Guillaume IV, comte d'Auvergne

FMG: Auvergne - Famille de Guillaume IV

GUILLAUME [IV] (?—[1016]). The primary source which confirms the parentage of Comte Guillaume has not been identified. Baluze states that he was the brother of Comte Guy but cites no primary source on which this statement is based[173]. He is named in charters of his wife quoted below. Comte d'Auvergne.

m HUMBERGE, daughter of ---.
"Umberga" donated property to Sauxillanges for the souls of "senioris mei Vuillelmi et…filiorum meorum tam vivis quam etiam defunctis" by undated charter, subscribed by “Hubergane...Stephani, Rotberti, Willelmi, Widoni...”[174].
"Umberga" donated property "in comitatu Arvernico in Brivatensi…ecclesiam…Luciag" to Saint-Julien de Brioude by charter dated to [988/1031], signed by "Stephanus episcopus, Robertus vicecomes, Willelmus…"[175].
"Domni Stephani episcopi, domni Rotberti, domni Vuillelmi, Umbergane comitisse matris eorum" signed the undated charter under which property was donated to Sauxillanges[176].
There is doubt about Humberge's parentage, but she may have been HUMBERGE, daughter of ETIENNE de Brioude & his second wife Adelais [Blanche] d’Anjou, a hypothesis which appears to provide a good solution to various chronological difficulties posed by references in different primary sources.
The Flandria Generosa names "Ermengardis comitissa Arvenensis" as sister of "Constantia regina Francorum", when outlining the basis for the consanguinity between their great-great-grandchildren, Baudouin VII Count of Flanders and [Hawise] de Bretagne, which provided the grounds for the couple's separation[177].
It has been assumed in many secondary sources[178] that this passage means that "Ermengarde" was the full sister of Queen Constance (who was the third wife of Robert II King of France) and therefore that she was the daughter of Guillaume [II] Comte de Provence by his second marriage to Adelais d'Anjou. However, this is chronologically impossible.
The marriage of "Ermengarde's" daughter, also named Ermengarde, to Eudes II Comte de Blois, is dated to 1005 according to the Chronicle of Alberic de Trois Fontaines[179]. Even if this date is inaccurate, the estimated birth date of Ermengarde junior's eldest son is [1010], and the marriage of her daughter is dated to 1018 (although the chronology suggests that this may have been an infant betrothal or marriage). Assuming that there is a degree of accuracy in these three dates, the daughter of "Ermengarde" Ctss d'Auvergne could not have been born later than [995] at the latest. This places the birth of "Ermengarde" senior to [980] at the very latest, about five years before Adelais's marriage to Guillaume Comte de Provence.
Given that Adelais's third marriage to Louis V King of the West Franks was childless, and her second marriage to Raymond IV Comte de Toulouse was brief, it is therefore most likely that "Ermengarde" was Adelais's daughter by her first marriage to Etienne de Brioude. Some corroboration for this hypothesis is found in the charter dated 1011 under which "Poncius comes Gabalitanensis" (who was the son of Adelais d'Anjou by her marriage to Etienne de Brioude) donated property to Saint-Julien de Brioude, for the souls of "genitorum suorum Stephani et Alais et uxoris eius Theotbergæ et filiorum eius Stephani et Poncii vel fratrum eius Bertrandi et Willelmus et nepotum eius Stephani, Rotberti et Willelmi", by charter dated Feb [1010], signed by "Roberti vicecomitis, Willelmi fratris eius…"[180].
In this scenario, Etienne, Robert and Guillaume would be the sons of Pons's full sister "Ermengarde" Ctss d'Auvergne. However, this raises yet more difficulties. The secondary sources also assume that "Ermengarde's" husband was Robert [I] Comte d'Auvergne. However, the only known son of Comte Robert [I] was Guillaume [V] Comte d'Auvergne. Assuming that the "nepotes" of Comte Pons are named in order of seniority in the 1011 charter, "Vuillelmi" would have been the youngest brother. No other reference has been to found to his assumed older brothers Etienne and Robert.
In any case, it is unlikely that Guillaume [V] Comte d'Auvergne would have been born much before [995/1000] for consistency with the dates of his marriage and his death. If this is correct, it would raise doubts about the use of the title "vicecomes" in the 1011 charter, as their father would still have been at the height of his power. All these difficulties would be solved if the "nepotes" of Comte Pons were in fact the three known sons of Guillaume [IV] Comte d'Auvergne, not of Robert [I] Comte d'Auvergne. If this is correct, "Ermengarde" would in fact have been "Humberge", who, as shown above, is named in other primary sources as the wife of Comte Guillaume.

