William, count of Poitou

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_X_of_Poitou

William (22 July 1136 at Argentan, Normandy, - 30 January 1163/64 at Rouen, Normandy) was the youngest of the three sons of Geoffrey Plantagenet, Count of Anjou and Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I of England. His eldest brother was King Henry II of England, and his 2nd brother was Geoffrey, Count of Nantes. William was Viscount of Dieppe and Count of Poitou. He was also known as William FitzEmpress and as William of Anjou.

In 1156 he was with his brother Henry at the siege of Chinon. This siege was occasioned by the rebellion of their brother Geoffrey He also conducted the siege at the castle of Mountreuil-Bellay. While doing so he had the writings of the Roman military theorist Vegetius read to him; he then did what Vegetius had done, and the siege ended the next day.

In September, 1155, King Henry held a council at Wincester where he enthusiastically considered invading Ireland and giving it to William, making him king. The plans were abandoned when their mother Empress Matilda objected, as she did not consider Ireland worth conquering. Henry did, however, make William one of the richest men in England, granting him seven manors (Maldon in Essex; Dartford, Hoo, and Shorne in Kent; Aylsham and Cawston in Norfolk; and Hintlesham in Suffolk). He also had land surrounding Dieppe, Normandy, of which he was made vicomte (viscount).

In 1162 his marriage to Isabel de Warenne, 4th Countess of Surrey, was arranged. She was one of the great heiresses in England, being the widow of William of Blois, count of Boulogne and Mortain, the son of King Stephen of England, and a cousin of William. Because of this relationship a dispensation from affinity was required for the marriage to take place; such dispensations were usually granted without difficulty. Thomas Becket, archbishop of Canterbury refused to support the request for a dispensation and it was not granted because of that. William died suddenly shortly after that, it was said of a broken heart. He was buried in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Rouen. Henry blamed Thomas Becket for his brother's death, and this might well be the beginning of the great conflict between them. When Becket was murdered 29 December 1170, one of the knights who killed him was Richard le Breton who had been in William's employ. When he delivered his fatal blow he shouted "take that, for the love of my lord William, the king's brother!"

References

1. Amt, Emile, ‘William FitzEmpress (1136-1164)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 2. Henry Project, Geoffrey V "le Bel" or "Plantagenet" 3. Amt, Emile, ‘William FitzEmpress (1136-1164)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 4. Henry Project, Geoffrey V "le Bel" or "Plantagenet" 5. Amt, Emile ‘William FitzEmpress (1136-1164)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 6. Warren, W L, Henry II, p. 65, Univ. of California Press, 1973 7. Duby, Georges, France in the Middle Ages, 987-1460: From Hugh Capet to Joan of Arc, transl. by Juliet Vale, p. 178, Blackwell Publishing, 1993 8. Warren, W L, Henry II, p. 195, Univ. of California Press, 1973 9. Weir, Alison, Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life, p. 145, Ballantine Books, 1999 10. Amt, Emile, ‘William FitzEmpress (1136-1164)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 11. Warren, W L, Henry II, p. 449, Univ. of California Press, 1973 12. Chronique de Robert de Torigny I, 1164, p. 350 13. Amt, Emile, ‘William FitzEmpress (1136-1164)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004

Guillaume (William) d'Anjou Comte de Poitou, vicomté of Dieppe & Lordships in 15 English Counties Unmarried

From Medlands: http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/ANJOU,%20MAINE.htm#_Toc256354722

 GUILLAUME d’Anjou (Argentan 22 Jul 1136-Rouen 30 Jan 1164, bur Rouen Cathedral).  Robert of Torigny records the birth "1136 mense Augusto apud Argentomagum" of "Guillermus tercius filius comitis Gaufridi"[355].  The Chronicæ Sancti Albini records the birth "1136 XI Kal Aug" of "Guillelmus"[356].  William of Tyre names him as his parents' third son "cognomento Longaspata"[357].  Comte de Poitou.  His brother granted him extensive lordships in fifteen English counties and the vicomté of Dieppe[358].  Robert of Torigny records the death "apud Rothomagum III Kal Feb…1164" of "Willermus frater Henrici regis" and his burial "in ecclesia Sanctæ Mariæ"[359 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Count of Poitou

note: FMG and Wikipedia do not show a wife or children for William. Janet Palo-Jackson

GUILLAUME 'WILLIAM' PLANTAGENET COUNT OF POITOU

BIRTH: 22 Jul 1136 in Argentan, Orne, Basse Normandy, France DEATH: 30 Jan 1164 in Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute Normandy France BURIAL: Notre Dame, Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute Normandy France FATHER: Geoffrey V 'Le Bon' PLANTAGENET - BIRTH: 24 Aug 1113,Le Mans, Anjou, France MOTHER: Matilda verch Henry I BEAUCLERK - BIRTH: 7 Feb 1102 in London, Middlesex, England MISTRESS: Cecily FITZPAYN - BIRTH: Abt 1137 in Holkham, Norfolk, England - DEATH: 1197 CHILD: 1. PLANTAGENET, Edyth - BIRTH: 1162 in Peyton, England

Some sources give a mistress for Guillaume 'William', Cecily FitzPayn. They had a daughter Edyth. King Henry wanted to considered invade Ireland. He wanted to give it to William. He held a council at Winchester in September, 1155 to discuss his plan. However, his mother Empress Matilda, objected because she did not think Ireland worth the trouble. William was given seven manors by King Henry II: Maldon in Essex, Dartford in Hoo, Shorne in Kent, Aylsham and Cawston in Norfolk, and Hintlesham in Suffolk. Land surrounding Dieppe, Normandy also was given to him & he was made Viscount there. This made him a very rich man. William went with his brother, Henry, in 1156 to the siege of Chinon at the castle of Mountreuil-Bellay. It was brought about by the rebellion of Geoffrey, their brother. While carrying on, he had the writings of the Roman military rheorist 'Vegetius' read to him. He then did what Vegetius had done. The next day the siege ended. William never married. However, a marriage to Isabel de Warenne, 4th Countess of Surrey, was arranged in 1162 . She was the widow of William of Blois (count of Boulogne and Mortain). He was the son of King Stephen of England, and a cousin of William. Isabel was one of the great heiresses in England. A dispensation from affinity was required so that the marriage could take place. These types of dispensations were normally granted. However, the archbishop of Canterbury, Thomas Becket, refused to grant it. William was broken hearted and died shortly thereafter. He was buried in the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Rouen. Henry blamed Thomas Becket for his brother's death, and this could have been the beginning of the conflict between them.

SOURCES: PhpGedView: Surname Mack: Guillaume Plantagenet count de poitou: