Guillaume III Taillefer, comte de Toulouse

Guilllem III 'Taillefer' de Tolosa, comte de Tolosa

-https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_III,_Count_of_Toulouse

From the Foundation for Medieval Genealogy page on Toulouse Kings, Dukes, and Counts:
http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/TOULOUSE.htm#_Toc225040410

GUILLAUME de Toulouse, son of RAYMOND Comte de Toulouse & his wife Adelais d'Anjou ([970/75]-Sep 1037, bur Toulouse, Saint-Sernin).

His mother names her son Guillaume de Toulouse and his wife Emma in an act dated 1021[336]. He succeeded his father in [978] as GUILLAUME III “Taillefer” Comte de Toulouse.

"Dominus princeps et marchio istius provinciæ…Willelmus cum coniuge sua…Adelaix et filio suo…Willelmo" restored property to the abbey of Saint-Césaire d´Arles by charter dated 992, subscribed by "Domnus Rotbaldus comes…Willelmus comes filius Rotbaldi et uxor sua Lucia, Wilelmus comes Tolosanus et uxor sua Ema…"[337]. The list of subscribers of this document presents dating difficulties as the last two named couples appear from other primary sources to belong to a later period. The probable explanation is that two lists from two different documents were copied and incorrectly combined.

The testament of "Ermengaudus archipresul", dated to [1005], bequeathed property to "…Willelmo comiti Tolosano…"[338]. A charter dated to [1006] records the council of the archiepiscopal provinces of Narbonne and Auch held by "Raimundus episcopus Tolosanus et Guillelmus comes Albiensium ac Caturcensium et Tolosanorum" at Toulouse[339].

A bull of "Benedictus episcopus", warning against those who usurped the rights of the monastery of Saint-Gilles, names "Guilelmo comiti necnon matri sue Adelati"[340]. The compilation consulted assumes that this bull was issued by Pope Benedict IX, and therefore dated to [1033/44]. It is unlikely that this can be correct, considering the estimated birth date of Comte Guillaume's mother (see above). For chronological consistency, it is more probable that the document was issued by Pope Benedict VIII whose papacy ran from 1012 to 1024. Dating the document to the early years of this papacy would explain explain why the count's mother is named in place of his wife (on the assumption that Guillaume's first wife predeceased the bull, and that it was issued before his second marriage), and would also be consistent with his mother's supposed fifth marriage assuming that this is dated to [1014/16].

"Wilelmi comitis Tholosani…" witnessed the charter dated 18 Dec 1029 which records the foundation of the monastery of Sauve by "Garsindis et filius meus Bremundus et frater eius Almeradus"[341]. "Willelmo patri suo, Bertramno…" subscribed the charter dated 14 Sep 1037 under which "Poncius" donated property to "sponse mee Maiore" at the time of their marriage[342].

An epitaph in Toulouse Saint-Sernin records the burial of "Willelmus comes cognomine Taliafer atque Raimundus Bertrandi", undated[343].

[m firstly ARSENDE, daughter of ---.

The Liber miraculorum Sanctæ Fidæ names "Arsendis, uxor Vuillelmi Tholosani comitis, fratris…Pontii", the latter being identified as Pons de Gévaudun, son of Adelais d'Anjou by her first marriage and uterine brother of Comte Guillaume III, when recording that she sought the intervention of the saint because she was childless[344]. This passage, as quoted in translation in the Histoire Générale de Languedoc, also records that Arsende gave birth successively to two sons Raymond and Henri after her return from visiting the saint[345].

This version of events is, however, contradicted by the charter dated 999, quoted below, according to which all four of the sons of Comte Guillaume were born from his marriage to his wife Emma. In addition, Comte Guillaume and Emma are first named in a charter dated 992, which leaves little time for children to have been born from an earlier marriage, assuming that Guillaume´s birth date is correctly estimated as shown above.