Comte Guillaume [IV] & his wife had four children:

1. ROBERT [I] d'Auvergne (?—before 1032).
"Umberga" donated property to Sauxillanges for the souls of "senioris mei Vuillelmi et…filiorum meorum tam vivis quam etiam defunctis" by undated charter, subscribed by “Hubergane...Stephani, Rotberti, Willelmi, Widoni...”[181].
"Poncius…comes…Gabalitanensis telluris necnon et Forensis patriæ" donated "ecclesiam Langat…in comitatu Gabalitensi, aliam ecclesiam…Favairolas…" to Saint-Julien de Brioude, for the souls of "genitorum suorum Stephani et Alais et uxoris eius Theotbergæ et filiorum eius Stephani et Poncii vel fratrum eius Bertrandi et Willelmus et nepotum eius Stephani, Rotberti et Willelmi", by charter dated Feb [1010], signed by "Roberti vicecomitis, Willelmi fratris eius…"[182].
"Domni Stephani episcopi, domni Rotberti, domni Vuillelmi, Umbergane comitisse matris eorum" signed the undated charter under which property was donated to Sauxillanges[183]. Comte d'Auvergne.
m ---. The name of Comte Robert [I]'s wife is not known. As explained above under his mother Humberge, it is unlikely that she was Ermengarde, daughter of Adelais d'Anjou, either by her first husband Etienne de Brioude or by her fourth husband Guillaume [II] Comte de Provence.
Comte Robert [I] & his wife had one child:

• i) GUILLAUME [V] (?—after 23 May 1059). "Poncius…comes…Gabalitanensis telluris necnon et Forensis patriæ" donated "ecclesiam Langat…in comitatu Gabalitensi, aliam ecclesiam…Favairolas…" to Saint-Julien de Brioude, for the souls of "genitorum suorum Stephani et Alais et uxoris eius Theotbergæ et filiorum eius Stephani et Poncii vel fratrum eius Bertrandi et Willelmus et nepotum eius Stephani, Rotberti et Willelmi", by charter dated Feb [1010], signed by "Roberti vicecomitis, Willelmi fratris eius…"[184]. Comte d'Auvergne et de Clermont. "Wilelmus Arvernorum comes" donated property to the church at Auvergne, with the consent of "filii…mei Stephanus, Bego et Pontius…cum Philippia conjuge mea", by charter dated 1044[185]. "Willelmi comitis…et uxor sua Philipia et filii eorum Rotbertus et Willelmus et Pontius" donated property to Sauxillanges by undated charter[186]. "Willelmus, Arvenensis princeps" donated property to Sauxillanges, for the souls of "…filiis meis et uxore mea Phylippia", by undated charter subscribed by "Rotberti comitis, Willelmi comitis, Philippiæ matris eorum"[187]. m PHILIPPA, daughter of --- (-after [1059/66]). "Wilelmus Arvernorum comes" donated property to the church at Auvergne, with the consent of "filii…mei Stephanus, Bego et Pontius…cum Philippia conjuge mea", by charter dated 1044[188]. "Guilelmus…princeps Arvernorum" donated property to the abbey of Charroux with the consent of "coniugis meæ Philippiæ ac filiorum meorum Stephani, Rotberti, Guillelmi, Pontii" by charter dated [1047][189]. "Willelmi comitis…et uxor sua Philipia et filii eorum Rotbertus et Willelmus et Pontius" donated property to Sauxillanges by undated charter[190]. "Willelmus, Arvenensis princeps" donated property to Sauxillanges, for the souls of "…filiis meis et uxore mea Phylippia", by undated charter subscribed by "'Rotberti comitis, Willelmi comitis, Philippiæ matris eorum"[191]. "Philippa" donated property to Sauxillanges, for the souls of "domni Wilelmi senioris mei ac filiorum meorum…Wilelmi, Pontii" and "pro Rotberto comite filio meo", by undated charter, subscribed by "Rotberti comitis…uxoris eius Judith"[192].

