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Chronological tree of William I

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  • 6th Duc de Normandie
  • AKA: Robert the Magnificent

Robert I the Magnificent of Normandy, Duke of Normany, was born 1000 in Normandy, France to Richard II, Duke of Normandy (963-1027) and Judith of Brittany (982-1017) and died 22 July 1035 Nicaea, Bithynia, Turkey of unspecified causes.

Robert, called "The Magnificent" (French, "le Magnifique") for his love of finery, and also called "The Devil" was the son of Duke Richard II of Normandy and Judith, daughter of Conan I, Duke of Brittany. He was a prominent figure in medieval European history. He was the father of William the Conqueror and played a significant role in the Norman Conquest of England.

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, "Robert le diable" (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. He also intervened in the affairs of Flanders, supported Edward the Confessor, who was then in exile at Robert's court, and sponsored monastic reform in Normandy.

He was also grandson of Richard I of Normandy, great-grandson of William Longsword 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 become Count of Hiémois.[1] In August 1026, their father Richard II died and Richard III became duke, but soon afterwards Robert rebelled against him, and was subsequently defeated and forced to swear fealty to Richard.[2]

Early reign

When Richard III died a year later, there were suspicions that Robert had something to do with his death. Although nothing could be proven, Robert had the most to gain.[3] The civil war Robert I had brought against his brother Richard III was still causing instability in the duchy.[3] Private wars raged between neighbouring barons, which resulted in a new aristocracy arising in Normandy during Robert's reign.[3] It was also during this time that many of the lesser nobility left Normandy to seek their fortunes in southern Italy and elsewhere.[3] Soon after assuming the duchy, 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. A temporary truce allowed his uncle to leave Normandy in exile but this resulted in an edict excommunicating all of Normandy, which was only lifted when Archbishop Robert was allowed to return and his countship was restored.[4] 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.[5] Robert also seized a number of church properties belonging to the Abbey of Fecamp.[6]

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.[7] 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.[7] Robert gave shelter to Henry I of France against his mother, Queen Constance, who favoured her younger son Robert to succeed to the French throne after his father Robert II.[8] For his help Henry I rewarded Robert with the French Vexin.[8]

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.[9] After sacking Dol and repelling Alan's attempts to raid Avranches, Robert mounted a major campaign against his cousin Alan III.[9] However, Alan appealed to their uncle, Archbishop Robert of Rouen, who then brokered a peace between Duke Robert and his vassal Alan III.[9] 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 unfavourable winds,[10] that scattered and sank much of the fleet. Robert made a safe landing in Guernsey. 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.[11]

Church and pilgrimage

Robert's attitude towards the Church had changed noticeably certainly since reinstating his uncle's position as Archbishop of Rouen.[12] 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.[13]

After making his illegitimate son William his heir, he set out on pilgrimage to Jerusalem.[14] According to the Gesta Normannorum Ducum he travelled by way of Constantinople, reached Jerusalem, fell seriously ill and died[lower-alpha 1] on the return journey at Nicaea on 2 July 1035.[14] His son William, aged about eight, succeeded him.[15]

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 Normandy for burial.[16] Permission was granted but, having travelled as far as Apulia (Italy) on the return journey, the envoys learned that William himself had meanwhile died.[16] They then decided to re-inter Robert's body in Italy.[16]

Fecamp Castle

Fecamp1

Ruins of Fecamp Castle, home of the Dukes of Normandy.

Fecamp Castle (aka: Château de Fécamp) is a 10th century castle built for use by the Dukes of Normandy as a principle residence in the town of Fecamp, Normandy. Today its ruins are located near the abbey church of La Trinité in the center of the town of FeCamp. Its design was a simple structure surrounded by a moat.

According to Dudon de Saint-Quentin , Richard I, Duke of Normandy (933-996) was born around 932, between the walls of the “ Fiscanni castri ”, the castle of Fécamp[17] .The place was abandoned in favor of Caen with William the Conqueror and Robert the Magnificent, and is no longer mentioned after 1162 [18] .

Family

Mistress: Herleva of Falaise

By his mistress or concubine, Herleva of Falaise,[19][20] he was father of:

  1. William the Conqueror (c. 1028–1087).[21]

Mistress Unknown

By Herleva or possibly another concubine,[lower-alpha 2][22] he was the father of:

  1. Adelaide of Normandy, who married firstly, Enguerrand II, Count of Ponthieu.[23] She married secondly, Lambert II, Count of Lens, and thirdly, Odo II of Champagne.[24]



Children


Offspring of Robert I of Normandy and Herleva of Falaise (1003-1050)
Name Birth Death Joined with
William I of England (1027-1087) 1027 Falaise, Normandy, France 9 September 1087 Priory of Saint Gervase,, Rouen, Normandy, France Matilda of Flanders (c1031-1083)
Adelaide of Normandy (c1026-c1090) 1026 Calvados, France 1090 Enguerrand de Ponthieu (c1033-1053)
Lambert II de Lens (?-1054)
Eudes II de Troyes (c1040-1115)



Siblings


Offspring of Richard II, Duke of Normandy (963-1027) and Judith of Brittany (982-1017)
Name Birth Death Joined with
Richard III of Normandy (997-1027) 997 1027 Adèle Unknown (c1000-)
Adelaide of Normandy (1002-1038) 1002 1038 Renaud I de Bourgogne (c990-1057)
Robert II, Duke of Normandy (c1000-1035) 1000 Normandy, France 22 July 1035 Nicaea, Bithynia, Turkey Herleva of Falaise (1003-1050)
Estrid Svendsdatter of Denmark (c997-c1065)
William of Normandy (c1008-aft1025) 1008 1025
Eleanor of Normandy (c1012-aft1071) 1012 1071 Baldwin IV of Flanders (980-1036)
Matilda of Normandy (c1014-aft1033) 1014 1033


