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Baldwin reports that Robert's date and place of birth are unknown.[1] Wikipedia reports a birth date and place of 22 June 1000 in Normandy[3] but without a persuasive source.
Robert was the son of Richard II, duke of Normandy, who died 23 August 1026, and Judith de Rennes, who died 28 June 1017, daughter of Conan I of Brittany. [1] Cawley reports that Guillaume of Jumièges names “Richardum...atque Robertum et Willelmum” as the three sons of “dux Richardus” and his wife “Goiffredum Britannorum comitem... sororem... Iudith”. [5]
After Cnut's elevation to the throne of England (1016) , Cnut made an agreement with Richard II of Normandy that Cnut's sister Estrid Estrid was to marry Richard's son Robert. It is not known whether this marriage ever took place. Ralph Glaber in his Historiarum libri quinque [6] reported that an unnamed sister of Cnut married Robert, but Adam of Bremen reports a marriage of Estrid (calling her Margaret) to Richard II, indicating that after he went to Jerusalem she married Ulf, yet although Richard never went to Jerusalem Robert did. [7]
Baldwin reports as a "Possible spouse or intended spouse (of Robert or his father Richard II), Estrid/Margaret, daughter of Svend I, king of Denmark. Rodulfus Glaber, 108, states that Robert was married to a sister (not named) of king Canute, and that he was father of William by a concubine. Adam of Bremen [Book 2, chapter liv(52), p. 92], who obtained some of his information from king Svend II (son of Estrid by her marriage to jarl Ulf), stated that before her marriage to Ulf, Svend's mother Margaret (called Estrid in other sources) was married to Richard (II) of Normandy, father of Robert, but then goes on to show confusion by saying that Margaret married Ulf after Richard set out for Jurusalem, where he died. (Richard did not set out for Jeruslaem, but Robert did.) Unfortunately, there are significant problems with the statement that Estrid married either Richard or Robert, discussed in detail by Douglas [Douglas (1950), 292-5]. Nevertheless, despite the problems, it is difficult to believe that there is nothing to these two similar, and apparently independent, accounts of two near contemporary writers. Baldwin reports that "given the difficulty of reconciling a marriage with the evidence, a possible betrothal of Estrid to either Robert or Richard II would seem like a reasonable alternative." [1]
Norman sources do not mention such a marriage for either duke, and historians disagree whether it was a short-lived marriage, a betrothal, or a result of confusion.[8] Since there is no indication the marriage ever took place, it has been disconnected on WikiTree.Day-1904 10:17, 13 May 2017 (EDT)
In 1021, Robert would have been 21 years old, and it is reasonable to imagine that he had a mistress during this period, lending credence to those who believe that Adelaide was born two or three years before William.
Cawley reports the name of Duke Robert's first mistresss is not known, but that Robert de Torigny names "Aeliz" as daughter of Duke Robert II "de alia concubina", different from Herleve. [5]
Some authorities suggest that both William and his sister Adelaide had the same mother, but most suggest different mothers. There is also a discrepancy as to whether Adelaide was born before or after William. Some sources refer to Adelaide as William's "uterine sister." The question of who her mother was seems to remain unsettled. Elisabeth Van Houts ['Les femmes dans l'histoire du duché de Normandie', Tabularia « Études », n° 2, 2002, (10 July 2002), p. 23, n. 22] makes the argument that Robert of Torigny in the GND II, p. 272 (one of three mentions in this volume of her being William's sister) calls her in this instance William's 'uterine' sister' (soror uterina) and is of the opinion this is a mistake similar to one he made regarding Richard II, Duke of Normandy and his paternal half-brother William, Count of Eu (calling them 'uterine' brothers). Based on this she concludes Adelaide was a daughter of Duke Robert by a different concubine. Kathleen Thompson ["Being the Ducal Sister: The Role of Adelaide of Aumale", Normandy and Its Neighbors, Brepols, (2011) p. 63] cites the same passage in GND as did Elisabeth Van Houts, specifically GND II, 270–2, but gives a different opinion. She noted that Robert de Torigni stated here she was the uterine sister of Duke William "so we might perhaps conclude that she shared both mother and father with the Conqueror." But as Torigni wrote a century after Adelaide's birth and in that same sentence in the GND made a genealogical error, she concludes that the identity of Adelaide's mother remains an open question. [3]
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. [9]
In August 1026, Richard II, father of Richard and Robert, died and Guillaume of Jumièges records that Richard II Duke of Normandy, on his deathbed, confirmed the succession of his son Richard and made Robert the Count of Hiémois. [5]
Richard III became duke, but very soon afterwards Robert rebelled against his brother, was subsequently defeated and forced to swear fealty to his older brother Richard.[10]
