william the conqueror family tree

Harold Godwinsson's visit to Normandy, and swearing allegiance to Duke William, is recorded by William of Jumièges[7]. It has proven useful to get a quick understanding of facts as well as to revise for a class test or an exam. "Roberti filii sui Normannorum comitis, Richardi filii sui…" subscribed the charter dated Apr 1067 under which "Willelmus…dux Normannorum…Anglorum rex" confirmed rights to the abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire[24]. 10. "The next-born after Robert" according to Orderic Vitalis[36] who, from the context of this passage appears to be taking into account daughters as well as sons in his list of the king's children although, critically for deciding the birth order of the older children, he omits Cecilia in this section. William defeated and killed King Harold at Hastings 14 Oct 1066[9], marched north to Canterbury, then west to Winchester where he captured the royal treasury. Matthew of Paris does not name her but lists her fourth among the daughters of King William, while distinguishing her from the fifth daughter betrothed to "Aldefonso Galiciæ regi"[43]. ... Caen, France. There is also a convict in the family tree with direct links to William the Conqueror. He was a descendant of Rollo and was Duke of Normandy from 1035 onward. Agatha (c. 1064 – 1079), betrothed to Alfonso VI of Castile. In 1086 William ordered the compilation of the Domesday Book, a survey listing all the landholders in England along with their holdings. Only branches that were used to determine succession of a monarch are shown. The Death of William I The last year of William's life was spent fighting in Normandy, in battle for the Vexin, a much disputed territory, which lay between Normandy and France. In 1075, during William's absence, the Revolt of the Earls was confronted successfully by Odo. CECILIA de Normandie (-Caen 3/13 Jul [1126/27], bur Caen, Abbey of Holy Trinity). 28th Governor of Maryland. The Norman army was thus forced to attack uphill, placing them at a disadvantage. The one-act play A Choice of Kings by John Mortimer deals with his deception of Harold after the latter's shipwreck. In [1064/65], Duke Guillaume interceded with Guy de Ponthieu Comte d'Abbeville to secure the release of Harold Godwinsson from captivity in Normandy, in return for Harold's acknowledgement of Guillaume as successor to the English crown (according to the portrayal of the event in the Bayeux tapestry). English. A treaty was concluded after his aborted invasion of Brittany in 1076, and William betrothed Constance to the Breton Duke Hoel's son, the future Alan IV of Brittany. William I 'The Conqueror' (r. 1066-1087) Born around 1028, William was the illegitimate son of Duke Robert I of Normandy, and Herleve (also known as Arlette), daughter of a tanner in Falaise. Orderic Vitalis records that she was married in Bayeux[80]. Harold was unfortunately shipwrecked on the coast of Normandy, where he found himself the unwilling guest of Duke William. His consolidation of power allowed him to expand his horizons, and by 1062 William was able to secure control of the neighbouring county of Maine. Fortuitously for William, his crossing was delayed by eight months of unfavourable winds. Determined to punish and crush rebellion to his rule and strike abject fear into English hearts, he laid waste vast tracts of Yorkshire, which suffered under a great famine for nine years after as a result. The body was broken as it was lowered into the sepulchre, made too short by the stonemasons and the ceremony was interrupted by a dispossessed knight. Some escaped to join the Byzantine Empire's Varangian Guard, and went on to fight the Normans in Sicily. William became Duke of Normandy in 1035 after his father died in Nicea, returning from a pilgrimage. In a most unregal postmortem, it was found that William's corpulent body would not fit in the stone sarcophagus as his body had bloated due to the warm weather and length of time that had passed since his death. After this cruel treatment the land did not recover for more than 100 years. "The Grosvenors traditionally trace their descent from Gilbert Grosvenor (le gros veneur or master of the hunt), nephew of Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester, who held from his uncle, William the Conqueror" The surname Grosvenor is GROSVENOR of ancient Norman origin and means great hunter. His reign in England was marked