Mistress

Unknown mistress(es) of Richard III de Normandie.

Children:

• Nicolas
• Alix, married Ranulf, Vicomte du Bessin

LINKS

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORMANDY.htm#_Toc148955359

RICHARD ([1001]-Rouen 6 Aug 1027). Guillaume de Jumièges names (in order) "Richard, Robert et Guillaume" as the three sons of Duke Richard II and Judith[176]. Ademar names Richard as son of "Ricardus Rotomagensis comes"[177]. An agreement between the abbots of Jumièges and Bougeuil concerning an exchange of land in Poitou, by charter dated [13 Apr/4 Apr] 1012, is subscribed by "Richardus…filius Ricardi principi magni, filius eius Richardus…"[178]. He succeeded his father in 1026 as RICHARD III Duke of Normandy. Guillaume de Jumièges records the death of Duke Richard III, poisoned, at Rouen in 1028[179]. Orderic Vitalis also alleges that he was poisoned[180]. The Obituaire de Notre-Dame de Paris records the death "VIII Id Aug" of "Ricardus dux Normannie"[181]. Betrothed (Jan 1027) to ADELA de France, daughter of ROBERT II " le Pieux" King of France & his third wife Constance d'Arles [Provence] (-Messines 8 Jan 1079, bur Messines, Benedictine monastery). Kerrebrouck mentions her betrothal to Duke Richard "très jeune" but does not cite the corresponding primary source[182], which has yet to be identified. "Richardus Nortmannorum dux" agreed grants of property to "Adela" on the occasion of their marriage by charter dated Jan 1026, which does not specify her parentage[183]. She later married Baudouin V "Insulanus" Count of Flanders.

Duke Richard III had two illegitimate children by unknown mistresses:

a) NICOLAS (-27 Feb 1092, bur Rouen Saint-Ouen[184]). Robert of Torigny names "Nicolaum…duas filias Papiam…uxorem Walterii de Sancto Walerico et Aeliz uxorem Ranulfi vicecomitis de Baiocis" as the children of "Ricardo secundo duce Normannum filio primi Ricardi", specifying that Nicolas was "postea abbatum Sancti Audeni"[185]. Guillaume de Jumièges names Nicolas as "un fils très jeune" of Duke Richard III, records that he was deprived of his inheritance, brought up at the monastery of Saint-Ouen "dès sa plus tendre enfance", and succeeded abbé Herfast as abbot, ruling as such nearly fifty years before he died in Feb 1092[186]. Nicoias is named as the son of Duke Richard III by Orderic Vitalis, who specifies that he was compelled by his uncle Duke Robert to become an oblate monk at Fécamp while still a boy, but that some years later when still an adolescent he was installed by Duke Guillaume II as Abbot of St Ouen at Rouen which he ruled "for almost 60 years"[187]. The Brevis Relatio de Origine Willelmi Conquestoris records that "Nicolao abate de sancto Audoeno" contributed 15 ships and 100 knights towards the invasion of England in 1066[188].

b) ALIX . Robert of Torigny names "Nicolaum…duas filias Papiam…uxorem Walterii de Sancto Walerico et Aeliz uxorem Ranulfi vicecomitis de Baiocis" as the children of "Ricardo secundo duce Normannum filio primi Ricardi"[189]. As noted above, it is chronologically impossible for Papia, wife of Gilbert de Saint-Valéry, to have been his daughter.

m RANULF Vicomte du Bessin, son of Vicomte ANSCHITIL & his wife --- (-killed in battle Val-es-Dunes 1047).