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Padre de Guillaume 'Fier-à-Bras' de Poitiers, IV duc d'Aquitaine et II comte de Poitou; Jeanne d'Aquitaine and Adélaïde d'Aquitaine, reine des Francs
GUILLAUME de Poitou
Son of Ebles II Manzer, duc d'Aquitaine and Émilienne of Poitou
Project MedLands Aquitaine - https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/AQUITAINE.htm#GuillaumeIPoitoudied963
GUILLAUME de Poitou, son of EBALUS "Mancer" Comte de Poitou & his [second wife Emillane ---] ([900]-Poitiers 3 Apr 963, bur Saint-Cyprien). The Chronicle of Adémar de Chabannes names "Willelmus cognomento Caput stupe" as one of the two sons of "Eblo duce", specifying that he was "Arvernis, Vallatis, Lemovice et Pictavis comes dux Aquitaniæ"[353]. The Chronico Comitum Pictaviæ names "Willelmum Caput-stupæ" as son of "Ebles Dux Aquitaniæ et Pictaviæ Comes" & his wife Adellia[354]. Ademar names "Willelmum Caputstupæ" as son of Eble and "Adelam, filiam Rosi Rotomagensis", but evidently confuses the latter with Guillaume's own wife[355]. He succeeded his father as GUILLAUME I Tête d'Etoupes/Caput-stupæ Comte de Poitou. He was appointed lay abbot of Saint-Hilaire-de-Poitiers in Jan 942[356]. From the start of his reign, his possession of Poitou was disputed by Hugues "le Grand" Duc des Francs [Capet][357]. "Guillelmus comes vel abba summi pontificis domni nostri Hylarii" donated property "in pago Pictavo in viccaria Pictavis" to the church of Saint-Hilaire de Poitiers by charter dated Jun 941 or 942[358]. Louis IV King of France confirmed the property of Saint-Hilaire de Poitiers, in the presence of "Guillelmus comes et marchio et frater eius Ebolus atque Rotgarius comes", by charter dated 5 Jan 942[359]. Comte d'Auvergne et de Limoges 955. Around this same time, Lothaire King of France extended the authority of Comte Guillaume over the whole of Aquitaine. Although known to history as GUILLAUME III Duke of Aquitaine, charters record him as "Guillelmus Aquitanici ducatus comes"[360] and "Guillelmus Pictavensium sive Lemovicensium necne et Arvernensium comes insuper etiam Aquitainiæ comes palati"[361] as well as "Willelmi duci Aquitanorum cognomento Caput-Stupæ"[362]. He abdicated in 962, and became a monk at Saint-Cyprien de Poitiers[363]. The Chronicle of Adémar de Chabannes records that "Willelmo Capite stupæ" was buried "apud ecclesiam Sancti Cypriani"[364].
married ([935]%29 ADELA [Gerloc] de Normandie, daughter of ROBERT I [Rollo] Comte [de Normandie] & his [second] wife Popa [de Bayeux] (-after 969). Guillaume de Jumièges records that Rollo captured Baiocasensem urbem [Bayeux] along with "nobilissimam puellam...Popam filiam...Berengarii illustris viri" whom he married more Danico and by whom he had Willelmum...filiamque...Gerloc[365]. Robert of Torigny also names "Willermum Longum Spatam et Gerloch" as children of "Rollo dux Northmannorum" and Poppa[366]. Guillaume of Jumièges records the marriage of dux...sororem eius...Gerlco and "Willelmus Pictavensis comes[367]. The Chronicle of Adémar de Chabannes records the marriage of "filius Ranulfi Eblus" and "Adelam filiam Rosi Rotomagensis"[368]. The Chronico Richardi Pictavensis also records that "Heblus Pictavorum Comes et Dux Aquitaniæ duxit Adelam filiam Rolli Rothomagensis"[369]. This information is contradicted by other sources, is difficult to sustain from a chronological point of view, and is presumably in error. Guillaume of Jumièges records the marriage of dux...sororem eius...Gerlco and "Willelmus Pictavensis comes[370]. She adopted the name ADELA when baptised. "Guillelmi comitis, Adeleidis comitisse" subscribed a charter recording a donation to Cluny dated [963][371]. On 14 Oct 962, Lothaire King of France granted her the right to dispose of extensive property in Poitiers, la Cour de Faye, effectively putting an end to the long dispute between her husband and the family of Hugues "Capet". She used the property to found the Monastery of Sainte-Trinité[372]. "Vuillelmus dux Aquitanorum" donated property to Saint-Jean d'Angély for the soul of " matre mea Addela " by charter dated [971][373].