...... Comte Guillaume [V] & his wife had five children:

• (a) ETIENNE'. "Wilelmus Arvernorum comes" donated property to the church at Auvergne, with the consent of "filii…mei Stephanus, Bego et Pontius…cum Philippia conjuge mea", by charter dated 1044[193]. "Guilelmus…princeps Arvernorum" donated property to the abbey of Charroux with the consent of "coniugis meæ Philippiæ ac filiorum meorum Stephani, Rotberti, Guillelmi, Pontii" by charter dated [1047][194].
• (b) ROBERT [II] (?—[1096]). "Guilelmus…princeps Arvernorum" donated property to the abbey of Charroux with the consent of "coniugis meæ Philippiæ ac filiorum meorum Stephani, Rotberti, Guillelmi, Pontii" by charter dated [1047][195]. Comte d'Auvergne et de Gevaudan. etc.
• (c) GUILLAUME (?—before [1059/66]). "Guilelmus…princeps Arvernorum" donated property to the abbey of Charroux with the consent of "coniugis meæ Philippiæ ac filiorum meorum Stephani, Rotberti, Guillelmi, Pontii" by charter dated [1047][196]. "Willelmi comitis…et uxor sua Philipia et filii eorum Rotbertus et Willelmus et Pontius" donated property to Sauxillanges by undated charter[197]. "Willelmus, Arvenensis princeps" donated property to Sauxillanges, for the souls of "…filiis meis et uxore mea Phylippia", by undated charter subscribed by "Rotberti comitis, Willelmi comitis, Philippiæ matris eorum"[198]. "Philippa" donated property to Sauxillanges, for the souls of "domni Wilelmi senioris mei ac filiorum meorum…Wilelmi, Pontii" and "pro Rotberto comite filio meo", by undated charter, subscribed by "Rotberti comitis…uxoris eius Judith"[199].
• (d) BEGON (?—after 1044). "Wilelmus Arvernorum comes" donated property to the church at Auvergne, with the consent of "filii…mei Stephanus, Bego et Pontius…cum Philippia conjuge mea", by charter dated 1044[200].
• (e) PONCE (?—before [1059/66]). "Wilelmus Arvernorum comes" donated property to the church at Auvergne, with the consent of "filii…mei Stephanus, Bego et Pontius…cum Philippia conjuge mea", by charter dated 1044[201]. "Guilelmus…princeps Arvernorum" donated property to the abbey of Charroux with the consent of "coniugis meæ Philippiæ ac filiorum meorum Stephani, Rotberti, Guillelmi, Pontii" by charter dated [1047][202]. "Willelmi comitis…et uxor sua Philipia et filii eorum Rotbertus et Willelmus et Pontius" donated property to Sauxillanges by undated charter[203]. "Philippa" donated property to Sauxillanges, for the souls of "domni Wilelmi senioris mei ac filiorum meorum…Wilelmi, Pontii" and "pro Rotberto comite filio meo", by undated charter, subscribed by "Rotberti comitis…uxoris eius Judith"[204].

