William Clito

FMG: Normandy Dukes (25 Dec 2021) Chapter 1. Dukes of Normandy 911-1106

Mistress (1): ---. The name of Duke Robert's first mistress is not known. It is likely that this was the Duke's first relationship which produced offspring considering the likely birth date range of their daughter (see below).

Mistress (2): ---. According to Orderic Vitalis, Duke Robert's [second] mistress was the "beautiful concubine of an old priest near the frontier with France" whom Robert met during his exile after his rebellion in 1079. She was acknowledged by Duke Robert as the mother of his two sons after she "publicly carried the red-hot iron and escaped without the least burn"[309].

Duke Robert had one illegitimate daughter by Mistress (1):
c) daughter ([1072/78]-). Orderic Vitalis records that "Rodbertus dux" married "filiam suam…de pellice" to "Heliæ filio Lamberti de Sancto Sidonio", and granted him "Archas cum Buris et adjacente provincia"[337]. Her birth date range is estimated on the assumption that she was in her early teenage years when she married. m ([1087/90]%29 [as his first wife,] HELIE de Saint-Saëns, son of LAMBERT de Saint-Saëns & his wife --- (-after 1128). Comte d’Arques, de iure uxoris.
§
Duke Robert had two illegitimate children by Mistress (2):
d) RICHARD ([1079/80]-killed in the New Forest before Aug 1100). His parentage is stated by Orderic Vitalis[338]. Florence of Worcester records that "suus fratruelis Ricardus comitis…Normannorum Rotberti filius" had also been killed in the New Forest a short time before, killed by an arrow shot by one of his knights, when recording the death of his paternal uncle William II King of England[339]. William of Malmesbury records that "Richard son of Robert earl of Normandy" was killed in the New Forest "by a wound in the neck, or as some say, from being suspended by the jaws on the branch of a tree as his horse passed beneath it"[340]. Orderic Vitalis also specifies that the accident occurred in the New Forest[341].
e) GUILLAUME ([1079/80]-killed in battle Jerusalem [1111]). His parentage is stated by Orderic Vitalis[342]. He left for Jerusalem after his father's defeat in 1106. Albert of Aix records the participation of "Willelmum…filium Roberti Normannorum principis" at the siege of Sidon, at which he was ordered to Jerusalem for reinforcements by King Baudouin I before leading a major attack on Arab positions in the trans-Jordan area, dated to [Aug 1108][343]. Albert of Aix records that he was placed in command of Tortosa after the town was captured by Bertrand Count of Tripoli in [1110][344]. Albert of Aix records that "…Willelmus…filius comitis Nortmannorum, dominium habens civitatis Tortosæ…" joined the campaign against the Turks who marched against Antioch, dated to [1110/11] from the context[345].

Medieval Warfare Vol. 7, No. 5 "The Siege of Aalst: The Rise and Fall of William Clito", by Erich B. Anderson

"On 21 June 1128, William Clito crushed the forces of Alsace at the battle of Axspoele. The victory was great in itself, but it was also significant as the most recent of a string of successes against not only Thierry, but all of the count of Flanders’ rivals as well from late 1127 to mid-1128. Yet William’s work was not finished, for even though the majority of nobles were behind him, Thierry had not surrendered or been captured, ad still had a threating amount of support throughout the county, especially from the powerful towns. In the attempt to completely defeat his main adversary and the remaining opposition, the count attacked two fortified locations: first at Oostkamp, and then Aalst. The following events that unfolded, especially at the latter siege determined who would ultimately control the important county of Flanders....

"Before William had reached Aalst, the town was already put under siege by Duke Godfrey of Lorraine and his army on 12 July. The duke was certainly helping the Count of Flanders by attacking the town of his adversary was within; yet Godfrey also had his own reason to carry out the assault....

"Once the count arrived, he augmented the besieging forces with 400 knights. For over ten days, the assault continued as the defenders valiantly repelled their attackers... Then on 27 July, while William was engaged in combat with enemy. Troops outside of the fortifications, the count fell from his horse, While he attempted to rise to his feet and could not defend himself, William was attacked by an infantryman, according to Galbert of Bruges:"

Some foot soldier sprang out from among the enemy, pierced the palm of the count’s right hand with his lance, drove it into the middle of the arm attached to the hand and inflicted a mortal wound....

