Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy

Gunnora
Duchess consort of Normandy
Gonnor confirming a charter of the abbey of the Mount-Saint-Michel, XII century (from archive of the abbey).
Tenure	989–996
Spouse	Richard I, Duke of Normandy
Born	c. 936
Died	1031

Gunnora (or Gunnor) (c. 936 – 1031) was the wife and consort of Richard I of Normandy. Her parentage is unknown, earliest sources reporting solely that she was of Danish ancestry and naming siblings including brother Herfast de Crepon who is sometimes erroneously given as her father.

She was living with her sister Seinfreda, the wife of a local forester, when Richard, hunting nearby, heard of the beauty of the forester's wife. He is said to have ordered Seinfreda to come to his bed, but the lady substituted her unmarried sister, Gunnora. Richard, it is said, was pleased that by this subterfuge he had been saved from committing adultery, and the two became lovers. Gunnora long acted as Richard's mistress or wife by more danico, but when Richard was prevented from nominating their son Robert to be Archbishop of Rouen, the two were married, making their children legitimate in the eyes of the church.

Gunnora, both as mistress and duchess, was able to use her influence to see her kin favored, and several of the most prominent Conquest-era Norman magnates, including the Montgomery, Warenne, Mortimer, Vernon/Redvers, and Fitz Osbern families, were descendants of her brother and sisters.

Richard and Gunnora were parents to several children:

• Richard II "the Good", Duke of Normandy (966)
• Robert, Archbishop of Rouen, Count of Evreux, died 1037.
• Mauger, Earl of Corbeil, died after 1033.
• Robert Danus, died between 985 and 989
• Emma of Normandy (c. 985–1052) wife of two kings of England.
• Maud of Normandy, wife of Odo II of Blois, Count of Blois, Champagne and Chartres
• Hawise of Normandy, wife of Geoffrey I of Brittany

Preceded by Emma of Paris

Duchess consort of Normandy 989–996

Succeeded by Judith of Brittany