It therefore seems doubtful whether the Liber, which represents the only reference so far found to this supposed first wife, can be an accurate report. Until more information comes to light, it is therefore prudent to show this first marriage in square brackets in the present document.]

m [secondly] (992 or before) EMMA de Provence, daughter of ROTBOLD [II] Comte de Provence, de Venaissin et de Forcalquier & his [first] wife Ermengarde --- ([975/80]-after 1063).

"Dominus princeps et marchio istius provinciæ…Willelmus cum coniuge sua…Adelaix et filio suo…Willelmo" restored property to the abbey of Saint-Césaire d´Arles by charter dated 992, subscribed by "Domnus Rotbaldus comes…Willelmus comes filius Rotbaldi et uxor sua Lucia, Wilelmus comes Tolosanus et uxor sua Ema…"[346]. "Wilelmus comes Tholose" donated "villam…Pertusus…in regno Provinciæ in pago Aquense" to the monastery of Saint-Pierre de Psalmody by charter dated 999 which names "Emam uxorem eius et…filios eorum…Raimundum et Aialricum et Pontium et Bertrannum"[347]. These two charters show that Emma was married much earlier than is generally shown in secondary sources.

"Ema comitissa filia Rotboldi comitis et Hermengardæ uxoris eius, matris meæ" donated property "ex hereditate…in comitatu Forojuliensi in castro…Favart" to the priory of Courrenz (in Provence) by charter dated 22 Apr 1015, signed by "Ema comitissa, Heldebertus de Castro-Rainaldo"[348]. "Emma comitissa et filius meus Pontius" donated property to Saint-André d´Avignon by charter dated Nov 1024[349]. "Wilelmus comes Tolosanus et uxor mea Ema" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille by charter dated 1024[350]. "Emma comitissa et filius meus Pontius" donated property in Avignon to "ecclesiæ sancti Martini in monte Andaone" by undated charter[351].

Comte Guillaume III & his [first/second] wife had two children:

1. RAYMOND ([990/95]-before Nov 1024). The Liber miraculorum Sanctæ Fidæ, as quoted in translation in the Histoire Générale de Languedoc, records that Arsende, first wife of Comte Guillaume, "accoucha successivement de deux fils…Raimond et…Henri" after her return from visiting the saint[352]. "Wilelmus comes Tholose" donated "villam…Pertusus…in regno Provinciæ in pago Aquense" to the monastery of Saint-Pierre de Psalmody by charter dated 999 which names "Emam uxorem eius et…filios eorum…Raimundum et Aialricum et Pontium et Bertrannum"[353].

These two sources are contradictory concerning the identity of the mother of Comte Guillaume´s two older children. Raymond presumably died before the charter dated Nov 1024 in which Emma names her son Pons (see below).

2. AIALRIC [Henri?] ([993/96]-before Nov 1024). The Liber miraculorum Sanctæ Fidæ, as quoted in translation in the Histoire Générale de Languedoc, records that Arsende, first wife of Comte Guillaume, "accoucha successivement de deux fils…Raimond et…Henri" after her return from visiting the saint[354]. "Wilelmus comes Tholose" donated "villam…Pertusus…in regno Provinciæ in pago Aquense" to the monastery of Saint-Pierre de Psalmody by charter dated 999 which names "Emam uxorem eius et…filios eorum…Raimundum et Aialricum et Pontium et Bertrannum"[355].

These two sources are contradictory concerning the identity of the mother of Comte Guillaume´s two older children. This son presumably died before the charter dated Nov 1024 in which Emma names her son Pons (see below).

Comte Guillaume III & his second wife had two children:

3. PONS GUILLAUME ([995/97]-1060, bur Toulouse, Saint-Sernin). "Wilelmus comes Tholose" donated "villam…Pertusus…in regno Provinciæ in pago Aquense" to the monastery of Saint-Pierre de Psalmody by charter dated 999 which names "Emam uxorem eius et…filios eorum…Raimundum et Aialricum et Pontium et Bertrannum"[356]. He succeeded his father in 1037 as PONS Comte de Toulouse.