Duke Guillaume III & his wife ADELA [Gerloc] had two children:
1. GUILLAUME de Poitou ([937]-Saint-Maixent [end 995/early 996], bur Abbaye de Saint-Maixent[374]). The Chronicle of Adémar de Chabannes names "Willelmum" as son of "Willelmo Capite stupæ" when recording that he succeeded his father[375]. "Ebulus Lemovicensium sedis episcopus" donated property including "alodum meum Baidon" to Saint-Maixent "pro remedio animæ fratris mei Guillelmi, sive pro consolatione nepotism mei equivoci Guillelmi Aquitanorum ducis" by charter dated Jan [965/66][376]. He succeeded his father in 963 as GUILLAUME IV "Fier-à-Bras/Fera Brachia" Duke of Aquitaine, GUILLAUME II Comte de Poitou, lay abbot of Saint-Hilaire-de-Poitiers. "Guilelmus Aquitanensium dux et cnobii Hylarii abbas" donated property to "clericus Rodgarius" by charter dated Mar 967[377]. "Wilelmus Aquitaniensium dux et cnobii Hylarii abbas" donated property to "Mainardo", at the request of "patruus noster domnus Ebolus, sancte Lemovicensis sedis episcopus atque beati Hylarii archiclavus", by charter dated Jan 969, subscribed by "Adraldo vicecomes, Arbertus vicecomes, Kadeloni vicecomes "[378]. At first a powerful duke, he led a dissolute life after the departure of his wife, became increasingly ill and fell under the influence of Madelme, an Italian doctor, whom he rewarded with a vast estate near Fontenay[379]. Duke Guillaume became increasingly religious following the return of his wife in 988, and under her influence the couple made donations to numerous religious establishments. "Guilelmus Aquitaniencum dux" founded a hospital near Saint-Hilaire de Poitiers by charter dated Jan 989, subscribed by "Emma comitissa, Guillelmi filium eius, Guilelmi comitis Engolismæ "[380]. It appears that a reaction to these religious excesses set in, and the duke's wife left him once more together with their older son in 991[381]. Duke Guillaume abdicated in Jan 993 in favour of his son, and retired to the Abbey of Saint-Cyprien de Poitiers, later transferring to the Abbey of Saint-Maixent where he became a monk on his deathbed[382]. married ([968]%29 EMMA de Blois, daughter of THIBAUT I "le Tricheur" Comte de Blois & his wife Luitgard de Vermandois ([953]-1 Aug, 1004 or after). The Chronicle of Adémar de Chabannes records the marriage of "Willelmum" (son of "Willelmo Capite stupæ") and "filiam Tetbaldi Campenensis Emmam"[383]. The Chronicle of Saint-Maxence names "filiam Tetbaudi Campanensis Emmam sive Emelinam" as the wife of "Willelmu duce Caput Stupæ filium eius Willelmum"[384]. She inherited property near Vernon in eastern Normandy from her mother which she gave to the Abbey of Bourgueil in Aquitaine[385]. Her dowry in 968 was Chinon. "Vuillelmus dux Aquitanorum" donated property to Saint-Jean d'Angély for the soul of " uxore mea Emma " by charter dated [971][386]. She fled Poitou between 976 and 988 because of the adulterous behaviour of her husband[387]. "Ledgardis" donated property to "Sancti Petri Carnotensis ecclesiam", for the souls of "senioris mei comitis Tedbaldi patris mei Heirberti, Trecassini comitis", with the consent of "archipresule Hugone et comite Odone, filiis meis", by charter dated 5 Feb 978, signed by " Emma comitissa Pictavæ urbis "[388]. "Guilelmus Aquitaniencum dux" founded a hospital near Saint-Hilaire de Poitiers by charter dated Jan 989, subscribed by "Emma comitissa, Guillelmi filium eius, Guilelmi comitis Engolismæ "[389]. "Willelmus Aquitanorum comes et dux et uxor mea Hemma et filius noster equivocus Willelmus" donated property to Saint-Maixent by charter dated Dec 992[390]. "Emme matris eius" subscribed the donation by "Willelmus dux Aquitanorum" of property to St Cyprien, Poitiers by charter dated [990/1004][391]. She confirmed her son's 27 Dec 1003 donation of Bretignolle to the Abbey of Bourgueil, but according to Richard she was still alive when her first grandson was born in 1004[392]. A necrology of Vendôme La Trinité records the death "Kal Aug" of "Emma comitissa, Burgulii"[393]. Mistress (1): --- de Thouars, daughter of ---. Richard recounts that Comte Guillaume IV had adulterous relations with "une jeune femme de la famille vicomtale" when visiting the vicomte de Thouars, which triggered his marital separation from his wife Emma de Blois[394]. The primary source which confirms this has not yet been identified.
