Notes on Family Tree of William the Conqueror to Charlemagne

The information about people on this part of William the Conqueror's family tree is often scarce and can vary in different sources. This makes researching this part of the family story a challenge. However, the information in this blog post can be viewed as a starting point.

Robert I Duke of Normandy and Herleva of Falaise 

The parents of William the Conqueror were Robert I Duke of Normandy (1000 to 1035) and Herleva of Falaise (c1020-c1050).

Robert I, probably born on 22 June 1000, was also known as Robert the Magnificent. He was the son of  Richard II of Normandy and Judith of Brittany, and the brother of Richard III of Normandy. In 1027 he became the Duke of Normandy after defeating his brother. His brother died later that year. For many years Robert was involved in disputes with the church, particularly with his uncle, the archbishop of Rouen. Robert I died during a pilgrimage to Jerusalem on 2 July 1035. His son William succeeded him as Duke of Normandy.

William's mother, Herleva, the daughter of a tanner from Falaise in Normandy, was born in 1010. When she was seventeen Herleva became the mistress of Robert Duke of Normandy and in 1028, Herleva and Robert had a son who eventually became known as William Duke of Normandy. Instead of marrying Herleva, Robert persuaded her to marry his friend, Herluin of Conteville. Herleva and Herluin had three children. When Robert Duke of Normandy died in 1035 William inherited his father's title as he was Robert's only living son.

Richard II Duke of Normandy and Judith of Brittany

Richard II Duke of Normandy was born in 974. He was the son of Richard I Duke of Normandy and Gunnor de Crepon. Richard became Duke of Normandy in 996. He married Judith of Brittany in order to form an alliance between Normandy and Brittany. 

In 1000-1001, Richard defeated the English king, Aethelred the Unready on the Cotentin Peninsula in Normandy at Val-de-Saire. He then arranged for his sister, Emma of Normandy, to marry Aethelred to make peace.This resulted in one of the pathways for William the Conqueror to claim the English throne. When Emma later married Canute Richard was forced to recognize Emma's new husband as King of England. Richard later hired Viking mercenaries for his campaigns. He died in 1026. 

Judith of Brittany, born in 982, was the daughter of Conan I of Brittany and Ermengarde-Gerberga of Anjou. They had six children - three sons including Robert II Duke of Normandy and three daughters including Eleanor of Normandy (c1012-c1071) who married Count Baldwin IV of Flanders (980-1035). Count Baldwin and his first wife, Ogivia Luxemboug (955-1029) were grandparents of Matilda of Flanders, the wife of William the Conqueror. Judith of Brittany died 28 June 1017.

Ermengarde of Anjou and Conan I Count of Rennes

Ermengarde was born on 11 November 958. Her parents were Geoffrey I Count of Anjou and Adele de Meaux (de Vermandois). Ermengarde died on 27 June 1022. In 973 she married Conan I Count of Rennes in a marriage arranged to form a political alliance between Anjou and Brittany. However her husband,  father and brother, Fulk, did not get on and in the Battle of Conquereuil in 992 Conan was killed by Fulk. He was buried at Mont Saint-Michel Abbey, Normandy. 

Ermengarde and Conan had four children including Judith of Brittany. Ermengarde later married William II  Count of Angoulême, and had another six children. 

When Conan died Ermengarde became Regent of Brittany from 992-994 as her son, Geoffrey, was only twelve when her husband was killed. Ermengarde died 27 June 1022.

Adele of Troyes & Geoffrey I Count of Anjou 

Adele was born around 950 and died after 980. She was the daughter of Robert of Vermandois, Count of Meaux and Troyes, and Adelaide of Burgundy. Adele had many names including Adela of Vermandois, Countess of Chalon and later Countess of Anjou. Adele married Geoffrey I Count of Anjou and they had three children including Ermengarde of Anjou. Adela possibly died in 982. She was buried at St Aubin Abbey, Angers.

Geoffrey, the eldest son of Fulk II and his first wife Gerberga, succeeded his father as Count of Anjou in about 960, when he was 20. As Adele's grandmother was the daughter of Robert I of France plus Adele's direct lineage to Charlemagne, this marriage brought Geoffrey's family into the French nobility. Geoffrey's power base was Angers. Geoffrey also had influence in Aquitaine via his mother's family. After the death of Adele, Geoffrey married again  and they had a son. Geoffrey died on 21 July 987.

Robert Count of Meaux & Troyes & Adelaide of Burgundy

Robert was possibly born around 910. His parents were Heribert (Herbert) II, Count of Vermandois and Adela Capet. Robert married Adelaide of Burgundy, daughter of Giselbert, Duke of Burgundy. They had three children including Adele of Troyes. Robert's date of death is also uncertain, possibly between 966 and 968. Adelaide's date of birth was around 916 and she possibly died around 969.

Herbert II Count of of Vermandois & Adela Capet

Herbert II was possibly born in 884 in Vermandois, Normandy, France (though other dates have also been given) and died on February 23, 943 in Aisne, France. He was the Count of Vermandois as well as Count of Troyes, and was the son of Herbert I of Vermandois and Countess Bertha de Morvois who was born around 855 in Bohain, Aisne, Picardie, France and probably died in 915. 

Herbert II inherited his father's lands and in 907 added to it the Saint de Soissons abbey. His marriage with Adela of France (891–942) brought him the County of Meaux. In 918, he became the Count of Mézerais and of the Véxin. Herbert II with his cousin Bernard, Count of Beauvais and Senlis created a power base in the west of France, to the north and east of Paris to the extent that in 923, he imprisoned King Charles III of France in Chateau-Thierry, then in Péronne.

Herbert II was involved in many battles, some successful and some not so successful in the early 930s. He eventually regained most of the land he had lost. In some battles he fought with William Longsword C893-c942 (a Norman leader who was the great great grandfather of William the Conqueror).

Herbert II had married Adele de France before 21 May 907. Adele was the daughter of King Robert I of France. They had one daughter and four sons including Robert, Count of Meauxa and Troyes.

When Herbert II died, his body was buried at the Basilique of Saint Quentin.

 

Herbert I of Vermandois and Lietgardis

Herbert was the son of Pepin of Vermandois and the great-grandson of Pepin of Italy, the son of Charlemagne. His date of birth is uncertain - possibly between 848 and 850. Herbert became count of Soissons and count of Vermandois before 889, and was involved in defending the River Oise against Viking invasion. 

Herbert probably married Lietgardis (Liutgard or Liutgarde) in 878.  Lietgardis was possibly born in 862 and died in 923). They had four children including Herbert II of Vermandois and Béatrice de Vermandois, who married King Robert I of France. 

Herbert I died in 907 after involvement in a conflict with Count Baldwin II  of Flanders. He was possibly buried at the Abbey of Saint-Quentin or its vicinity though no burial record has been discovered.

Pepin of Vermandois 

Pepin Count of Vermandois was the son of Bernard of Italy (797-818) and Cunigunda of Laon. Pepin was probably born in 817 and was Bernard and Cunigunda's only child. Pepin supported his uncle, King Lothair, after the death of Emperor Louis the Pious, despite having sworn allegiance to Charles the Bald.

Pepin and his wife (name unknown) possibly had five children including Herbert I of Vermandois. Pepin of Vermandois is thought to have lived until about 850.