of the First Dukes of the Normans), but this use of the word dux may have been in the context of a war leader and not a title. If he didn’t introduce feudalism into Normandy he greatly expanded it. By the end of his reign most important landholders held their lands in feudal tenure.

Birth

He was born to William I of Normandy, princeps[4] or ruler of Normandy, and Sprota. He was also the grandson of the famous Rollo.He was about 10 years old when his father was killed on 17 December 942. His mother was a Breton concubine captured in war and bound to William by a Danish marriage. William was told of the birth of a son after the battle with Riouf and other Viking rebels, but his existence was kept secret until a few years later when William Longsword first met his son Richard. After kissing the boy and declaring him his heir, William sent Richard to be raised in Bayeux. After William was killed, Sprota became the wife of Esperleng, a wealthy miller; Rodulf of Ivry was their son and Richard's half-brother.

Life

When his father died, Louis IV of France seized Normandy, installed the boy Richard in his father's office, then placed him in the care of the count of Ponthieu. The king then split the lands, giving lands in lower Normandy to Hugh the Great. Louis kept Richard in confinement at Lâon, but he escaped with the assistance of Osmond de Centville, Bernard de Senlis (who had been a companion of Rollo of Normandy), Ivo de Bellèsme, and Bernard the Dane (ancestor of families of Harcourt and Beaumont).

In 946, Richard agreed to "commend" himself to Hugh, Count of Paris. He then allied himself with the Norman and Viking leaders, drove Louis out of Rouen, and took back Normandy by 947.

In 962 Theobald I, Count of Blois attacked Rouen, Richard’s stronghold, but his army was defeated by the Normans and retreated never having crossed the Seine. Lothair king of the West Franks stepped in to prevent any further war between the two.

Afterwards and until his death in 996 Richard concentrated on Normandy itself and had less dealings in Frankish politics and petty wars. He built up the Norman Empire not by expansion, but by stabilizing and uniting his followers into a cohesive and formidable principality.

Richard used marriage to build strong alliances . His marriage to Emma connected him to the Capet family. His wife Gunnor, from a rival Viking group in the Cotentin, formed an alliance to that group, while her sisters form the core group that was to provide loyal followers to him and his successors. His daughters provided valuable marriage alliances with powerful neighboring counts as well as to the king of England.

He also built on his relationship with the church, restoring their lands and insured the great monasteries flourished. His reign was marked by an extended period of peace and tranquility.

Marriages

His first marriage (960) was to Emma, daughter of Hugh "The Great" of France, and Hedwiga de Sachsen. They were betrothed when both were very young. She died after 19 March 968, with no issue.

Richard & his children

According to Robert of Torigni, not long after Emma's death, Duke Richard went out hunting and stopped at the house of a local forester. He became enamoured of the forester's wife, Seinfreda, but she being a virtuous woman, suggested he court her unmarried sister, Gunnor, instead. Gunnor became his mistress, and her family rose to prominence. Her brother, Herefast de Crepon, may have been involved in a controversial heresy trial. Gunnor was, like Richard, of Norse descent, being a Dane by blood. Richard finally married her to legitimize their children:

Richard II "the Good", Duke of Normandy
Robert, Archbishop of Rouen, Count of Evreux
Mauger, Earl of Corbeil
Emma of Normandy, wife of two kings of England
Maud of Normandy, wife of Odo II of Blois, Count of Blois, Champagne and Chartres
Hawise of Normandy m. Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany
Papia of Normandy
William, Count of Eu

Mistresses

Richard was known to have had several other mistresses and produced children with many of them. Known children are:

Geoffrey, Count of Eu
William, Count of Eu (ca. 972-26 January 1057/58), m. Lasceline de Turqueville (d. 26 January 1057/58).
Beatrice of Normandy, Abbess of Montvilliers d.1034 m. Ebles of Turenne (d.1030 (divorced)
"Papia"

Other claims

The two wives of Tancred of Hauteville were claimed to be daughters of 'Richard of Normandy' (either I or II), although sources are late and considered untrustworthy.

Fressenda or Fredesenda (ca. 995-ca. 1057)
Muriella

Death

He died in Fecamp, France on 20 November 996.