Medlands (upated 25 Dec 2021) Dukes of Normandy 911-1106

Robert de Normandie and Sibylle de Conversano had two sons:
a) ROBERT [I] de Bassonville....
b) GUILLAUME de Normandie (Rouen [Jan/Mar] [1103] – St Omer, Abbey of St Bertin 27 Jul 1128, bur St Omer, Abbey of St Bertin).
Guillaume of Jumièges records that ”Robertus” married “Sibyllam...sororem Willelmi comitis Conversanæ”, by whom he had “unum filium...Willelmum”[312].
His parentage is stated by Orderic Vitalis, who specifies that he was born in Rouen in the third year after his parents' marriage[313].
After his father was captured by Henry I King of England, the king entrusted Guillaume to Hélie de Saint-Saens (who was married to Guillaume's illegitimate half-sister)[314]. According to Orderic Vitalis, after King Henry "returned victorious to England", he commanded Robert de Beauchamp Vicomte d'Arques to arrest Guillaume, who was taken into "exile among foreigners" by Hélie and helped by Robert de Bellême[315].
Guillaume was eventually given refuge by Baudouin VII Count of Flanders "who fought resolutely on his behalf until he died"[316]. "Karolo et Wilhelmo nepotibus comitis" were named in the grant to Saint-Bertin of "Balduinus Roberti iunioris filius Flandrensium comes" dated 1119[317].
Guillaume continually challenged the authority of his uncle King Henry in Normandy, with support from Louis VI King of France and many rebel Norman barons. King Louis granted Pontoise, Chaumont, Mantes and the Vexin to Guillaume on his second marriage[318].
Guillaume also received the support of his father-in-law, who was indignant that King Henry had retained the dowry of his other daughter Alice, after her husband King Henry's son had been drowned in the Blanche Nef [White Ship] in 1120[319].
Following the assassination of Charles Count of Flanders, Louis VI King of France convened a meeting of Flemish barons at Arras where they elected Guillaume 21 Mar 1127 as GUILLAUME I "Clito" Count of Flanders, although he lacked any hereditary right. He was opposed by his uncle King Henry who bribed supporters in Gent and eastern Flanders. Lille rebelled against his authority 1 Aug 1127, followed by Saint-Omer 8 Feb 1128[320].
Guillaume's rival Thierry d'Alsace captured Lille, Furnes and Gent[321] and was recognised as Count of Flanders at Bruges 30 Mar 1128[322]. Guillaume besieged Aalst in Jul 1128, helped by Godefroi Duke of Lower Lotharingia, but was injured and died from his wounds[323].
The necrology of Saint-Nicaise de Meulan records the death "IV Kal Aug" of "Guillelmus comes Flandrensis filius Roberti ducis Normannie"[324].

[Guillaume] m firstly (1123, annulled by papal bull 26 Aug 1124[325]%29 as her first husband, SIBYLLE d’Anjou, daughter of FOULQUES V Comte d’Anjou & his first wife Eremburge du Maine ([1112/16] – Bethany 1165, bur Bethany, Abbey of St Lazarus).
Sibylle is named by Orderic Vitalis, who also names her father and specifies that he arranged her marriage as part of the support he gave to Guillaume de Normandie, on the suggestion of Amaury de Montfort, and that her dowry was the county of Maine[326]. According to Orderic Vitalis, King Henry broke off the marriage "making use of threats and pleas and an enormous quantity of gold and silver"[327]. Both passages in Orderic Vitalis refer only to a betrothal, but a marriage must have taken place otherwise a papal annulment would have been unnecessary.
Her father supported her husband against his uncle Henry I King of England, indignant that the latter retained the dowry of his other daughter Alice, married to King Henry's son who had been drowned in the Blanche Nef [White Ship] in 1120[328].
Orderic Vitalis records Sibylle's second marriage[329], as does William of Tyre (who says that she was her father's older daughter)[330]. The Cartulaire de Saint-Bertin records the marriage of "Sibillam comitis Andegavensis filiam" with Thierry after the death of his first wife[331].
She married secondly (1134) as his second wife, Thierry de Lorraine Count of Flanders.
She left France with her second husband in Jun 1147 on the Second Crusade[332].
She accompanied her husband to Palestine in 1157 but refused to return with him to Europe in 1158.
She became a nun at the convent of St Lazarus at Bethany. After the death of her stepmother Mélisende Queen of Jerusalem in 1161, Ctss Sibylle assumed a position of influence among the royal family of Jerusalem[333].
The Annales Aquicinctini record the death in 1165 of "Sibbilla comitissa Flandrie apud Sanctum Lazarum"[334].

