Richard I, Duke of Normandy

Richard I of Normandy (933–996), also known as Richard the Fearless (French, Sans Peur), was the "Duke of Normandy" from 942 to 996. Richard made Normandy into a feudal society where he owned all the land. His followers held on to the lands given them by remaining loyal to him. He made Normandy a much stronger a power in western France.

 Early career 

Richard was the son of William Longsword, princepsThe Annals of Flodoard of Reims; 916–966, ed. & trans. Steven Fanning and Bernard S. Bachrach (University of Toronto Press, 2011), p. 32 or ruler of Normandy. His mother's name was Sprota. She was a Breton prisoner captured in war who William later married.The Normans in Europe, ed. & trans. Elisabeth van Houts (Manchester University Press, 2000), p. 47 n. 77 William Longsword was told of the birth of a son after the battle with Riouf and other viking rebels. But he kept this a secret until a few years later. When he first met his son he kissed him and made him the heir to Normandy. William then sent Richard to be cared for in Bayeux.Eleanor Searle, Predatory Kinship and the Creation of Norman Power, 840–1066 (University of California Press, Berkeley, 1988), p. 95

When his father died, Richard was only 10 years old (he was born in 933).Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln|Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band II (Marburg, Germany: J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 79 King Louis IV of France decided to take charge of Normandy himself. The king placed the young duke in the custody of the count of Ponthieu.Pierre Riché, The Carolingians; A Family who Forged Europe, trans. Michael Idomir Allen (University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 1993) pp. 262–3  Then the king gave the lands in lower Normandy to Hugh the Great. Louis kept Richard a prisoner at Lâon.Eleanor Searle, Predatory Kinship and the Creation of Norman Power, 840–1066 (University of California Press, Berkeley, 1988), p. 80 Fearing the king was going to harm the boy Osmond de Centville, Bernard de Senlis (who had been a companion of Richard's grandfather Rollo), Ivo de Bellèsme, and Bernard the Dane freed Richard.The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumieges, Orderic Vatalis, and Robert of Torigni, Vol. I, ed. & trans. Elisabeth M.C. van Houts (Clarendon Press, Oxford, 1992) pp. 103, 105

 Duke of Normandy 

In 946, Richard agreed to be a ward of Hugh, Count of Paris. He then allied himself with the Norman and Viking leaders. Together they drove Louis out of Rouen and took back Normandy by 947.Eleanor Searle, Predatory Kinship and the Creation of Norman Power, 840–1066 (University of California Press, Berkeley, 1988), pp. 85–6 In 962 Theobald I, Count of Blois, attacked Rouen. But Richard's army defeated them.The Annals of Flodoard of Reims; 916–966, ed. & trans. Steven Fanning and Bernard S. Bachrach (University of Toronto Press, 2011), p. 66 Lothair king of West Francia stepped in to prevent any more war between the two.Pierre Riché, The Carolingians; A Family who Forged Europe, trans. Michael Idomir Allen (University of Pennsylvania Press, Philadelphia, 1993), p. 265 For the rest of his reign Richard chose not to make Normandy bigger. Instead he worked on making Normandy stronger.Eleanor Searle, Predatory Kinship and the Creation of Norman Power, 840–1066 (University of California Press, Berkeley, 1988), p. 89

Richard used marriages to build strong alliances. His marriage to Emma gave him a connection to the Capet family. His wife Gunnor was from a rival Viking group in the Cotentin. His marriage to her gave him support from her family. Her sisters married several of Richard's loyal followers.A Companion to the Anglo-Norman World, ed. Christopher Harper-Bill, Elisabeth Van Houts (The Boydell Press, Woodbridge, 2007), p. 27 Also Richard's daughters provided valuable marriage alliances with powerful counts as well as to the king of England. Richard also made sure the church and the great monasteries were doing well. His reign was marked by a long period of peace and tranquility.François Neveux. A Brief History of The Normans (Constable & Robbinson, Ltd, London, 2008), pp. 73. 74 Richard died in Fecamp, Normandy, on 20 November 996.François Neveux. A Brief History of The Normans (Constable & Robbinson, Ltd, London, 2008), p. 74

Marriages

William married first (960)to Emma, daughter of Hugh "The Great" of France. They were promised to each other when both were very young. She died after 19 March 968, before they had any children.

Richard had children with his concubine Gunnora. Richard later married her to make their children legitimate:

 Richard II "the Good", Duke of Normandy
 Robert II, Archbishop of Rouen, Count of Évreux
 Mauger, Earl of Corbeil
 Emma of Normandy, wife of two kings of England
 Maud of Normandy, wife of Odo II, Count of Blois, Champagne and Chartres
 Hawise of Normandy married Geoffrey I, Duke of Brittany
 Papia of Normandy
 William, Count of Eu

Illegitimate Children

Richard was known to have had several other concubines and had children with many of them.
Known children are:

 Geoffrey, Count of EuDavid Douglas, 'The Earliest Norman Counts', The English Historical Review, Vol.61, No. 240 (May 1946), p. 140
 William, Count of Eu (-), 
 Beatrice of Normandy, Abbess of Montvilliers d.1034 m. Ebles of Turenne

Notes

References

Category:930s births
Category:996 deaths
Category:Dukes and duchesses of Normandy