by the construction of castles, the settling of a new Norman nobility on the land, and change in the composition of the English clergy. The latter had received his pallium in 1058 from Pope Benedict X, later regarded as anti-Pope, an appointment which had not been regularised by Pope Alexander II. To Henry, the youngest son, later destined to inherit all his dominions, he left 5,000 silver pounds. William was buried in the Abbaye-aux-Hommes, which he had erected, in Caen, Normandy. Regent of Blois 1102-1107, after the death of her husband. His reign was characterised by bitter rivalry with his brother Robert in Normandy, even harsher imposition of Norman rule in England than by his father, and growing resentment of his ways among the nobility. According to Eadmer of Canterbury, the reason for Harold's visit was to negotiate the release of his brother Wulfnoth and nephew Haakon, both of whom had been hostages in Normandy since 1051. Now Geni claims that William "The Conqueror", King of England is your 19th great grandfather's wife's third great grandfather. Her parents offered her as an oblate to the nunnery of the Holy Trinity, Caen (founded by her mother) 18 Jun 1066[62], probably in part to obtain divine blessing for her father´s project to invade England. William III (r. 1689-1702) and Mary II (r. 1689-1694) Read more [14] However, to the new Norman noblemen, William handed the English parcels of land piecemeal, dispersing these widely, ensuring nobody would try conspiring against him without jeopardizing their own estates within the still unstable post-invasion England. Guillaume de Jumièges records that Duke Guillaume betrothed his daughter Adelise to Harold, in a later passage (in which he does not repeat her name) stating that she was the third daughter and that she died a virgin although she was of an age to marry[44]. . Orderic says that she died en route to Spain, her body being brought back to Bayeux for burial[90]. Famous Kin Surname Index. Guillaume de Jumièges records the burial of Queen Mathilde on 3 Nov 1081 at Holy Trinity, Caen[20]. William was born in Falaise, Normandy, the illegitimate and only son of Robert I, Duke of Normandy, who named him as heir to Normandy. Alarmed by some noises coming from the Abbey, the Norman guards stationed outside that they set fire to the neighbouring houses. William the Conqueror died on 9th September, 1087, having ruled England for 21 years. Feeling threatened by the increase in Norman power resulting from William's noble marriage, Henry I attempted to invade Normandy twice (1054 and 1057), without success. 1660, who acceded by virtue of the exclusion of Roman Catholics from the succession. The Brevis Relatio de Origine Willelmi Conquestoris records that "Willelmus…Roberti filius" was buried "Cadomi in ecclesia beati Stephani" which he had built[13]. I have probably played with most of them. After hours of holding firm against the Normans, the tired English forces finally succumbed to the onslaught. The Normans rallied, Harold's brothers Gyrth and Leofwine were both slain on the battlefield. Since he had no legitimate heir to succeed him, he persuaded his unruly barons to accept the illegitimate William as future Duke of Normandy. In particular, before his conquest of England, he was known as "William the Bastard" (French: Guillaume le Bâtard) because of the illegitimacy of his birth. Villages and manors were given a large degree of autonomy in local affairs in return for military service and monetary payments. Its laws, aristocracy and church were altered and it introduced the French feudal system. Although there would be a number of other attempts over the centuries, the best that could be achieved would be excursions by foreign troops, such as the Raid on the Medway during the Second Anglo-Dutch War, but no actual conquests such as William's. As dusk began to fall over Hastings, William ordered his archers to fire high into the air and one of these arrows is said to have hit Harold in the eye, blinding him, although this point is disputed by some sources. His administration relied upon Norman and other foreign personnell especially Lanfranc Archbishop of Canterbury. In 1083, Matilda died, and William became more tyrannical over his realm. Florence of Worcester records the death "IV Non Aug" of King William in the New Forest, killed by an arrow shot by "quodam Franco Waltero cognomento Tirello" [ch%C3%A2telain de Poix et de Pontoise], and