Robert I Duke of Normandy Normandie

Other Events:

• Name: Robert The Devil
• Reference Number: 8059

Notes:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Normandie-43

BIOGRAPHY FROM GENEALOGICS.ORG:
Robert was the second son of Richard II 'the Good', duke of Normandy and Judith de Bretagne, daughter of Conon I 'le Tort', duc de Bretagne and Ermengarde d'Anjou.

When his father died in 1027, Robert's elder brother Richard succeeded, while he became count of Hiémois. When Richard died a year later, there were great suspicions that Robert had Richard murdered, the origin of his epithet, Robert 'le diable' (Robert 'the Devil'). Robert aided Henri I of France against Henri'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 England's Edward 'the Confessor', who was then in exile at Robert's court, and sponsored monastic reform in Normandy.

By his mistress Harlette/Herleve, daughter of Fulbert de Falaise, Robert was father of two children, the future William 'the Conqueror' and Adela of Normandy, both of whom would have progeny.

After making his illegitimate son William his heir, Robert 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 in Turkey on 22 July 1035. His son William, aged about eight, succeeded him.

According to the chronicler William of Malmesbury (1080-1143), around 1086 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 had died. They then decided to re-inter Robert's body in Italy.

Family/Spouse: Herleva de Mortain Falaise. Herleva was born about 1003 in Falaise, Normandie, France; died about 1055 in Mortain, Normandie, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. William Guillaume of Normandy Normandie was born in 1027 in Normandie, France; died on 9 Sep 1087 in Rouen, Normandie, France.

Other Events:

• Name: Richard II 'the Good' Duke of Normandy
• Name: the Good
• Reference Number: 8099

Notes:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Normandie-36

BIOGRAPHY FROM GENEALOGICS:

Richard was born in Normandy on 23 August 963, the son and heir of Richard I 'the Fearless' and Gunnor. He succeeded as Duke of Normandy on his father's death in 996. Richard held his own against a peasant insurrection, and helped Robert II of France against the duchy of Burgundy. He also repelled an English attack on the Cotentin Peninsula led by Aethelred II 'the Unready', king of England. He pursued the reform of the Norman monasteries.

Richard attempted to improve relations with England through his sister Emma's marriage to King Aethelred. This connection later gave his grandson, William 'the Conqueror', his claim to the throne of England.

In 1000 he married Judith de Bretagne, daughter of Conon I 'le Tort', duc de Bretagne, and Ermengarde d'Anjou. Richard and Judith had six children of whom four would have progeny.

In 1017, Richard married Estrid Svendsdatter of Denmark, daughter of Svend I 'Forkbeard', king in Denmark, Norway and England, and Gunhild/Swjatoslawa/Sygryda of Poland. This marriage ended in divorce, with no progeny.

Richard's third wife was Poppa, by whom he had a son Guillaume, comte d'Arquens, who did not have progeny. Richard also had two illegitimate children, Mauger of Normandy who became Archbishop of Rouen, and Papie, who would have progeny.

Richard died on 28 August 1027, and was succeeded by his son Richard III. However, when Richard III died in 1028 he was succeeded by his younger brother Robert.

Richard married Judith Bretagne. Judith (daughter of Conon de Bretagne Rennes and Ermengarde de Bretagne Anjou) was born in 982 in Rennes, Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne, France; died on 16 Jun 1017 in Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Judith of Britain
• Reference Number: 8096

Notes:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Bretagne-24

BIOGRAPHY FROM GENEALOGICS:

Judith was born in Brittany about 982, the daughter of Conon I 'le Tort', duc de Bretagne, and Ermengarde d'Anjou. About the year 1000 she became the first wife of Richard II 'the Good', duke of Normandy, son of Richard I 'the Fearless', duke of Normandy, and his wife Gunnor. They had six children of whom four would have progeny, including Richard III and Robert, known as 'the Devil', who would both be dukes of Normandy.

About 1010 Judith founded the abbey of Bernay, thanks to a dower from her husband during their marriage. She died in Normandy on 17 June 1017, and was buried in the abbey she had founded. Since the Revolution her grave remains in the Church of Notre Dame de la Couture in Bernay.

Other Events:

• Reference Number: 8064

Notes:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Rennes-22

BIOGRAPHY FROM GENEALOGICS.ORG:

Conon was born about 927, son of Judicael Berengar, comte de Rennes. He was the count of Rennes from 958 and duke of Brittany from 990 to his death. He became ruler of Brittany after a period of civil and political unrest.

About 973 Conon married Ermengarde d'Anjou, daughter of Geoffrey I, comte d'Anjou, and Adelais de Vermandois. Of their five children, Geoffrey and Judith would have progeny.

Conon died in battle against his brother-in-law Foulques III 'Nerra', comte d'Anjou, at the second Battle of Conquereuil on 27 June 992, having been defeated at Conquereuil by his father-in-law Geoffrey I, comte d'Anjou, in 982. He is buried in Mont Saint Michel Abbey.

Conon married Ermengarde de Bretagne Anjou after 992 in France. Ermengarde (daughter of Geoffrey I Comte d'Anjou Anjou and Adelais d'Anjou Vermandois) was born about 965 in Anjou Province, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Ermengarde of Anjou
• Reference Number: 8061

Notes:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Anjou-2

BIOGRAPHY FROM GENEALOGICS.ORG

Ermengarde-Girberge of Anjou, also called Ermengarde of Anjou, was the daughter of Geoffrey I, comte d'Anjou, and Adelais de Vermandois. She is called Ermengarde in northern (French) sources, but at least one early southern source calls her Girberge. Angevins were known to give daughters two names, as evidenced by her aunt, called Adelaide-Blanche.