Richard married Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy 962. Gunnora (daughter of unknown de Crepon) was born Abt 936, Normandy, France; died 1031. [Group Sheet]

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Gunnor de Crêpon was born circa 936 at Normandy, France. She is the daughter of unknown de Crepon. She married Richard I, 3rd Duc de Normandie, son of Guillaume I 'Longsword', 2nd Duc de Normandie and Sprota, in 962. She died in 1031. She was also known as Gunnora.

Gunnora (or Gunnor) (c. 936 - 1031) was the wife and consort of Richard I of Normandy. Her parentage is unknown, earliest sources reporting solely that she was of Danish ancestry and naming siblings including brother Herfast de Crepon who is sometimes erroneously given as her father.

She was living with her sister Seinfreda, the wife of a local forester, when Richard, hunting nearby, heard of the beauty of the forester's wife. He is said to have ordered Seinfreda to come to his bed, but the lady substituted her unmarried sister, Gunnora. Richard, it is said, was pleased that by this subterfuge he had been saved from committing adultery, and the two became lovers. Gunnora long acted as Richard's mistress or wife by more danico, but when Richard was prevented from nominating their son Robert to be Archbishop of Rouen, the two were married, making their children legitimate in the eyes of the church.

Gunnora, both as mistress and duchess, was able to use her influence to see her kin favored, and several of the most prominent Conquest-era Norman magnates, including the Montgomery, Warenne, Mortimer, Vernon/Redvers, and Fitz Osbern families, were descendants of her brother and sisters.

Richard and Gunnora were parents to several children:

Richard II "the Good", Duke of Normandy (966)
Robert, Archbishop of Rouen, Count of Evreux, died 1037.
Mauger, Earl of Corbeil, died after 1033.
Robert Danus, died between 985 and 989
Emma of Normandy (c. 985-1052) wife of two kings of England.
Maud of Normandy, wife of Odo II of Blois, Count of Blois, Champagne and Chartres
Hawise of Normandy, wife of Geoffrey I of Brittany

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Conon I de Rennes, Duc de Bretagne also went by the nick-name of Conon 'le Tort' (or in English, the Crooked). He gained the title of Duc de Bretagne in 990. He gained the title of Comte de Rennes.

Conan I (927 - June 27, 992) was the count of Rennes from 958 and duke of Brittany from 990 to his death. He had first succeeded his father Judicael Berengar, as count of Rennes and later became duke of Brittany following his attack on Nantes and the subsequent death of Alan, duke of Brittany.

Family and children

He married Ermengarde of Anjou, daughter of Geoffrey I of Anjou and Adele of Vermandois and had the following issue:

Judith (982-1017), married Richard II, Duke of Normandy
Judicael, count of Porhoet (died 1037)
Geoffrey, the eventual heir
Catuallon, abbot of Redon
Hernod

Conan died in battle against his brother-in-law Fulk Nerra, count of Anjou at the Battle of Conquereuil and is buried in Mont Saint Michel Abbey.

Conan I (927 - June 27, 992) nicknamed Le Tort was the duke of Brittany from 990 to his death.

Life

He was the son of Judicael Berengar and Gerberga, and succeeded his father as Count of Rennes in 970. He assumed the title of Duke of Brittany in the spring of 990 following his attack on Nantes and the subsequent death of Count Alan. In a charter dated 28 July 990, Conan gave the lands of Villamée, Lillele and Passille to Mont Saint-Michel, all of which later became part of the seigneury of Fougères.

Conan married Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou, in 973 daughter of Geoffrey I of Anjou and Adele of Vermandois. Conan died fighting against his brother-in-law Fulk Nerra, count of Anjou at the Battle of Conquereuil on 27 June 992. Conan is buried at Mont Saint Michel Abbey.

Family

By his wife Ermengarde-Gerberga he had the following issue:

Geoffrey (c.980-1008), the eventual heir.
Judith (982-1017), married Richard II, Duke of Normandy.
Judicael, count of Porhoet (died 1037).
Hernod.