4. BERTRAND ([997/98]-after 23 Apr 1040, [bur Toulouse, Saint-Sernin]). "Wilelmus comes Tholose" donated "villam…Pertusus…in regno Provinciæ in pago Aquense" to the monastery of Saint-Pierre de Psalmody by charter dated 999 (although the date appears impossible) which names "Emam uxorem eius et…filios eorum…Raimundum et Aialricum et Pontium et Bertrannum"[357]. "Willelmus comes Provincie et uxor mea…Lucia" donated property to Saint-Victor, Marseille by charter dated 1030, signed by "Poncius comes, filius Tolosani, Bertrannus frater eius"[358]. The Histoire Générale de Languedoc states that Bouche claimed that Bertrand, son of Comte Guillaume III, inherited Forcalquier from his mother and that he was ancestor of the later comtes de Forcalquier, but adds that this hypothesis was refuted by Ruffi[359]. "Willelmo patri suo, Bertramno…" subscribed the charter dated 14 Sep 1037 under which "Poncius" donated property to "sponse mee Maiore" at the time of their marriage[360]. "Bertrannus comes" donated property "in comitatu Avenionensi in villis Laurata et Grevesone…in comitatu Arausico…in comitatu Cavilico in villa Avellanico…in comitatu Aquense in villa Pertuso…in comitatu Tolonense in villa Gerildæ…in villa Albinoseo…partem meam in castello novo quod Gualterius construxit" to Monmajour by charter dated 23 Apr 1040[361]. [m ---. The name of Bertrand´s wife is not known. Bertrand & his wife had one child].

Comte Guillaume III had one [illegitimate] child by [an unknown mistress]:

5. [EMMA] ([1010/30]-). The Vita Sancti Bertrandi names "Ato Raymundus…oriundus e castello Ictio…castrum…Insula" and "filia…Vileumi comitis Tholosæ…cognomine…Scindens-ferrum" as the parents of "Bertrandus"[365]. The Histoire Générale de Languedoc suggests that this daughter was born either from Comte Guillaume´s first or second marriage[366]. However, her son Bertrand was installed as bishop of Comminges in [1073] and died in 1123. This is unlikely to place his birth much earlier than [1140/50]. If that is correct, his mother would have been born in [1010/30]. This would be much later than Comte Guillaume´s other known children by his second marriage. If she was indeed Comte Guillaume´s daughter, it seems more likely that she was illegitimate. She is named "Emme de Toulouse" by Père Anselme[367]. According to the Histoire Générale de Languedoc, this is the only supposed reference to her name, which is in fact not known[368]. According to another volume in the same series, she was named "Gervaise" and the daughter of "Raimond-Taillefer comte de Toulouse" (no primary source reference cited)[369]. It is not known to whom "Raimond-Taillefer comte de Toulouse" may refer, but it would be chronologically impossible for Odon Raymond´s wife to have been the daughter of Raymond IV Comte de Toulouse. m ([1030/50]) ODON RAYMOND Seigneur de l'Isle-Jourdain, son of ---.
--------------------------
From the English Wikipedia page on William III, Count of Toulouse: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_III,_Count_of_Toulouse

William III Taillefer (also spelled Tallefer or Tallifer; 975 – September 1037) was the Count of Toulouse, Albi, and Quercy from 972 or 978 to his death. He was the first of the Toulousain branch of his family to bear the title marchio, which he inherited (c.975) from Raymond II of Rouergue.

His parentage has been subject to reevaluation. He has traditionally been called son of Raymond III Pons and Garsinda.[1] However, recent research has revealed that William was instead son of Adelais of Anjou, known to have married a Raymond, "Prince of Gothia". This discovery has required a complete reevaluation of the succession to the County of Toulouse during this period, and no scholarly consensus has developed.[2]

He and his vassals were notorious usurpers of church property. He stole from the abbey of Lézat, but gave it back between 1015 and 1025. Pope John XIX ordered him to stop his vassals from taking the lands of Moissac, a problem later remedied by his successor, Pons, who gave Moissac to Cluny.

