| History |
Richard was born in Normandy on 23 August 963, the son and heir of Richard I \'the Fearless\' and Gunnor. He succeeded as Duke of Normandy on his father\'s death in 996. Richard held his own against a peasant insurrection, and helped Robert II of France against the duchy of Burgundy. He also repelled an English attack on the Cotentin Peninsula led by Aethelred II \'the Unready\', king of England. He pursued the reform of the Norman monasteries.
Richard attempted to improve relations with England through his sister Emma\'s marriage to King Aethelred. This connection later gave his grandson, William \'the Conqueror\', his claim to the throne of England.
In 1000 he married Judith de Bretagne, daughter of Conon I \'le Tort\', duc de Bretagne, and Ermengarde d\'Anjou. Richard and Judith had six children of whom four would have progeny.
In 1017, Richard married Estrid Svendsdatter of Denmark, daughter of Svend I \'Forkbeard\', king in Denmark, Norway and England, and Gunhild/Swjatoslawa/Sygryda of Poland. This marriage ended in divorce, with no progeny.
Richard\'s third wife was Poppa, by whom he had a son Guillaume, comte d\'Arquens, who did not have progeny. Richard also had two illegitimate children, Mauger of Normandy who became Archbishop of Rouen, and Papie, who would have progeny.
Richard died on 28 August 1027, and was succeeded by his son Richard III. However, when Richard III died in 1028 he was succeeded by his younger brother Robert. [1] |
Ellie Wood Keith Genealogy
963 - 1026 (63 years)
(Age ~ 63 years)