History |
Raoul\'s father is not recorded, but he was the brother of Mainard, bishop of Le Mans, who had been married, fathered many children and had borne arms before withdrawing to the bishopric he held from 951 to 971. In 957 and 971 Raoul witnessed two charters by Hugues II, comte de Maine, in favour of the abbey of Saint-Julien in Tours.
Raoul was married twice: to Guinar, cited in a charter of Saint-Florent de Saumur, and to an unnamed wife. Raoul had at least six children, of whom Raoul IV, Geoffroy and Emmeline would have progeny.
In 990 Raoul was cited with his son Geoffroy in the donation of Gué-Bernisson to the abbey of la Couture, in 994 as witness to the donation of a fair and market by Hugues III, comte de Maine, to the abbey of Evron; and as a witness at Fresnay to two charters in favour of the abbey of Mont-Saint-Michel on 12 August 997. He went to Rome to have his foundation of Evron confirmed by Pope John XVI. He lived into old age, and was mentioned in 1003. [2] |