In 973 Ermengard-Girberge married Conon I 'le Tort', duc de Bretagne, son of Judicael Berengar, comte de Rennes. Of their four children, Geoffrey I and Judith would have progeny. Her husband Conon opposed her father and brother Foulques III even though the marriage was apparently designed for a political alliance between Anjou and Brittany. Even after Conon had been killed by Foulques at the second Battle of Conquereuil in 992, and during the period 992-994 when Ermengarde-Girberge was regent for their son Geoffrey, she remained loyal to her brother Foulques. In 992 following the interests of her brother, and functioning as regent, she accepted Capetian over-lordship for Rennes while rejecting that of Eudes I, comte de Blois.

About 1000 her brother Foulques arranged for his widowed sister to marry secondly Guillaume IV Taillefer, comte d'Angoulême, one of his close allies, son of Arnauld Mancer, comte d'Angoulême, and his first wife Raingarde. They had about six sons of whom Geoffroy is recorded with progeny. The eldest son Alduin II married Alaisia de Gasçogne and had progeny, and a son Foulques also married, though the details are not recorded.

Ermengarde-Girberge is thought to have died after 1 May 1041, though some sources suggest that she died about 1024.

Other Events:

• Name: Geoffrey I Count of Anjou
• Reference Number: 8090

Notes:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Anjou-20

BIOGRAPHY FROM GENEALOGICS.ORG:
Geoffrey was born about 950, the son of Foulques II 'the Good', comte d'Anjou, and Gerberge de Tours. The _Chronicle of the Counts of Anjou_ describes him as 'stout-hearted and strong and most successful in battle' and tells of his single-handed victory against Ethelulf the Dane, a Goliath-like figure. He was known as Greygown after a witness to the contest picked him out at the French court by the colour of his robes.

He was count of Anjou from 958 to 987, succeeding his father. He allied with the county of Nantes against the county of Rennes, and allied with Hugues Capet, fearing an invasion by the count of Blois. He was one of the men responsible for bringing Hugues to the throne of France.

About 965 he married Adelais de Vermandois, daughter of Robert de Vermandois, comte de Meaux et Troyes and Adelheid/Wera de Bourgogne. Geoffrey and Adelais had a daughter Ermengarde, also known as Gerberge, who would have progeny with both her husbands Conon I 'le Tort', duc de Bretagne, and Guillaume IV Taillefer, comte d'Angoulême, and two sons of whom Geoffrey died young and his heir Foulques III 'Nera' who would have progeny. By an unnamed second wife Geoffrey also had a son Maurice who is not recorded with progeny.

Geoffrey started by making his power-base the citadel of Angers strategically placing his _fideles_ (close followers) 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_ (landed estates granted in feudal tenure) for his most faithful adherents. On this subject, which became the family's theme, Geoffrey advised both his sons Foulques 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 Adelaide, the widow of Alain II, duke of Brittany, and Geoffrey continued this by making Alain's illegitimate son Guisle, comte de Nantes, 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 Geoffroy secured the see of Le Mans for his ally Bishop Seinfroy. In 973 Geoffrey had married his daughter Ermengarde-Gerberge to Conon I 'le Tort', duc de Bretagne, but Conon began to oppose Geoffrey and in 982 the two met at the first battle of Conquereuil with Geoffrey defeating Conon.

Geoffrey had influence in Aquitaine through his sister Adelaide dite Blanche d'Anjou's first marriage to the powerful baron Etienne I de Brioude, count of Gévaudan and Forez, and after his death the lands were ruled by Adelaide-Blanche. His nephews Pons and Bertrande succeeded as counts there and his niece Almodis married Boso II, comte de La Marche et Périgord. 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 in Aquitaine. But the marriage to a woman thirty years Louis' senior failed as did Geoffrey's plans to control Aquitaine through his son-in-law. Through his first wife Adelais, Geoffrey for nearly a decade exerted control over the county of Châlons. Through the marriage of his son Foulques III to Elisabeth, the heiress of Vendôme, Geoffrey brought that county into the Angevin sphere of influence. Fortunately at this same time Geoffrey made his son Foulques his co-ruler since he died shortly thereafter on 21 July 987 while besieging the fortress of Marcon.

Geoffrey married Adelais d'Anjou Vermandois. Adelais (daughter of Robert Comte de Meaux Vermandois and Adelaide Werra de Vermandois Chalon) was born in 950 in France; died after 18 Oct 984 in Anjou, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events:

• Name: Adele of Meaux
• Reference Number: 8075

Notes:

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Vermandois-351

BIOGRAPHY FROM GENEALOGICS.ORG:

Adelais was born about 950, the daughter of Robert, comte de Meaux et (jure uxoris) Troyes, and Adelheid de Bourgogne, heiress of Troyes.

Adelais married Geoffroy I, comte d'Anjou, son of Foulques II 'the Good', comte d'Anjou, and Gerberge de Tours. They had two daughters and a son, all of whom would have progeny.

Adelais died on 21 July 987.