Conan married Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou 973. Ermengarde-Gerberga (daughter of Geoffrey, I Count of Anjou and Adele of Vermandois) was born 952; died 992. [Group Sheet]

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Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou a.k.a. Ermengarde of Anjou, was the Countess of Rennes, Regent of Brittany (992-994) and also Countess of Angoulême.

Life

She was the daughter of Geoffrey I of Anjou and Adele of Meaux. She married Conan I of Rennes, Count of Rennes, in 973. Her husband Conan of Rennes opposed her father and brother Fulk even though the marriage was apparently designed to form a political alliance between Anjou and Brittany. Even after Conan had been killed by Fulk at the battle of Battle of Conquereuil in 992, and during the period 992-994 when Ermengarde was Regent for their son Geoffrey, she remained loyal to her brother Fulk III, Count of Anjou. In 992 following the interests of her brother, and functioning as Regent, she accepted Capetian over-lordship for Rennes while rejecting that of Odo I, Count of Blois.

About 1000 her brother Fulk III arranged his widowed sister to marry secondly, William II of Angoulême, one of his close allies.

Issue

By her first husband Conan I 'le Tort' Count of Rennes, she had the following children:

Judith (982-1017), married Richard II, Duke of Normandy.
Geoffrey I of Brittany, the eventual heir to Conan I.
Judicael, count of Porhoet (died 1037).
Hernod.

By her second husband William II 'Taillefer' Count of Angoulême, she had the following children:

Alduin, Count of Angoulême (d. 1032), married Alaisia de Gasçogne.
Geoffrey, Count of Angoulême (d.1048), married 1stly Petronille d'Archiac, 2ndly Anceline.
Fulk of Angoulême, married Aynors.
Odon (flourished abt. 1030).
Arnauld (died young).
William (died young).
Ermengarde of Anjou (952-992), was a Duchess consort of Brittany. She was the daughter of Geoffrey I of Anjou and Adele of Vermandois.

She married Conan I of Rennes, Count of Rennes, in 973. Her husband became Duke of Brittany in 990, making her duchess.

Issue:

Judith (982-1017), married Richard II, Duke of Normandy
Geoffrey I of Brittany, the eventual heir to Conan I
Judicael, count of Porhoet (died 1037)
Catuallon, abbot of Redon
Hernod

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Guillaume I 'Longsword', 2nd Duc de Normandie was born circa 900 at Normandy, France. He was the son of Rollo Ragnvaldsson, 1st Duc de Normandie and Poppa of Normandy de Valois. He married Sprota circa 932 in a Normandy marriage. He married Luitgarda de Vermandois, daughter of Heribert II, Comte de Vermandois and Liégarde de France, in 935. He died on 17 December 942 at Normandy, France, murdered. He succeeded to the title of 2nd Duc de Normandie in 925.

From Wikipedia

William I Longsword (French: Guillaume Longue-Épée, Latin: Willermus Longa Spata, Old Norse: Vilhjálmr Langaspjót) (893 - 17 December 942) was the second Duke of Normandy from his father's death until his own assassination. The title dux (duke) was not in use at the time and has been applied to early Norman rulers retroactively. William actually used the title comes (count).

Biography

Little is known about his early years. He was born in Bayeux or Rouen to Rollo and his wife Poppa. All that is known of Poppa is that she was a Christian, and the daughter to Berengar of Rennes, the previous lord of Brittania Nova, which eventually became western Normandy. According to the William's planctus, he was baptised a Christian.

William succeeded Rollo sometime around 927 and, early in his reign, faced a rebellion from Normans who felt he had become too Gallicised and also from Bretons. According to Orderic Vitalis, the leader was Riouf of Evreux.

After putting down the rebellion, William attacked Brittany and ravaged the territory. Resistance to the Normans was led by Alan Wrybeard and Beranger but shortly ended with the Wrybeard fleeing to England and Beranger seeking reconciliation. However, it was not through invasion that he gained Breton territory but by politics, receiving Contentin and Avranchin as a gift from Rudolph, King of France.

