William Longsword

William I Longsword ( – 17 December 942) was the second "Duke of Normandy". William added to his father's territories. He also began to expand Norman influence in West Francia (France). 

Early career

William  was born to the Viking Rollo and his Christian wife Poppa of Bayeux.David C. Douglas, 'Rollo of Normandy', The English Historical Review, Vol. 57, No. 228 (Oct., 1942), p. 422 He was born overseas probably in England.
François Neveux, A Brief History of the Normans, trans. Howard Curtis (London: Constable & Robbinson, Ltd, 2008), p. 62 & n. 111 His mother was from a Frankish noble family.François Neveux, A Brief History of the Normans, trans. Howard Curtis (London: Constable & Robbinson, Ltd, 2008), pp. 60-1 William was baptized a Christian probably at the same time as his father,David Crouch, The Normans: The History of a Dynasty (London: Hambledon Continuum Press, 2007), p. 9 William's nickname Longsword was probably earned during the fighting in 924–925 around Beauvais, Ponthieu and Amiens.

Duke of Normandy

William succeeded his father as leader in 927David C. Douglas, 'Rollo of Normandy',  The English Historical Review, Vol. 57, No. 228 (Oct., 1942), p. 435 Early in his reign he faced a rebellion from by other Normans who did not think he was fit to lead them.A Companion to the Anglo-Norman World, ed. Christopher Harper-Bill; Elisabeth Van Houts (Woodbridge, UK: The Boydell Press, 2007), p. 25 The leader of this rebellion was Riouf of Évreux. At this same time William sent his wife Sprota to Fécamp where their son Richard was born.Eleanor Searle, Predatory Kinship and the Creation of Norman Power, 840-1066 (Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988), p. 95

In 933, William I Longsword swore loyalty to Raoul as King of Western Francia. In turn Raoul gave him lordship over much of the lands of the Bretons including Avranches and the Cotentin.Pierre Riché, The Carolingians; A Family who Forged Europe, trans. Michael Idomir Allen (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 1993), pp. 252-3 But the Bretons fought to keep these lands. They were led by Alan II, Duke of Brittany and Count Berenger of Rennes. It ended shortly with Alan fleeing to England and Beranger seeking to be on friendly terms with the Normans.The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumieges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, ed. & trans. Elizabeth M.C. Van Houts, Vol. I (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992), p. 79 In 935, William arranged a marriage between his sister Adela and William, count of Poitou with the approval of Hugh the Great.The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumieges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni, ed. & trans. Elizabeth M.C. Van Houts, Vol. I (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1992), p. 81 At the same time William married Luitgarde,Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band III Teilband 1 (Marburg, Germany: J. A. Stargardt, 1984), Tafel 79 daughter of count Herbert II of Vermandois. Her dowry gave William the lands of Longueville, Coudres and Illiers l'Eveque.François Neveux, A Brief History of the Normans, trans. Howard Curtis (London: Constable & Robbinson, Ltd, 2008), p. 72 
William Longsword attacked Flanders in 939 and Arnulf I, Count of Flanders, and Louis IV, King of France, attacked Normandy because of this. Arnulf captured the castle of Montreuil-sur-Mer defeating Herluin, Count of Ponthieu. Herluin helped William Longsword to take back the castle.Eleanor Searle, Predatory Kinship and the Creation of Norman Power, 840-1066(Berkeley: University of California Press, 1988), p.56 William was excommunicated for attacking and destroying lands belonging to Arnulf.The Annals of Flodoard of Reims; 916-966, ed. & trans. Steven Fanning and Bernard S. Bachrach (New York; Ontario Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2011), p. 31 William pledged his loyalty to King Louis IV when they met in 940. In return for this he was confirmed in lands that had been given to his father, Rollo.The Annals of Flodoard of Reims; 916-966, ed. & trans. Steven Fanning and Bernard S. Bachrach (New York; Ontario Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2011), p. 32 Almost three years later, on 17 December 942 at Picquigny on the Somme, William Longsword was attacked and killed by followers of Arnulf while at a peace conference to settle their differences.

Family

William had one son with Sprota.  

 Richard the Fearless, who succeeded his father.

William married secondly Luitgarde, daughter of Herbert II, Count of Vermandois.François Neveux. A Brief History of The Normans (London: Constable & Robbinson, Ltd, 2008), p. 90 They had no children.

Notes

References

Category:890 births
Category:940s deaths
Category:Dukes and duchesses of Normandy