Richard I "the Fearless", Duke of Normandy

Other Events and Attributes:

• Title(s): 942; In 942, he succeeded as the Duke of Normandy.

Richard married Emma of Paris in 960. Emma (daughter of Hugh Magnus "the White", Duke of France and Normandy) was born in 943; died in 968 in Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Richard married Gunnor of Crêpon about 978. Gunnor (daughter of Herfast de Crépon) was born about 936; died on 1027 or 1031 in France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Richard II "the Good", Duke of Normandy was born on 23 Aug 963 in Normandy, France; died on 28 Aug 1026 in Fécamp, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France.
2. William, Count of Eu and Exemes was born about 0955 in Normandy, France; died on 26 Jan 1057.
3. Mauger, Earl of Corbeil
4. Robert, Count of d'Évreux, Archbishop of Rouen was born in 964 in Normandy, France; died on 16 Mar 1037.
5. Matilda
6. Emma of Normandy was born about 986; died on 14 Mar 1052.
7. Hawise of Normandy died on 21 Feb 1034.
8. Beatrice of Normandy died on 18 Jan 1035.
9. Godfrey of Brionne & Eu died about 1015.

Family/Spouse: Unknown. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. daughter of Richard the Fearless was born in — in Normandy, France.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: He was also known as Guillaume Longue-espee, in French. In 927, he succeeded as the Duke of Normandy, upon the death of his father. Most of William's career was spent in relative obscurity, but in the late 930s he suddenly emerged onto the stage of Frankish royal politics, first because of his war with Arnulf of Flanders, and then because of his support for King Louis IV (d'Outremer) at a time when Louis' star seemed to be fading. In December 942, at the peak of his good relations with Louis, Arnulf called for a peace conference with William. At the conference, William was murdered (traditionally, Arnulf is said to have arranged the murder). [see picture below] A Planctus (mourning poem) was composed probably shortly after William's death. Jules Lair suggests plausibly if not definitively that it was in 943. This poem, although it survives only in corrupt and incomplete versions and is largely hagiographic in content, nevertheless is a critical source for early Norman history. It is by far the earliest work written about the Normans from a Norman point of view, and some historical nuggets can be gleaned from it. [see picture below]

William married Sporte de Bretagne about 932. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: She was a Breton captive, who became known as William's "Danish Wife".

Notes:

Married:
The were married under pagan rites.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Military: 911, Normandy, France
• Baptism as an Adult: Abt 912
• Title(s): 912

Notes:

Name:
He was also known as Rolf the Ganger, Rolf Wend-a-Foot, Rolf the Viking, and Rollo of Norway.

Military:
Making himself independent of King Harald I of Norway, Rolf sailed off to raid Scotland, England, Flanders, and France on pirating expeditions and, about 911, established himself in an area along the Seine River. Charles III the Simple, King of France held off his siege of Paris, and battled him near Chartres. Finally, they negotiated the treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte, giving Rolf the part of Neustria that came to be called Normandy, in return Rolf agreed to end his brigandage.

Baptism as an Adult:
Rolf Ragnvaldsson was baptized as an adult having converted to Christianity.

Title(s):
He became the Duke of Normandy.

Died:
Despite his earlier conversion, he is said to have died a pagan.

Rolf married Poppa de Bayeux in 0891. Poppa (daughter of Berenger, Margrave of Neustria and Adelheid) was born about 872 in Bayeux, Calvados, Normandy, France. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: She was also known as Poppa de Valois.

Notes:

Sewell gives their marriage year as 886.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: In 885, he became the Earl of Moer.

Rognvald married Rognhild Hrolfsdotter. Rognhild (daughter of Hrolf "Nefja") was born about 848 in Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Berenger married Adelheid. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Adelheid's marriage to Berenger is conjecture.