In 935, William married Luitgarde, daughter of Herbert II of Vermandois whose dowry gave him the lands of Longueville, Coudres and Illiers l'Eveque. His expansion northwards, including the fortress of Montreuil brought him into conflict with Arnulf I of Flanders.

In 939 William became involved in a war with Arnulf I of Flanders, which soon became intertwined with the other conflicts troubling the reign of Louis IV. It began with Herluin appealing to William for help to regain the castle of Montreuil from Arnulf. Losing the castle was a major setback in Arnulf's ambitions and William's part in it gained him a deadly enemy. He was ambushed and killed by followers of Arnulf on 17 December 942 at Picquigny on the Somme while at a meeting to settle their differences.

By Sprota, a Breton captive and his concubine, he had a son Richard the Fearless, who succeeded him.

William married Sprota Abt 932, Normandy, France. Sprota was born Abt 911, Bretagne, France. [Group Sheet]

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Judicael alias Berengar was Count of Rennes in the mid-to-late 10th century. There are conflicting accounts of his parentage, one popular solution making him son and successor to a count Berenger (sometimes identified with Berengar of Rennes, sometimes with that man's supposed maternal grandson of the same name) by a daughter of Gurvand, Duke of Brittany. However, an 11th century collection of Angevin genealogies shows him to be son of Pascweten, son of Alan I, King of Brittany.

He is first documented as count in 944. He witnessed charters of Alan II, Duke of Brittany, and on the latter's death apparently fell under the control of Wicohen, Archbishop of Dol, later sources reporting the rescue of Judicael and his (unnamed) wife by son Conan. He appears to have been dead by 979, when his son was at the court of Odo I, Count of Blois.

Judicael — Geberge. [Group Sheet]

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Geoffrey I d'Anjou, 4th Comte d'Anjou also went by the nick-name of 'Gisgonell'.

Geoffrey I of Anjou (died July 21, 987), known as Grisegonelle ("Greymantle"), was count of Anjou from 960 to 987. He succeeded his father Fulk II. He cultivated the loyal support of a group of magnates, some of whom he inherited from his father, others whom he recruited: men such as Alberic of Vihiers, Cadilo of Blaison, Roger I (le "vieux") of Loudon, Joscelin of Rennes, castellan of Baugé, Suhard I of Craon, Tobert of Buzençais and members of the Bouchard clan, and encouraged them to see their own dynastic interests as tied to the success of the Angevin count. He succeeded in establishing a group of fideles upon whom his son, Fulk called "Nerra", was able to depend in establishing Anjou as a cohesive regional power in an age of territorial disintegration. In preparing the way, Geoffrey was the first count in the west of France to associate his son in the comital title.

Geoffrey allied with the Count of Nantes against the Count of Rennes, and allied with Hugh Capet, fearing an invasion by the Count of Blois. He was one of the men responsible for bringing Hugh to the throne of France.

Family and children

He married Adele of Meaux (934-982), daughter of Robert of Vermandois and Adelais de Vergy. Their children were:

Gottfried of Anjou (-987)
Fulk III of Anjou.
Ermengarde of Anjou (b. 965), married Conan I of Rennes.
Gerberge (b. 973), married Count William IV of Angoulême.

He married, secondly, to Adelaise de Chalon in Mar 979 and had one child:

Maurice of Anjou (980 - 1012), married to a daughter of Aimery, Count of Saintes and had one son.

Geoffrey I of Anjou (c. 938/940 - July 21, 987), known as Grisegonelle ("Greymantle"), was count of Anjou from 960 to 987.

Life

Geoffrey was the eldest son of Fulk II, Count of Anjou and his first wife Gerberga. He succeeded his father as Count of Anjou about 960. He married Adele of Meaux (934-982), daughter of Robert of Vermandois and Adelais de Vergy. On her mother's side she was a granddaughter of king Robert I of France and on her father's side a direct descendant of Charlemagne. Through this marriage the Angevins joined the highest ranks of western French nobility.