[Guillaume] m secondly (Jan 1127) GIOVANNA di Monferrato, daughter of RANIERI Marchese di Monferrato & his wife Gisèle de Bourgogne (Comté) ([1107] – 1191). Orderic Vitalis names her parents and specifies that her marriage was arranged by her uterine half-sister, Adélaïde de Maurienne Queen of France, but does not give her own name[335]. Guillaume de Jumièges records that the Queen of France gave her sister in marriage to Guillaume[336].
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enWikipedia (ed. 26 Feb 2022) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Clito "William Clito"]

William Clito (25 October 1102 – 28 July 1128) was a member of the House of Normandy who ruled the County of Flanders from 1127 until his death and unsuccessfully claimed the Duchy of Normandy. As the son of Robert Curthose, the eldest son of William the Conqueror, William Clito was seen as a candidate to succeed his uncle King Henry I of England. Henry viewed him as a rival, however, and William allied himself with King Louis VI of France. Louis installed him as the new count of Flanders upon the assassination of Charles the Good, but the Flemings soon revolted and William died in the struggle against another claimant to Flanders, Thierry of Alsace.

Youth William was the son of Duke Robert Curthose of Normandy and Sibylla of Conversano.[1] His father was the first son of King William the Conqueror of England. His nickname Clito was a Medieval Latin term equivalent to the Anglo-Saxon "Aetheling" and its Latinized form "Adelinus" (used to refer to his first cousin, William Adelin). Both terms signified "man of royal blood" or, the modern equivalent, "prince".[2] It may have been derived from the Latin inclitus/inclutus, "celebrated."[3]

Robert was defeated and captured by his brother King Henry I of England at the Battle of Tinchebrai in 1106.[4] Robert accompanied Henry to Falaise where Henry met his nephew William Clito for the first time.[5] Henry placed his nephew in the custody of Helias of Saint Saens, count of Arques, who had married a natural daughter of Duke Robert, his friend and patron.[6] The boy William stayed in his sister's and Helias's care until August 1110, when the king abruptly sent agents to demand the boy be handed over to him.[7] Helias was at the time away from home, so his household concealed the boy and smuggled him to their master, who fled the duchy and found safety among Henry's enemies.[7]

First Norman Rebellion, 1118–19
William's first refuge was with King Henry's great enemy, Robert de Bellême, who had extensive estates south of the duchy.[8] On Robert's capture in 1112, William and Helias fled to the court of the young Count Baldwin VII of Flanders, William's cousin. In 1118 a powerful coalition of Norman counts and barons was sufficiently disenchanted with King Henry to ally with Count Baldwin and rebel. They took up William Clito's cause and commenced a dangerous rebellion.[9]

The Norman border counts and Count Baldwin between them were too powerful for the king and seized much of the north of the duchy.[9] But the promising campaign abruptly ended with Baldwin's serious injury at the siege of Arques (September 1118). The next year the cause of William Clito was taken up by King Louis VI of France. He invaded the duchy down the river Seine, and on 20 August 1119 was met by the troops of King Henry at the Battle of Brémule, where the French were decisively defeated.

William had ridden as a new knight amongst the king's guard that day, and barely escaped capture. His cousin, King Henry's son, William Adelin, the next day sent him back the horse he had lost in the battle with other "necessities" in a courtly gesture. The rebellion collapsed, but William continued to find support at the French court. Louis brought his case to the pope's attention in October 1119 at Reims, and forced Henry I to justify his treatment of the exiled boy.

Second Norman Rebellion, 1123–24
The death by drowning in the White Ship disaster of William Adelin, King Henry's only legitimate son, on 25 November 1120 transformed William Clito's fortunes.[10] He was now a contender for the thrones of England and Normandy, and a significant party of Norman aristocrats adopted his cause.[10] Henry's problems became worse, as his son William Adelin had been betrothed to Matilda, daughter of Count Fulk V of Anjou, and Fulk wanted her dowry, several castles and towns in Maine, returned. Henry refused.[10] Fulk, in turn, betrothed his daughter Sibylla to William Clito, giving to him the county of Maine, between Normandy and Anjou, as her dowry.[10] King Henry appealed astutely to canon law, however, and the marriage was eventually annulled in August 1124 on the grounds that the couple were within the prohibited degree of kinship.[11]

In the meantime, a serious aristocratic rebellion broke out in Normandy in favour of William, but was defeated by Henry's intelligence network and the lack of organisation of the leaders, who were defeated at the Battle of Bourgthéroulde in March 1124. Louis VI was distracted from active intervention as Henry I got his son-in-law, Emperor Henry V, to threaten Louis from the east.