Offspring of Richard II, Duke of Normandy (963-1027) and Papia of Envermeu
Name Birth Death Joined with
Mauger de Rouen (c1019-c1055) 1019 1055
Guillaume de Talou (c1022-aft1054) 1022 1054 Beatrice de Ponthieu (c1035-c1082)


See Also

Bibliography

  • John Morby, Dynasties of the World: a chronological and genealogical handbook (Oxford, Oxfordshire, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1989), page 86. Hereinafter cited as Dynasties of the World.
  • Alison Weir, Britain's Royal Families: The Complete Genealogy (London, U.K.: The Bodley Head, 1999), page 39. Hereinafter cited as Britain's Royal Families.
  • Richard Glanville-Brown, online <e-mail address>, Richard Glanville-Brown (RR 2, Milton, Ontario, Canada), downloaded 17 August 2005.
  • Royal Genealogies Website (ROYAL92.GED), online Hereinafter cited as Royal Genealogies Website.


External Links

Ancestry Trees

Contemporary Resources

Here are some of the best contemporary references available on his life:

  1. William of Jumièges: William of Jumièges was a Benedictine monk and chronicler who wrote the Gesta Normannorum Ducum, a history of the Norman dukes. He lived during the same period as Robert I and his work includes many details about Robert's life and achievements.
  2. Orderic Vitalis: Orderic Vitalis was also a Benedictine monk and chronicler who wrote a comprehensive history of Normandy and England, known as the Ecclesiastical History. He was born in England but spent much of his life in Normandy, and his work includes a detailed account of Robert's life and reign.
  3. The Bayeux Tapestry: The Bayeux Tapestry is an embroidered cloth that depicts the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England. It was likely commissioned by Bishop Odo, who was Robert's half-brother and played a prominent role in the Conquest. The tapestry includes several scenes that depict Robert and his actions during the period.
  4. Domesday Book: The Domesday Book is a record of land ownership and taxation in England, compiled in 1086 on the orders of William the Conqueror. It includes references to Robert, his estates in Normandy and his holdings in England.
  5. Other contemporary charters and legal documents: There are several charters and legal documents from the period that mention Robert and his activities, such as his grants of land and his involvement in legal disputes.


Royal Succession Charts

French nobility
Preceded by
Richard III
Duke of Normandy
1027–1035
Succeeded by
William II

Footnotes

  1. ^ The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumieges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, Vol. II, Books V-VIII, ed. Elisabeth M.C. Van Houts (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1995), pp. 40–1
  2. ^ David Crouch, The Normans, The History of a Dynasty (Hambledon Continuum, London, New York, 2002), p. 46
  3. ^ a b c d David C. Douglas, William the Conqueror (University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1964), p. 32
  4. ^ David Crouch, The Normans, The History of a Dynasty (Hambledon Continuum, London, New York, 2002), p. 48
  5. ^ François Neveux. A Brief History of The Normans (Constable & Robbinson, Ltd, London, 2008), p. 100
  6. ^ David Crouch, The Normans, The History of a Dynasty (Hambledon Continuum, London, New York, 2002), p. 49
  7. ^ a b David Crouch, The Normans, The History of a Dynasty (Hambledon Continuum, London, New York, 2002), pp. 49–50
  8. ^ a b Elisabeth M C Van Houts, The Normans in Europe (Manchester University Press, Manchester and New York, 2000), p. 185
  9. ^ a b c David Crouch, The Normans, The History of a Dynasty (Hambledon Continuum, London, New York, 2002), p. 50
  10. ^ Christopher Harper-Bill; Elisabeth Van Houts, A Companion to the Anglo-Norman World (Boydell Press, Woodbridge, UK, 2003), p. 31
  11. ^ The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, Ed. & Trans. Elizabeth M.C. Van Houts, Vol. I (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1992), pp. 78–80
  12. ^ François Neveux. A Brief History of The Normans (Constable & Robbinson, Ltd, London, 2008), p. 102
  13. ^ François Neveux. A Brief History of The Normans (Constable & Robbinson, Ltd, London, 2008), p. 103
  14. ^ a b The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, Ed. & Trans. Elizabeth M.C. Van Houts, Vol. I (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1992), pp. 80–5
  15. ^ François Neveux, A Brief History of the Normans, trans. Howard Curtis (Constable & Robinson, Ltd. London, 2008), p. 110
  16. ^ a b c William M. Aird, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy: C. 1050–1134 (Boydell Press, Woodbridge, UK, 2008), p. 159 n. 38
  17. ^ Stéphane William Gondoin, "Fortified castles in the time of William the Conqueror ", Norman Heritage , no . 94 , July-August-September 2015, p. 36 ( ISSN 1271-6006 ).]
  18. ^ [Norman Worlds]
  19. ^ The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, Ed. & Trans. Elizabeth M.C. Van Houts, Vol. I (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1992), p. lxxv
  20. ^ "William I | Biography, Reign, & Facts" (in en). https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-I-king-of-England. 
  21. ^ David C. Douglas, William the Conqueror (University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1964), p. 15, passim
  22. ^ David C. Douglas, William the Conqueror (University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1964), pp. 380–1 noting she may or may not be Herleva's daughter but probably is
  23. ^ George Edward Cokayne, The Complete Peerage of England Scotland Ireland Great Britain and the United Kingdom, Extant Extinct or Dormant, Vol. I, ed. Vicary Gibbs (The St. Catherine Press, Ltd., London, 1910), p. 351
  24. ^ David C. Douglas, William the Conqueror (University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, 1964), p. 380


Footnotes (including sources)

Phlox, AMK152, Rtol, Bergsmit, Thurstan, TheHistoryVoice, MainTour



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