William I "Longsword", Duke of Normandy

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]

Notes:

Married:
The were married under pagan rites.

1. Richard I "the Fearless", Duke of Normandy was born in 933 in Fécamp, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France; died on 20 Nov 996 in Fécamp, Seine-Maritime, Normandy, France.
2. Raoul D'Ivry

William married Luitgarde de Vermandois in 940. Luitgarde (daughter of Herbert II, Count of Vermandois and Troyes and Hildebrande of Neustria, Princess of the West Franks) was born between 915 and 920; died in 943. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Sewell gives their marriage year as 935.

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.

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: He was also known as Eystein "the Noisy" Glumra. Aboput 830, he became the Jarl of Hedemarken of the Uplands.

Eystein married Aseda Rognvaldsdotter. Aseda (daughter of Rognvald Olafsson and Tora Sigurdsdottir) was born about 812 in Mære, Norway. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• History: lifespan

Notes:

History:
Berenger was living in 879.

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