2. ÉTIENNE (?—after [1013/21]).
"Umberga" donated property to Sauxillanges for the souls of "senioris mei Vuillelmi et…filiorum meorum tam vivis quam etiam defunctis" by undated charter, subscribed by “Hubergane...Stephani, Rotberti, Willelmi, Widoni...”[205]. Etienne is placed first in the list of subscribers, after his supposed mother, presumably because of his ecclesiastical position. Bishop of Clermont . "Domni Stephani episcopi, domni Rotberti, domni Vuillelmi, Umbergane comitisse matris eorum" signed the undated charter under which property was donated to Sauxillanges[206].

3. GUILLAUME. "Umberga" donated property to Sauxillanges for the souls of "senioris mei Vuillelmi et…filiorum meorum tam vivis quam etiam defunctis" by undated charter, subscribed by “Hubergane...Stephani, Rotberti, Willelmi, Widoni...”[207]. "Poncius…comes…Gabalitanensis telluris necnon et Forensis patriæ" donated "ecclesiam Langat…in comitatu Gabalitensi, aliam ecclesiam…Favairolas…" to Saint-Julien de Brioude, for the souls of "genitorum suorum Stephani et Alais et uxoris eius Theotbergæ et filiorum eius Stephani et Poncii vel fratrum eius Bertrandi et Willelmus et nepotum eius Stephani, Rotberti et Willelmi", by charter dated Feb [1010], signed by "Roberti vicecomitis, Willelmi fratris eius…"[208]. "Domni Stephani episcopi, domni Rotberti, domni Vuillelmi, Umbergane comitisse matris eorum" signed the undated charter under which property was donated to Sauxillanges[209].

4. [GUY. "Umberga" donated property to Sauxillanges for the souls of "senioris mei Vuillelmi et…filiorum meorum tam vivis quam etiam defunctis" by undated charter, subscribed by “Hubergane...Stephani, Rotberti, Willelmi, Widoni...”[210]. The charter does not specify the relationship between the subscribers and the donor. However, the names suggest that they were her sons. If that is correct, Guy may have been her youngest son.]

5. ERMENGARDE d'Auvergne (?—11 or 12 Mar after 1042).
The Flandria Generosa names "altera Ermengardis comitissa" as daughter of "Ermengardis comitissa Arvenensis", and mother of "Berta comitissa [=de Blois]", when outlining the basis for the consanguinity between Baudouin VII Count of Flanders and [Hawise] de Bretagne, which provided the grounds for the couple's separation[211].
As discussed above under her assumed mother Humberge, less chronological difficulties result if Ermengarde was in fact the daughter of Guillaume [IV] Comte d'Auvergne.
The date of her marriage is fixed by the Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines which names "comitissam Turonensem Ermengardem" as wife of "Odonem Campaniensem comitem" when recording in 1005 their joint restoration of "Turonis maioris monasterii"[212].
The necrology of Saint-Père-en-Vallée records the death "IV Id Mar" of "Ermengardis comitissa"[213].
The necrology of Pontlevoy records the death "V Id Mar" of "Ermengardis comitissa"[214].
m (1005) as his second wife, EUDES II Comte de Blois, son of EUDES I Comte de Blois & his wife Berthe de Bourgogne [Welf] ([982/83]—killed in battle Commercy 15 Nov 1037)

frWikipédia "Liste des comtes d'Auvergne"

FR: "989-1016 : Guillaume IV d'Auvergne Comte d'Auvergne (-1016), numéroté Guillaume V par certains auteurs x Umnerge N."
EN: "989-1016: Guillaume IV d'Auvergne Count of Auvergne (-1016), numbered Guillaume V by certain authors x Umnerge N."
..... List of rulers of Auvergne

Excerpts from Books

Bernard Burke’s Vicissitudes of Families, Volume 3, p.91

Monthly Numismatic Circular, Volume 2 (1894)

L’Art de verifier les dates des faits historiques des chartes .... p.354

From this source:

