Individual Details
Duke Guillaume (William) I-III d'Aquitaine, Count of Poitou
(Abt 915 - 3 Apr 963)
William I III, called 'Towhead' ('Tęte d'étoupe') from the colour of his hair, was born in Poitiers about 900, the son of Ebalus Mancer, comte de Poitou and Aremburgis. He claimed the duchy of Aquitaine on his father's death, but the royal chancery did not recognise his ducal title until the year before his own death. He was 'count of the duchy of Aquitaine' from 959 and duke of Aquitaine from 962 to his death. He was also the count of Poitou (as William I) from 935 and count of Auvergne from 950. The primary sources for his reign are Ademar de Chabannes, Dudo of Saint-Quentin, and Guillaume of Jumičges.
In 935 William married Gerloc of Normandy, daughter of Rollo, the Viking leader to whom Charles 'the Simple' had given Normandy in 911. Rollo had died in 932. William and Gerloc (renamed Adele) had a son and heir William who would have progeny.
Shortly after the death of King Raoul of France in 936, William was compelled to forfeit some land to Hugues 'the Great', duke of The Franks, comte de Paris by Raoul's successor Louis IV 'd'Outremer'. He did it with grace, but his relationship with Hugues thenceforward deteriorated. In 950 Hugues was granted the duchies of Burgundy and Aquitaine. He tried to conquer Aquitaine with Louis' assistance, but William defeated them. Lothar I, Louis' successor as king of France, feared the power of William. In August 955 Lothar joined Hugues to besiege Poitiers, which resisted successfully. William, however, gave battle and was routed.
After the death of Hugues in 956, his son Hugues Capet was named duke of Aquitaine, but he never tried to take up his fief, as William became reconciled with Lothar. Guillaume was given the abbey of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand, which remained in his house after his death. He also built a library in the palace of Poitiers.
William retired to the abbey of Saint-Cyprien in Poitiers and left the government to his son William II-IV. He died at Poitiers on 3 April 963.
Source: Leo van de Pas
William III (915 – 3 April 963), called Towhead (French: Tęte d'étoupe, Latin: Caput Stupe) from the colour of his hair, was the "Count of the Duchy of Aquitaine" from 959 and Duke of Aquitaine from 962 to his death. He was also the Count of Poitou (as William I) from 935 and Count of Auvergne from 950. The primary sources for his reign are Ademar of Chabannes, Dudo of Saint-Quentin, and William of Jumičges.
William was son of Ebalus Manzer and Emilienne. He was born in Poitiers. He claimed the Duchy of Aquitaine from his father's death, but the royal chancery did not recognise his ducal title until the year before his own death.
Shortly after the death of King Rudolph in 936, he was constrained to forfeit some land to Hugh the Great by Louis IV. He did it with grace, but his relationship with Hugh thenceforward deteriorated. In 950, Hugh was reconciled with Louis and granted the duchies of Burgundy and Aquitaine. He tried to conquer Aquitaine with Louis's assistance, but William defeated them. Lothair, Louis's successor, feared the power of William. In August 955 he joined Hugh to besiege Poitiers, which resisted successfully. William, however, gave battle and was routed.
After the death of Hugh, his son Hugh Capet was named duke of Aquitaine, but he never tried to take up his fief, as William reconciled with Lothair.
He was given the abbey of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand, which remained in his house after his death. He also built a library in the palace of Poitiers.
Marriage and issue
He married Gerloc (renamed Adele), daughter of Rollo of Normandy. They had at least two children:
Adelaide, who married Hugh Capet
William, his successor in Aquitaine. He abdicated to the abbey of Saint-Cyprien in Poitiers and left the government to his son.
Source: Wikipedia
In 935 William married Gerloc of Normandy, daughter of Rollo, the Viking leader to whom Charles 'the Simple' had given Normandy in 911. Rollo had died in 932. William and Gerloc (renamed Adele) had a son and heir William who would have progeny.
Shortly after the death of King Raoul of France in 936, William was compelled to forfeit some land to Hugues 'the Great', duke of The Franks, comte de Paris by Raoul's successor Louis IV 'd'Outremer'. He did it with grace, but his relationship with Hugues thenceforward deteriorated. In 950 Hugues was granted the duchies of Burgundy and Aquitaine. He tried to conquer Aquitaine with Louis' assistance, but William defeated them. Lothar I, Louis' successor as king of France, feared the power of William. In August 955 Lothar joined Hugues to besiege Poitiers, which resisted successfully. William, however, gave battle and was routed.
After the death of Hugues in 956, his son Hugues Capet was named duke of Aquitaine, but he never tried to take up his fief, as William became reconciled with Lothar. Guillaume was given the abbey of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand, which remained in his house after his death. He also built a library in the palace of Poitiers.
William retired to the abbey of Saint-Cyprien in Poitiers and left the government to his son William II-IV. He died at Poitiers on 3 April 963.
Source: Leo van de Pas
William III (915 – 3 April 963), called Towhead (French: Tęte d'étoupe, Latin: Caput Stupe) from the colour of his hair, was the "Count of the Duchy of Aquitaine" from 959 and Duke of Aquitaine from 962 to his death. He was also the Count of Poitou (as William I) from 935 and Count of Auvergne from 950. The primary sources for his reign are Ademar of Chabannes, Dudo of Saint-Quentin, and William of Jumičges.
William was son of Ebalus Manzer and Emilienne. He was born in Poitiers. He claimed the Duchy of Aquitaine from his father's death, but the royal chancery did not recognise his ducal title until the year before his own death.
Shortly after the death of King Rudolph in 936, he was constrained to forfeit some land to Hugh the Great by Louis IV. He did it with grace, but his relationship with Hugh thenceforward deteriorated. In 950, Hugh was reconciled with Louis and granted the duchies of Burgundy and Aquitaine. He tried to conquer Aquitaine with Louis's assistance, but William defeated them. Lothair, Louis's successor, feared the power of William. In August 955 he joined Hugh to besiege Poitiers, which resisted successfully. William, however, gave battle and was routed.
After the death of Hugh, his son Hugh Capet was named duke of Aquitaine, but he never tried to take up his fief, as William reconciled with Lothair.
He was given the abbey of Saint-Hilaire-le-Grand, which remained in his house after his death. He also built a library in the palace of Poitiers.
Marriage and issue
He married Gerloc (renamed Adele), daughter of Rollo of Normandy. They had at least two children:
Adelaide, who married Hugh Capet
William, his successor in Aquitaine. He abdicated to the abbey of Saint-Cyprien in Poitiers and left the government to his son.
Source: Wikipedia
Events
| Birth | Abt 915 | ||||
| Death | 3 Apr 963 | ||||
| Marriage | Duchess Adele de Normandy |
Families
| Spouse | Duchess Adele de Normandy (917 - 962) |
| Child | Duke Guillaume (William) II-IV "Fier-a-bras" d'Aquitaine, Count of Poitou (935 - 993) |
| Child | Adélaide d'Aquitaine Poitou (950 - 1006) |
| Father | Ebalus Manzer Duke d'Aquitaine (The Bastard) (870 - 935) |
| Mother | Aremburgis ( - ) |