Count of Flanders
Louis VI made great efforts to further William's cause in 1127.[12] In January he granted him the royal estates in the French Vexin as a base to attack down the Seine into Normandy, and he was married to the queen's half-sister Joanna of Montferrat.[12] The murder of Count Charles the Good of Flanders on 2 March 1127 gave King Louis an even better chance to further William's fortunes.[12] He marched into Flanders at the head of an army and on 30 March got the barons of the province to accept William as their new count.[12]

Initially, William did well, securing most of the county by the end of May. But English money and the emergence of a rival in Thierry of Alsace led to a deterioration in his position. In February 1128, Saint-Omer and Ghent declared against him, as did Bruges in March. In May 1128, Lille too welcomed Thierry, leaving William controlling little more than the southern fringe of Flanders. However, he struck back at Bruges and at the battle of Axspoele south of the town on 21 June, William, with his Norman knights and French allies, defeated Thierry.[13]

At this point, William was joined by Count Godfrey I of Louvain, and together their armies besieged Aalst on 12 July, with the probable intention of going on from there to reduce Ghent. During the course of the siege he was wounded in the arm in a scuffle with a foot soldier. The wound became gangrenous and William died at the age of twenty-five on 28 July 1128, attended to the end by his faithful brother-in-law, Helias of Saint Saens.

William had written letters to his uncle, Henry I, asking for his followers to be pardoned; Henry did as requested. Some followers returned to Henry I while others set out for the crusade.[14]

William's body was carried to the abbey of St Bertin in St. Omer and buried there. He left no children and was survived by his imprisoned father by six years.

References

1. Detlev Schwennicke, Europäische Stammtafeln: Stammtafeln zur Geschichte der Europäischen Staaten, Neue Folge, Band II (Verlag von J. A. Stargardt, Marburg, Germany, 1984), Tafel 81
2. Clemoes, Peter; Biddle, Martin; Brown, Julian; Derolez, René (October 11, 2007). Anglo-Saxon England. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521038652 – via Google Books.
3. Aird, William M. (September 28, 2011). Robert 'Curthose', Duke of Normandy (C. 1050-1134). Boydell Press. ISBN 9781843836605 – via Google Books.
4. Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "William the Clito". Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 28 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 675.
5. C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2003), pp. 204-6
6. C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2003), p. 206
7. David Crouch, The Normans; The History of a Dynasty (Hambledon Continuum, New York, 2007), p. 185
8. Kathleen Thompson, 'Robert of Bellême Reconsidered', Anglo-Norman Studies XIII; Proceedings of the Battle Conference 1990, Ed. Marjorie Chibnall (The Boydell Press, Woodbridge, 1991), p. 278
9. David Crouch, The Normans; The History of a Dynasty (Hambledon Continuum, New York, 2007), p. 187
10. Sandy Burton Hicks, "The Anglo-Papal Bargain of 1125: The Legatine Mission of John of Crema", Albion, Vol. 8, No. 4, (Winter, 1976), p. 302
11. Edward Augustus Freeman, The History of the Norman Conquest of England, Its Causes and Its Results, Vol V (Oxford, at the Clarendon Press, 1876), p. 199
12. Henry I and the Anglo-Norman World; Studies in memory of C. Warren Hollister, Ed. Donald F. Fleming, Janet M. Pope (Boydell Press, UK, 2007), pp. 318-19
13. William M. Aird, Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy: c.1050-1134, (The Boydell Press, 2008), 272.
14. C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 2003), p. 325

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Wikipédia français (22 nov 2021) "Guillaume Cliton"

Wikitree (ed. 5 Mar 2022) Guillaume de Normandie (abt. 1027 - 1087)

AnachronisticWarmonger.com "The Battle of Alost"

m. 1.SIBYLLE d’Anjou, daughter of FOULQUES V Comte d’Anjou & Eremburge de Maine m. 2.GIOVANNA di Monferrato, daughter of RANIERI Marchese di Monferrato & Gisèle de Bourgogne