• FR: Guillaume IV. 989. Guillaume IV, frere de Gui, lui succéda, l’an 989 au plus tard, dans le Comté d’Avergne. Une Charte, qu’il date du régne de Charles, frere du Roi Lothaire, montre qu’il fut attaché à ce Prince, du moins dans le commencement de ses contestations avec Hugues Capet pour la Couronne de France. Il mourut au plus tard l’an 1016. Ce prince avoir épousé HUMBERGE, dont il eut Robert, qui suit, Etienne, qui fet Évêque de Clermont, et Guillaume dont on ne sait que le nom. (Baluze) --- EN: Guillaume IV, frei de Gui, lui succéda, l’an 989 au plus tard, dans le Comte d’Avergne. A Charter, which dates from Charles de Rnene Lot, from Roi Lothaire, appears to have been attached to the Prince, at least in the course of his contests with Hugues Capet for the Couronne de France. He mourned at least until 1016. The prince avoided the humble HUMBERGE, who was not Robert, who, like Etienne, who slept with Clermont, and Guillaume, did not know his name. (Baluze)
• FR: Robert I. 1016, au plus tard, ROBERT I, fils alné de Guillaume IV, possédoit le Comté d’Auvergne en l’an 1016; cette époque est la seule que l’on connoisse de son gouvernement, Il avaoit épousé HERMINGARDE, fille, non de Guillaume I, Comte d’Arles, comme le pretend Russi, mais de Guillaume Taillefer, Comte de Toulouse. (Vaissere). De ce mariage il eut Guillaume qui suit , et Hermengarde, mariée à Eudes II, Comte de Champagne. Le Comte Robert mourut au plus tard l’an 1032. M. Baluze observe qu’il prenoit le titre de Prince de d’Auvergne, en quoi il fut imitee par son fils. --- EN: 1016, at the latest, ROBERT I, eldest son of Guillaume IV, possessed the County of Auvergne in the year 1016; this period is the only one that we know of his government. He had married ERMINGARDE, daughter, not of Guillaume I, Count of Arles, as Russi claims, but of Guillaume Taillefer, Count of Toulouse. (Vaissere). From this marriage he had Guillaume who follows, and Ermengarde, married to Eudes II, Count of Champagne. Count Robert died no later than the year 1032. M. Baluze observes that he took the title of Prince of Auvergne, in which he was imitated by his son.
• Guillaume V. 1031. et cetera
• Robert II. 1060. et cetera

Tableaux Généalogiques des Souverains de la France et de se grand Feudataires

• XX * Guillaume IV Comte d’Auvergne, ver 989; † vers 1016. Ép. HEMBERGE: vivait encore, 1017.
• XX * William IV Count of Auvergne, circa 989; † circa 1016. Ep. HEMBERGE; still lived, 1017.

Morery, Louis et M. Vaultier. (1707). Le Grand Dictionaire Historique ou le Mélange Curieux de l’Histoire Sacrée et Profance, Tome I. Paris: Denys Mariette. “Suite Généalogique des Comtes d’Auvergne et de leurs Descendants”, p.450
French + Auto-Translation to English