William became the most powerful prince in western Languedoc and he saw the rise of the House of Capet in France and a corresponding decrease in royal authority recognised in the south. He bore the title of marchio prefatus in pago Tholosano: "prefect margrave in the Toulousain country." His influence extended into the Narbonensis and even Provence, on behalf of his wife. His power did not remain undiminished in his own city of Toulouse, where he was forced by a council of local noblemen and clerics to give up dues imposed on the market there.

Before 992, William married Emma, daughter of Rotbold III of Provence. From her he gained titles and lands to Provence. From a prior marriage, he had two sons, Raymond and Hugh, who died young. His eldest son by Emma, Pons, inherited Toulouse and the title of Margrave of Provence. His second son Bertrand became Count of Forcalquier, a Provençal fief. He had two daughters: Rangarda, wife of Peter Raymond of Carcassonne by Emma, and Ildegarda Elisa, wife of Fulk Bertrand of Provence by Emma. He had an illegitimate daughter that married Otto Raymond of L'Isle-Jourdain.

Notes

1. ^ e.g., Lewis, p 341.

2. ^ Some historians have suggested a single additional generation (referred to as Raymond III of Toulouse, his father Raymond Pons being stripped of an ordinal), while others follow the Codice de Roda in giving Raymond Pons a son Raymond who in turn had sons Hugh and Raymond. Identifying the last with the husband of Adelais inserts two generations, making William the great-grandson of Raymond Pons. Yet another reconstruction suggests that Raymond and Garsinda died childless, and that Toulouse passed to kinsman Raymond II of Rouergue, from whom the husband of Adelais would descend. See Martin de Framond, "La succession des comtes de Toulouse autour de l'an mil(940--1030): reconsidérations", Annales du Midi 204 (1993), pp 461--488; Thierry Stasser, "Adélaïde d'Anjou. Sa famille, ses mariages, sa descendance", Le Moyen Age 103,1 (1997): 9-52; FMG for different reconstructions.

Sources

Lewis, Archibald R. The Development of Southern French and Catalan Society, 718–1050. University of Texas Press: Austin, 1965.

Foundation for Medieval Genealogy: Toulouse. http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/TOULOUSE.htm

Thierry Stasser, "Adélaïde d'Anjou. Sa famille, ses mariages, sa descendance", Le Moyen Age 103,1 (1997): 9-52

---

From Darryl Lundy's Peerage page on Guillaume III Taillefer: http://www.thepeerage.com/p11358.htm#i113577

Guillaume III Taillefer, Comte de Provence1 M, #113577, b. circa 947, d. September 1037

Last Edited=11 Jul 2005

Guillaume III Taillefer, Comte de Provence was born circa 947. He is the son of Raimond III Pons, Comte de Toulouse and Gersende (?).

He married, firstly, Adelaide d'Anjou, daughter of Fulk II d'Anjou, Comte d'Anjou and Gerberge de Tours. He married, secondly, Emma of Venaissin, daughter of Rotbold of Venaissin, Count of Venaissin and Ermengarde (?), circa 990.

He died in September 1037.

Guillaume III Taillefer, Comte de Provence succeeded to the title of Comte de Provence. He succeeded to the title of Comte de Toulouse in 960.[2]

Child of Guillaume III Taillefer, Comte de Provence and Adelaide d'Anjou:

1. Constance d'Arles+1 b. c 973, d. 25 Jul 1032

Child of Guillaume III Taillefer, Comte de Provence and Emma of Venaissin:

2. Pons, Comte de Toulouse+[3] b. c 990, d. c 1061

Citations

1. [S16] Jirí Louda and Michael MacLagan, Lines of Succession: Heraldry of the Royal Families of Europe, 2nd edition (London, U.K.: Little, Brown and Company, 1999), table 64. Hereinafter cited as Lines of Succession.

2. [S45] Marcellus Donald R. von Redlich, Pedigrees of Some of the Emperor Charlemagne's Descendants, volume I (1941; reprint, Baltimore, Maryland, U.S.A.: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2002), page 63. Hereinafter cited as Pedigrees of Emperor Charlemagne, I.