Geoffrey started by making his power-base the citadel of Angers strategically placing his fideles in key areas surrounding the city to protect his territories. The lands of the abbeys of Saint-Aubin and Saint-Serge in Angers provided the beneficium for his most faithful adherants. On this subject which became this family's theme, Geoffrey advised both his sons, Fulk and Maurice: "No house is weak that has many friends. Therefore I admonish you to hold dear those fideles who have been friends." Although one of the principal methods of Angevin expansion was by the creation of family connections Geoffrey exerted his control through various methods. His father had controlled Nantes through his second marriage to the widowed countess and Geoffrey continued this by making Count Guerech accept him as overlord.With an eye towards Maine, Geoffrey took advantage of the rift that developed between the Counts of Maine and the viscounts and Bishops of Le Mans. About 971 Geoffrey secured the see of Le Mans for his ally Bishop Seinfroy. In 973 Geoffrey had married his daughter Ermengarde-Gerberga to Conan I of Rennes but Conan began to oppose Geoffrey and in 982 the two met at the first battle of Conquereuil with Geoffrey defeating Conan.

Geoffrey had influence in Aquitaine by way of his sister Adelaide-Blanche's first marriage to the powerful baron Stephen, Count of Gevaudan and Forez who after his death the lands were ruled by Adelaide. His nephews Pons and Bertrand succeeded as counts there and his niece Adalmode married Adelbert, Count of Marche and Perigord. In 975 Geoffrey had his brother Guy appointed Count and Bishop of Le Puy. In 982 Geoffrey married his now widowed sister Adelaide-Blanche to the fifteen-year-old Louis V of France, the two being crowned King and Queen of Aquitaine. But the marriage to a woman thirty years his senior failed as did Geoffrey's plans to control Aquitaine through his young son-in-law. After the death of his first wife Adele, Geoffrey married secondly Adelaise de Châlon and for nearly a decade exerted control over the county of Châlons. Through the marriage of his son, Fulk III, to Elisabeth the heiress of Vendôme Geoffrey brought that county into the Angevin sphere of influence. Fortunately it was at this same time Geoffrey made his son Fulk Nerra his co-ruler since he died shortly thereafter while besieging the fortress of Marcon on 21 July 987.

Family

He married Adele of Meaux (934-982), daughter of Robert of Vermandois and Adelais de Vergy. Their children were:

Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou (b. 956), married Conan I of Rennes. She secondly married William II of Angoulême.
Fulk III of Anjou (970-1040), he succeeded his father as Count of Anjou.
Geoffrey of Anjou (971-977), died young.

He married, secondly, to Adelaise de Châlons and had one child:

Maurice of Anjou, Count of Châlons.

Geoffrey married Adele of Vermandois 02 Mar 978/79. Adele (daughter of Robert of Vermandois and Adelaide of Burgundy) was born Abt 920; died 984. [Group Sheet]

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Adele of Meaux (920- 984) Also known as "Adele of Vermandois" was a daughter of Robert of Vermandois and Adelaide de Chalon.

Family

Marriage

She married twice, first to Lambert, Count of Chalon, and then to Geoffrey I of Anjou, and had children with each.

Children

With Lambert of Chalon:

Hugh I of Autun, Bishop of Auxerre (-1039)
Mahaut of Autun, Count of Chalon (-1019)
Aelis of Chalon, who married Guido I of Macon

With Geoffrey I of Anjou:

Gottfried of Anjou (-987)
Fulk III of Anjou (972-1040)
Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou (b. 965), married Conan I of Rennes. She secondly married William II of Angoulême.

Adele of Meaux (c. 950-aft. 982), (a.k.a. "Adele of Vermandois") was Countess of Chalon and of Anjou.

Adele was a daughter of Robert of Vermandois, Count of Meaux and Troyes, and Adelaide de Chalon.

Family

She married twice, first c. 970 to Lambert, Count of Chalon († 22 Februry 978). Their children were:

Hugh I of Autun, Bishop of Auxerre and Count of Chalon. († 1039).
Mahaut of Autun, Dame de Donzy († bef. 1019).[2]
Aelis of Chalon, who married c. 991 Guy I, Count of Macon.

She married secondly, 2 March 979, Geoffrey I of Anjou († 21 July 987) and had:

Maurice of Anjou, Count of Chalon, († bef. 1012)