his burial "Wintoniam in Veteri Monasterio in ecclesia S Petri"[70]. He was devout and inspired loyalty in his followers, but could also be ruthless and cruel. Famous Kin Surname Index. HENRY of England (Selby, Yorkshire Sep 1068-Saint-Denis le Ferment, Forêt d’Angers near Rouen 1/2 Dec 1135, bur Reading Abbey, Berkshire). The sources are contradictory concerning the name of the daughter betrothed to Harold Godwinson, as well as the timing of her death. From this marriage, Herleve produced two further sons, Robert, who later became Count of Mortain and Odo, destined to become Bishop of Bayeux and also to play a part in England's history. Orderic Vitalis says that Adelaide "a most fair maiden vowed herself to God when she reached marriageable age and made a pious end under the protection of Roger of Beaumont"[46]. Before history renamed him the Conqueror he was more commonly known to his contemporaries as William the Bastard. The Chronicon S. Stephani Cadomensis records the death in 1126 of "Cecilia Abbatissa, Willelmi Regis filia"[66]. Royal Family Trees Royal Family Trees. The battle was on the isthmus. Fictional depictions William I has appeared as a character in only a few stage and screen productions. William showed a magnificent appearance, possessing a fierce countenance. His maternal uncle, Walter, at one point resorted to hiding the child with some poor people. Deville suggests that Guillaume´s birthdate can be fixed more precisely to [mid-1027], taking into account that his father Robert occupied Falaise immediately after the death of his father Duke Richard II (23 Aug 1026), not wishing to accept the authority of his older brother Duke Richard III, but that Robert´s stay was short as the two brothers were reconciled soon after, it being reasonable to suppose that Robert´s relationship with Guillaume´s mother occurred soon after his arrival at Falaise[240]. William The Conqueror Name Meaning Historically, surnames evolved as a way to sort people into groups - by occupation, place of origin, clan affiliation, patronage, parentage, adoption, and even physical characteristics (like red hair). [4] Nevertheless, when his father died, he was recognized as the heir. Most of the lands of the New Forest are poor agricultural lands, and archaeological and geographic studies have shown that the New Forest was likely sparsely settled when it was turned into a royal forest.[16]. At dawn the next day, William left the castle with his army and advanced towards the enemy. His grave has since been desecrated twice, in the course of the French Wars of Religion his bones were scattered across Caen, and during the tumultuous events of the French Revolution, the Conqueror's tomb was again despoiled. Betrothed (by proxy Caen, Abbey of Holy Trinity [before 1069]) to ALFONSO VI King of Galicia and Leon, son of FERNANDO I King of Castile & his wife Infanta doña Sancha de Léon (Compostela [1037]-Toledo 30 Jun 1109, bur Sahagún, León, San Mancio chapel in the royal monastery of Santos Facundo y Primitivo). (This was either a false claim by William or a hollow promise from Edward; at that time, the kingship was not necessarily hereditary but was appointed by the witan, a council of clergy and barons.) William's lands were divided after his death: Normandy went to his eldest son, Robert, and his second surviving son, William, received England. However it may have stopped future rebellions, frightening the English into obedience. The Domesday Book still survives today in the Public Record Office, London and is an extraordinary document for its time. Despite William's reluctance, his combative elder son Robert received the Duchy of Normandy, as Robert II. Listed by Orderic Vitalis after Richard and before Adelaide in his description of the careers of the children of King William[86]. Orderic Vitalis also records that she was crowned Queen of England 11 May 1068[18], presumably at Westminster Abbey or Winchester Cathedral although this appears to be unrecorded. He died as he had lived: an inveterate warrior. The houscarls, Harold's trained professional militia, loyally and valiantly defended the body of their King to the last, but they too finally fell and Harold's body was mutilated by the Normans, a vindictive act, which William punished. Many of the people have more than one path to William, but this is mostly just showing one (ideally the shortest path). It appears that Edward "the Confessor" King of England acknowledged Guillaume as successor to the English throne on several occasions, maybe for the first time during his visit to England in 1051 which is recorded in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle[6]. Many castles and keeps were built across the country to enforce his rule, originally wooden towers or earthen mottes, in all over 80 castles were established during the reign, including the White Tower, the first building in the Tower of London complex. King Henry took Robert in captivity back to England, where Robert remained in prison for the rest of his life. From http://www.englishmonarchs.co.uk/normans.htm. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II. Offering promises of English lands and titles, he amassed at Dives-sur-Mer a huge invasion fleet, supposedly of 696 ships. [10] Norman arrows also took their toll, progressively weakening the English wall of shields. The Saxon army formed a shield wall along the edge of the hill which rebuffed repeated Norman attacks. Her birth date is estimated bearing in mind that marriage frequently took place in early adolescence at the time, and also because Adela clearly continued to bear children right up to her husband's death. Although they had a long relationship, the gap in their social standing rendered marriage out of the question and Herleve was married off to one of Robert's vassals, Herluin, a knight. The region ended up absolutely deprived, losing its traditional autonomy towards England. William's final years were marked by difficulties in his continental domains, troubles with his eldest son, and threatened invasions of England by the Danes. [3], William's illegitimacy affected his early life and he was known to contemporaries as 'William the Bastard'. William's elder son Robert, enraged by a prank of his brothers William and Henry, who had doused him with filthy water, undertook what became a large scale rebellion against his father's rule. William "Rufus" (c. 1056 – 1100), King of England. William I, William the Conqueror (c.1028 - 1087) After successfully invading England, William the Conqueror changed the course of English history. William I (about 1027 or 1028[1] – 9 September 1087), better known as William the Conqueror (French: Guillaume le Conquérant), was Duke of Normandy from 1035 and King of England from late 1066 to his death. He enjoyed excellent health until old age; nevertheless his noticeable corpulence in later life increased eventually so much that French King Philip I commented that William looked like a pregnant woman. According to some sources, the ceremony was not a peaceful one. Delisle dates her death to [1113][56], on the basis of Orderic Vitalis recording that her successor as abbess of la Trinité de Caen, her sister Cecilia, died 13 Jul 1127 after 14 years as abbess[57]. The Continuator of Florence of Worcester records the death at Cardiff in [1134] of "Rotbertus frater regis Heinrici quondam comes Normanniæ" and his burial in Gloucester[34]. Florence of Worcester records the death "IV Non Nov" in [1083] of "regina Mahtilda" in Normandy and her burial at Caen[21]. Click for a fuller account of the Battle of Hasings. Duke Guillaume helped Henri I King of France defeat Geoffroy II "Martel" Comte d'Anjou at Mouliherne in [1045/55][242]. Julian Glover portrayed him in a 1966 TV adaptation of this play in the ITV Play of the Week series. GUILLAUME de Normandie, illegitimate son of ROBERT II “le Diable” Duke of Normandy & his mistress Herlève --- (Château de Falaise, Normandy [1027/28]-Rouen, Prioré de Saint-Gervais 9 Sep 1087, bur Caen, Abbé de Saint-Etienne). William's conversion of the New Forest into a royal hunting ground saw the introduction of harsh and severe forest laws, which caused great resentment amongst the Anglo-Saxons. Reforms William initiated many major changes. A Latin inscription on the memorial reads NOS A GULIELMO VICTI VICTORIS PATRIAM LIBERAVIMUS – freely translated, this reads "We, once conquered by William, have now set free the Conqueror's native land". He left his father's deathbed in Normandy in Sep 1087 to rush to England to claim the throne, succeeding as WILLIAM II “Rufus” King of England, crowned at Westminster Abbey 26 Sep 1087. Born:Between 1027 and 1028. More controversial are possible changes in law, royal administration, trade, agriculture, the peasantry, women's roles and rights, and education. Battles also ended at sundown regardless of who was