Herleva, the daughter of
a tanner from Falaise in Normandy, was born in 1010. When she was
sixteen gave birth to a son called Richard. The boy's father was Gilbert,
Count of Brionne, one of the most powerful landowners in Normandy.
As Herleva was not married to Gilbert, the boy became known as Richard
Fitz Gilbert.
The term 'Fitz' was used to show that Richard was the illegitimate
son of Gilbert.
The following year, Herleva
became the mistress of Robert, Duke of Normandy.
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. After marriage, Herleva had three more children,
Odo, Robert and Muriel. Later the sons became known as Odo
of Bayeux and Robert of Mortain.
In 1035, Robert, Duke of
Normandy died. Although William was illegitimate, he was Robert's
only living son, and so inherited his father's title. Gilbert,
Count of Brionne, became William's guardian. A number of Norman
barons would not accept an illegitimate son as their leader and in
1040 an attempt was made to kill William. The plot failed but they
did manage to kill Gilbert of Brionne.
Gilbert of Brionne's large
estates in Normandy were now passed on to his legitimate son, Baldwin
of Flanders. As Richard
Fitz Gilbert was
illegitimate, he did not receive very much land when his father died.
When William, Duke of Normandy, decided
to invade England in 1066, he invited his three half-brothers, Richard
Fitz Gilbert,
Odo of Bayeux and Robert
of Mortain to join him. Richard, who had married Rohese, daughter
of Walter Giffard of Normandy, also brought with him members of his
wife's family.
The
Normans: Classroom Activities
(S1)
Geoffrey Malaterra, Chronicle (c. 1090)
The Normans are a most cunning and revengeful race. They
leave their native fields for the hope of rich booty; greedy of gain.
The Normans can flatter when they choose. The Norman leaders are most
generous when they hope to earn fame by their generosity.
(S2)
John Simkin, Herleva of Falaise (1996)
Herleva was the daughter of Fulbert, a tanner in Falaise.
Robert, Duke of Normandy fell in love with this beautiful girl. Soon
after their first meeting, Robert sent a message to Herleva asking
her to meet him at his castle at Brionne. Within a year a little boy
was born. He was given the name William. Many years later, the citizens
in a town besieged by William made fun of him by hanging out animal
skins over the city walls.
Last
updated: 20th September, 2002
Available
from Amazon Books (order below)