3. [S38] John Morby, Dynasties of the World: a chronological and genealogical handbook (Oxford, Oxfordshire, U.K.: Oxford University Press, 1989), page 88. Hereinafter cited as Dynasties of the World.

---

William III Taillefer (also spelled Tallefer or Tallifer; 975 – September 1037) was the Count of Toulouse, Albi, and Quercy from 972 or 978 to his death. He was the first of the Toulousain branch of his family to bear the title marchio, which he inherited (c.975) from Raymond II of Rouergue.

His parentage has been subject to reevaluation. He has traditionally been called son of Raymond Pons and Garsinda.[1] However, recent research has revealed that several historical Counts of Toulouse have been overlooked, and that William was actually the son of Raymond III of Toulouse, whom he succeeded in 978, and Adelais of Anjou.[2]

He and his vassals were notorious usurpers of church property. He stole from the abbey of Lézat, but gave it back between 1015 and 1025. Pope John XIX ordered him to stop his vassals from taking the lands of Moissac, a problem later remedied by his successor, Pons, who gave Moissac to Cluny.

William became the most powerful prince in western Languedoc and he saw the rise of the House of Capet in France and a corresponding decrease in royal authority recognised in the south. He bore the title of marchio prefatus in pago Tholosano: "prefect margrave in the Toulousain country." His influence extended into the Narbonensis and even Provence, on behalf of his wife. His power did not remain undiminished in his own city of Toulouse, where he was forced by a council of local noblemen and clerics to give up dues imposed on the market there.

Before 992, William married Emma, daughter of Rotbold III of Provence. From her he gained titles and lands to Provence. From a prior marriage, he had two sons, Raymond and Hugh, who died young. His eldest son by Emma, Pons, , inherited Toulouse and the title of Margrave of Provence. His second son Bertrand became Count of Forcalquier, a Provençal fief. He had two daughters: Rangarda, wife of Peter Raymond of Carcassonne by Emma, and Ildegarda Elisa, wife of Fulk Bertrand of Provence by Emma. He had an illegitimate daughter that married Otto Raymond of L'Isle-Jourdain.

---

William III Taillefer (also spelled Tallefer or Tallifer; 975 – September 1037) was the Count of Toulouse, Albi, and Quercy from 972 or 978 to his death. He was the first of the Toulousain branch of his family to bear the title marchio, which he inherited (c.975) from Raymond II of Rouergue.

His parentage has been subject to reevaluation. He has traditionally been called son of Raymond Pons and Garsinda. However, recent research has revealed that several historical Counts of Toulouse have been overlooked, and that William was actually the son of Raymond III of Toulouse, whom he succeeded in 978, and Adelais of Anjou.

He and his vassals were notorious usurpers of church property. He stole from the abbey of Lézat, but gave it back between 1015 and 1025. Pope John XIX ordered him to stop his vassals from taking the lands of Moissac, a problem later remedied by his successor, Pons, who gave Moissac to Cluny.

William became the most powerful prince in western Languedoc and he saw the rise of the House of Capet in France and a corresponding decrease in royal authority recognised in the south. He bore the title of marchio prefatus in pago Tholosano: "prefect margrave in the Toulousain country." His influence extended into the Narbonensis and even Provence, on behalf of his wife. His power did not remain undiminished in his own city of Toulouse, where he was forced by a council of local noblemen and clerics to give up dues imposed on the market there.

Before 992, William married Emma, daughter of Rotbold III of Provence. From her he gained titles and lands to Provence. From a prior marriage, he had two sons, Raymond and Hugh, who died young. His eldest son by Emma, Pons, , inherited Toulouse and the title of Margrave of Provence. His second son Bertrand became Count of Forcalquier, a Provençal fief. He had two daughters: Rangarda, wife of Peter Raymond of Carcassonne by Emma, and Ildegarda Elisa, wife of Fulk Bertrand of Provence by Emma. He had an illegitimate daughter that married Otto Raymond of L'Isle-Jourdain.

---

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume_III_de_Toulouse