winning. aged 59 years old, Buried in 1087 - St. Stephen Abbey, Caen, Normandy, France. Henry "Beauclerc" (1068–1135), King of England, married Edith of Scotland, daughter of Malcolm III, King of the Scots. Duke of Normandy 1035-1087. Eventually, the Pope protested that the Normans were mistreating the English people. Amongst those opposing him was his rebellious eldest son, Robert, nicknamed Curthose by his father, due to his short legs. In 1068, with Edgar Ætheling, both Mercia and Northumbria revolted. The Chronicon Britannico Alter records the death in 1090 of "Constantia Alani coniux…sine liberis"[84]. On his return journey from the Holy Land Robert died suddenly and the young William succeeded to the Dukedom by his father's will. CONSTANCE de Normandie (Normandy [1057/1061]-13 Aug 1090, bur Church of St Melans near Rhedon). "Alanus dux Britannorum et Constantia uxor eius" donated property to the priory of Livré by charter dated 31 Jul 1089[83]. The medieval chronicler William of Malmesbury says that the king also seized and depopulated many miles of land (36 parishes), turning it into the royal New Forest region to support his enthusiastic enjoyment of hunting. The direct royal line can be followed as the leftmost line. William responded by subjecting the English to a reign of terror. He is reported to have ruminated on and repented of his many sins, transgressions and cruelties at the end. Harold assembled the fyrdd, the Saxon militia of freemen, in preparation for William's imminent landing, whilst the Duke prepared his fleet and waited for good weather to set sail for England. 1027 at Falaise in Normandy, d. September 9, 1087. William was formed and moulded by this savage and insecure childhood into the stark and often ruthless ruler he was later to become. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_I_of_England. Nevertheless, when his father died, he was recognised as the heir.[4]. The necrology of the abbey of Saint-Denis records the death "IV Non Nov" of "Matildis Anglorum regina"[19]. 4. She is named first in his list of King William's daughters by William of Malmesbury and by Matthew of Paris[58]. William is known to have had nine children, though Agatha, a tenth daughter who died a virgin, appears in some sources. This devastation included setting fire to the vegetation, houses and even tools to work the fields. Prepared for battle in August 1066, ill winds throughout August and most of September prohibited him crossing the English Channel. The rest of his life was marked by struggles to consolidate his hold over England and hi… After Duke Alan was poisoned, Gilbert Comte d'Eu was appointed guardian but was himself murdered[241]. {{ mediasCtrl.geTitle(media, true) }} Battles of the time rarely lasted more than two hours before the weaker side capitulated; that Hastings lasted nine hours indicates the determination of William and Harold. Only with King Philip's additional military support was William able to confront Robert, who was then based in Flanders. An example of William's legacy even in modern times can be seen on the Bayeux Memorial, a monument erected by Britain in the Normandy town of Bayeux to those killed in the Battle of Normandy during World War II. The family tree listed here should not be considered exhaustive or authoritative. With the assistance of Henry, William finally secured control of Normandy by defeating rebel Norman barons at Caen in the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes in 1047, obtaining the Truce of God, which was backed by the Roman Catholic Church. Trusted by millions of genealogists since 2003. He succeeded his father in 1035 as GUILLAUME II Duke of Normandy. Although he began the invasion with papal support, William refused to let the church dictate policy within English and Norman borders. After further military efforts William was crowned king on Christmas Day 1066, in London. Florence of Worcester records that "comitissa Mahtilda de Normannia" came to England 23 Mar [1068] and was crowned "die Pentecostes [11 May]" by Aldred Archbishop of York[17]. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_the_conqueror. 1. [7] Harold also consolidated his ships in London, leaving the English Channel unguarded. This turned out to be advantageous for William, however, as Harold Godwinson awaited William's pending arrival on England's south shores, Harold Hardrada, the King of Norway, invaded England from the north.