1. ACFRED I. comte de Bourges laisse d’Adelinde Guillaume II. Comte d’Auvergne et Duc de Guyenne, et Bernard Comte d’Auvergne
2. BERNARD I. Comte d’Auvergne après son frere Acfred eut de Blitsende sa femme Astorg, Vicomte d’Auvergne, les Descendants duquel recouvrerent la Comté d’Auvergne, qui avoit été usurpée sur eux par guillaum Teste d’Étoupe leur cousin Comte de Poitiers et Duc de Guyenne, Guillaume, Bernard II. tige de la BRANCHE du surnom DE LA TOUR, dont nous parlerons cy-après.
3. ASTORG Vicomte d’Auvergne fut père de Robert, qui suit, d’Enstorge, de Matroy tige des anciens Vicomtes de Thiern, de Guy, et d’Armand.
4. ROBERT Vicomte d’Auvergne en 916-933 et 945 eut de sa femme ADALGARDE Robert II. qui suit, Enstorge, et Etienne Évêque d’Auvergne en 945, 951-959, et 976.
5. ROBERT fils du précedet, Vicomte d’Auvergne en 962. prit pour femme INGELBERGE, dont il eut Guy I, Vicomte en 980, et puis Comte d’Auvergne, mary d’Aucende mort sans enfants, Robert III. Vicomte d’Auvergne mort aussi sans lignée, Bertrand Vicomte mary d’Arsende et père de trois enfants, qui n’ont point eu de posterité, et Guillaume qui suit.
6. GUILLAUME IV, Comte d’Auvergne, après Guy son frere,, épousa HUMBERGE; et laisse d’elle Robert III. qui suit, Guillaume, et Etienne Évêque d’Auvergne tué en 1013.
7. ROBERT I. Comte d’Auvergne de ce nom se maria avec HERMENGARD fille de Guillaume I. Comte d’Arles et soeur de la Reine Constance femme du Roy Robert. De ce mariage sortirent Guillaume et Ermengarde mariée à Eudes II. Comte de Bloi, de Chartres, et de Meaux, mère de Berthe Comtesse de Nantes.
8. GUILLAUME V. Comte d’Auvergne en 1030, 1034, et 1059 laissa de PHILIPPE fille d’Etienne Comte due Givaudan ROBERT II. qui continua la posterité, Guillaume, Ponce, Begon, Etienne, et Philippe mariée à Archambaud III. Seigneur de Bourbon.
9. ROBERT II. Comte d’Auvergne … et cetera
10. ACFRED I. Count of Bourges leaves of Adelinde Guillaume II. Count of Auvergne and Duke of Guyenne, and Bernard Count of Auvergne
11. BERNARD I. Count of Auvergne after his brother Acfred had from Blitsende his wife Astorg, Viscount of Auvergne, the Descendants of whom recovered the County of Auvergne, which had been usurped from them by William Teste d'Étoupe their cousin Count of Poitiers and Duke of Guyenne, William, Bernard II. stem of the BRANCH of the nickname DE LA TOUR, which we will discuss below.
12. ASTORG Viscount of Auvergne was the father of Robert, who follows, of Anstorg, of Matroy stem of the former Viscounts of Thiern, of Guy, and of Armand.
13. ROBERT Viscount of Auvergne in 916-933 and 945 had by his wife ADALGARDE Robert II. who follows, Anstorg, and Etienne Bishop of Auvergne in 945, 951-959, and 976.
14. ROBERT son of the precedent, Viscount of Auvergne in 962. took for wife INGELBERGE, of which he had Guy I, Viscount in 980, and then Count of Auvergne, Mary of Aucende died without children, Robert III. Viscount of Auvergne also died without lineage, Bertrand Viscount Mary of Arsende and father of three children, who had no posterity, and Guillaume who follows.
15. GUILLAUME IV, Count of Auvergne, after his brother Guy, married HUMBERGE; and leaves of her Robert III. who follows, Guillaume, and Etienne Bishop of Auvergne killed in 1013.
16. ROBERT I. Count of Auvergne of this name married HERMENGARD daughter of Guillaume I. Count of Arles and sister of Queen Constance, wife of Roy Robert. From this marriage came Guillaume and Ermengarde married to Eudes II. Count of Bloi, Chartres, and Meaux, mother of Berthe Countess of Nantes.
17. GUILLAUME V. Count of Auvergne in 1030, 1034, and 1059 left PHILIPPE daughter of Etienne Comte due Givaudan ROBERT II. who continued the posterity, Guillaume, Ponce, Begon, Etienne, and Philippe married to Archambaud III. Lord of Bourbon.
18. ROBERT II. Count of Auvergne … et cetera

Guillaume IV of Auvergne

• William IV, Count of Clermont after his brother Guy I.
• Father Anselm named him William I.
• He is quoted in a charter of the abbey of Cluny in 1002 , and he probably died before 1016 .
• Son of Viscount Robert II , he is the father of Count Robert I of Auvergne , and of Stephen III, bishop of Clermont.