Duke Guillaume IV & his wife EMMA de Blois had [four or more] children:
a) GUILLAUME d'Aquitaine ([969]-Maillezais 31 Jan 1030, bur Maillezais, Abbaye de Saint-Pierre). The Chronicle of Adémar de Chabannes names "Willelmum" as son of "Willelmum" (son of "Willelmo Capite stupæ") and his wife "filiam Tetbaldi Campenensis Emmam"[395]. He succeeded his father in 993 as GUILLAUME V "le Grand" Duke of Aquitaine, GUILLAUME III Comte de Poitou.
b) EBLES d'Aquitaine (-[after 997]). "Willelmi comitis, Eboli fratris sui" subscribed the charter dated to [990/1029] under which "Aimericus" donated property "in vicaria Vicodoninse in loco Armenteria" to St Cyprien, Poitiers[396].
c) other children The charter dated [971] under which "Vuillelmus dux Aquitanorum" donated property to Saint-Jean d'Angély for the soul of " uxore mea Emma " also refers to "filiis ac filiabus ex nobis procreatis"[397]. The possibility that one of these unnamed children was the parent of Pierre de la Trémoille, first recorded ancestor of the la Trémoille family, is discussed in the introduction to the La Trémoille section in the document POITOU-CENTRAL.
2. [ADELAIS de Poitou ([950/55]-[1004]). There is uncertainty about the origin of Adelais, wife of Hugues Capet. The 11th century Translatio S. Maglorii et aliorum names "Adelaide filia Pictavorum comitis, de progenie Caroli Magni" as the wife of "Hugone, Francorum duce", clarifying that the latter refers to Hugues "Capet" King of France when it names "Roberto rege, memorati ducis filio"[398]. This Poitevin origin is also suggested by Richer who records that King Robert "ob nepotem suum Wilelmum" besieged "in Aquitania Hildebertum"[399]. It is assumed that such a relationship between King Robert and Duke Guillaume would be through the king's mother as no family connection through his father has been established. The Chronicle of Ademar de Chabannes, on the other hand, recounts the dispute between "Dux Aquitanorum Willelmus" and King Hugues, as well as the subsequent peace agreed between the parties in 990, without mentioning that the duke was the king's brother-in-law[400], all the more surprising if the Poitevin origin is correct as Ademar concentrates on Poitevin affairs and also includes genealogical details in his narrative. Another possible ancestry is suggested by Helgaud's Vita Roberti Regis which names "Rex Francorum Rotbertus patre Hugone, matre Adhelaide", specifying that "ab Ausonis partibus descenderat"[401]. Settipani equates "Ausonia" with Rome or Italy[402], although no other reference to an Italian origin for Adelais has yet been identified. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines refers to the mother of "rex Francorum Robertus" as "superiorem regum Anglie soror"[403] but it is difficult to see to whom this could refer or how it could be correct. The paucity of references in contemporary sources to the wife of Hugues Capet and her origin contrasts sharply with the frequent references to his mother and to the wives of his son King Robert I. This suggests that the background of Queen Adelais may have been obscure and that her family had little political influence at the time, although this would be surprising as her husband was already enjoying a position of some power at the Carolingian court at the time of his marriage. Maybe her family was prominent when the couple married but suffered a subsequent decline by the time her husband was elected king. Nevertheless, an Aquitainian marriage would have fitted the political circumstances of the time. After several decades of dispute between the Capet and Poitou families, a permanent peace appears to have been established from about the time the marriage took place[404]. The necrology of the abbey of Saint-Denis records the death "XVII Kal Jul" of "Adelaidis regina"[405]. married ([968]%29 HUGUES Duc des Francs, son of HUGUES le Grand Duc des Francs & his third wife Hedwig of Saxony [Germany] ([940]-Les Juifs, near Prasville, Eure-et-Loire 24 Oct 996, bur église de l'Abbaye royale de Saint-Denis). He was elected HUGUES "Capet" King of France by an assembly of nobles at Senlis 29 May 987.]
Links
http://www.friesian.com/flanders.htm#aquitaine
http://genealogics.org/getperson.php?personID=I00020102&tree=LEO
http://racineshistoire.free.fr/LGN/PDF/Aquitaine-Poitou.pdf
http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/AQUITAINE.htm#GuillaumeIPoitoudied963
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_III_of_Aquitaine
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume_III_de_Poitiers
http://www.thepeerage.com/p10662.htm#i106618
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_III_of_Aquitaine