When Richard III died a year later, it was reported by William of Malmesbury [11] that Robert died of poisoning. Although nothing could be proved, Robert had the most to gain. [12]
Given William's birth in 1027, Robert had a relationship with Herleve of Falaise, probably at Falaise, in 1026. Herleve (or Arlette) was the daughter of Fulbert de Falaise and his wife Doda (Duwa). "Guillaume of Jumièges names “Herleva Fulberti cubicularii ducis filia” as the mother of “Willelmus...ex concubina Roberti ducis...natus“. [5]
The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines that Herleve's family were from Chaumont in the diocese of Liège but moved to Falaise, adding that others said they were from Huy. [5]
Immediately after the death of Duke Richard II on 23 August 1026, his son Robert occupied Falaise, not wishing to accept the authority of his older brother Duke Richard III. Robert's stay was, however, short, as the two brothers were reconciled soon after. [5]
According to Cawley, Deville suggests it is reasonable to suppose that Robert's relationship with Herleve, Guillaume's mother, occurred soon after his arrival at Falaise, and that therefore Guillaume's birthdate can be fixed more precisely to mid-1027. [5]
Richardson simply reports that Robert had a mistress named Arlette or Herleve who was the mother of one illegitimate son, William the Conqueror. [2]
Robert succeeded his brother in 1027 as Robert II Duke of Normandy. [5]
The conflicts initiated by Robert against his brother Richard continued to destabilize Normandy after his accession, and his reign was characterized by private wars between neighboring barons and conflicts with domains ruled by close relatives, such as his uncle, Robert, Archbishop of Rouen and Count of Evreux or his cousin Hugo III d'Ivry, Bishop of Bayeux. [3]
During this period Robert also seized a number of church properties belonging to the Abbey of Fecamp. [13]
Robert also engaged in conflicts outside of Normandy. He contributed to the restoration of Henry King of France to his throne and received from the gratitude of the monarch, the Vexin, as an addition to his patrimonial domains.
Robert intervened 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.[14]
Robert's 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 unfavorable winds, [15]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. [16]
Cawley reports that Robert's attitude towards the Church had changed noticeably certainly since his reinstating his uncle's position as Archbishop of Rouen. [17] 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. [18]
William of Malmesbury records that Robert went on pilgrimage to Jerusalem in 1035. The date of Robert´s departure can be estimated more precisely from his charter dated 13 Jan 1035 which announces his forthcoming departure for Jerusalem. [5]
After making his illegitimate son William his heir, he set out on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. [19]
When in 1035 Robert made his plans for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, his son William, who became the Conqueror, was aged 7 (or 8).
According to the Gesta Normannorum Ducum Robert travelled by way of Constantinople, reached Jerusalem, fell seriously ill and died on the return journey at Nicaea on 2 July 1035. [19] [2]
Cawley reports that Robert of Normandy died in Nicaea (Nikaia) 22 July 1035. He was buried in the basilca of St. Mary, there, and transferred in 1187 to Apulia. [5]
He died at Nicaea between 1 and 3 July, 1035 and was buried there. [1]
Robert's son William, aged about eight, succeeded him. [20]
Robert succeeded his father in 1035 as GUILLAUME II Duke of Normandy. [5]
Cawley reports that Herleve, mother of William, married ([after 1035]) Herluin de Conteville. [5] In Richardson's account, however, Herleve married Herluin de Conteville, Vicomte, seigneur of Conteville about 1030, prior to Robert's death. [2]
According to the historian William of Malmesbury, 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 himself had meanwhile died. They then decided to re-inter Robert's body in Italy. [5][21]
William the Conqueror (c. 1028–1087). [23]
Douglas Richardson [24] provides one line of descent from Charlemagne to William the Conqueror and four lines of descent from Charlemagne to William's wife Maud.
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Categories: Charlemagne to William the Conqueror Descent
Alice Of Normandy, illegitimate daughter of Robert, Duke of Normandy, possibly by his mistress, Arlette (or Harleve), born 1035. She was the sister of William the Conqueror, King of England. She married (1st) Enguerrand II, son of Hugues II, by Berthe, daughter of Guerinfried. They had one daughter, Alice. She married (2nd) 1053/4 Lambert Of Boulogne, son of Eustache I, by Mathilde (or Mahaut), daughter of Lambert I. They had one daughter, Judith. Alice, married (3rd) in 1060 Eudes III, son of Etienne, by his wife, Adelaide. They had one son, Stephen (or Etienne). Alice, was living in 1086, and died before 1096. Eudes, Count of Champagne, died in prison sometime between Jan. 1096 and 2 August 1107.
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