User:Ascelin Goel/sandbox

William
William
de Breteuil
Died	Bec Abbey
Spouse(s)	Adeline de Montfort-sur-Risle
Issue	Eustace de Breteuil; Isabel de Breteuil;
Father	William FitzOsbern
Mother	Adeliza de Tosny

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William de Breteuil (died 12 January 1103), was a Norman baron, the son of William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford and Adeliza de Tosny.

Life

William de Bretuil was the eldest son of William FitzOsbern, 1st Earl of Hereford. His father's lands was split between William and his brother Roger de Breteuil, 2nd Earl of Hereford, who inherited William FitzOsbern's earldom of Hereford.

In 1078, William joined in the rebellion of Robert Curthose against William the Conqueror. William the Conqueror attacked his rebellious son and his allies but was beaten at Gerberoi. After some negotiations, father and son reconciled and William renewed his grant of succession in Normandy to Robert.^[1]

After the death of William the Conqueror, William de Breteuil was one of the nobles who expelled the royal garrisons from their castles. Robert Curthose granted possession of the Château d'Ivry-la-Bataille to William Breteuil.^[2] Here he installed Ascelin Goël as castellan. In 1089, Ascelin Goël deprived William de Breteuil of the Castle of Ivry and handed it over to Robert Curthose. William recovered the castle for a sum of several thousand livres.

This was the beginning of a long feud between William and Ascelin Goël and 'and the entire neighbourhood was troubled by plundering, burning and slaughter.'^[3] In February 1091 or 1090, Ascelin Goël secured the support of Richard de Montfort and King Philip I of France who sent some of his household troops. With them Ascelin defeated William de Breteuil and the troops and took William, Roger de Glos and many other soldiers captured. They were incarcerated at Bréval and for three months Ascelin submitted his prisoners to various tortures. Orderic Vitalis describes that often, in the most severe cold in winter, he would expose them to the north or north-west wind in the window of his upper hall, clad only in shirts soaked with water, until the whole garment was frozen stiff round the prisoners' bodies'. ^[4]

William de Breteuil tried to regain Ivry in the following year but was not successful. He then gained support from Robert Curthose, King Philip of France, and Robert of Bellême, 3rd Earl of Shrewsbury. They besieged Ascelin Goël at his castle at Bréval who was forced to surrender after two months and hand the castle of Ivry back to his father-in-law.^[5]

William de Breteuil was a staunch supporter of Robert Curthose. In 1089, William was one of Robert's captains during the duke's war against the count of Eu and Gerard of Gourney. In the following year, William II of England attempted to conquer Normandy and fomented rebellion among his brother's disgruntled subjects. His supporters instigated a revolt in Rouen, but Robert was able to recapture the city with the help of his loyal barons, including William de Breteuil. William was one of the barons, alongside Robert de Bellême and Gilbert Laigle, who behaved like foreign invaders, looting the city and taking a large number of citizens with them as prisoners whom they released only after they had paid a considerable ransom.^[6]

When Robert Curthose left Normandy for the First Crusade, William II became regent of Normandy. William de Breteuil was a member of the king's hunting company on 2 August 1100, when William was fatally hit by an arrow. When it was clear that the king was dead, William de Breteuil raced to Winchester, where he arrived even before the king's younger brother Henry I of England. William reminded Henry and the other barons that they had all sworn homage to Robert Curthose, who was at this time on his way back from crusade. Despite this reminder, Henry I retained the support of the barons, assumed control of the castle of Winchester, the treasure stored in it, and was acclaimed king.^[7]

William de Breteuil married Adeline de Montfort-sur-Risle. They had no children. William died on 12 January 1103 at Bec Abbey.^[8]

Issue

William de Breteuil had two illegitimate children. Their mother is unknown.

Eustace de Breteuil, married Juliane FitzRoy
Isabel de Breteuil, married Ascelin Goël, Lord of Bréval

References

^ David C. Douglas, William the Conqueror. The Norman Impact upon England (London, 1966), 237-39.
^ Orderic Vitalis, The Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis, ed. and trans. Marjorie Chibnall, vol. iv (Books vii and viii), (Oxford, 1973), 114-15
^ Orderic Vitalis, vol. iv,199.
^ Orderic Vitalis, vol. iv, 287.
^ Orderic Vitalis, vol. iv, 287-91.
^ Frank Barlow (historian), William Rufus (London, 1983), 273-75; C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (New Haven and London, 2001), 75.
^ C. Warren Hollister, Henry I, 103-4.
^ Orderic Vitalis, The Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis, ed. and trans. Marjorie Chibnall, vol. v (Books ix and x), (Oxford, 1975), 41.

Category:11th-century Normandy Category:1103 deaths Category:Year of birth unknown

[1] David C. Douglas, William the Conqueror. The Norman Impact upon England (London, 1966), 237-39.

[2] Orderic Vitalis, The Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis, ed. and trans. Marjorie Chibnall, vol. iv (Books vii and viii), (Oxford, 1973), 114-15

[3] Orderic Vitalis, vol. iv,199.

[4] Orderic Vitalis, vol. iv, 287.

[5] Orderic Vitalis, vol. iv, 287-91.

[6] Frank Barlow (historian), William Rufus (London, 1983), 273-75; C. Warren Hollister, Henry I (New Haven and London, 2001), 75.

[7] C. Warren Hollister, Henry I, 103-4.

[8] Orderic Vitalis, The Ecclesiastical History of Orderic Vitalis, ed. and trans. Marjorie Chibnall, vol. v (Books ix and x), (Oxford, 1975), 41.

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