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DE POITOU William (Guillaume) V (III) "The Grand"
Birth:          ABT  969 Poitou, France
Death:          31 Jan 1030 France

Notes
V: Aquitaine, III: Poitou
died as a monk
one record says d Abbey of St. Cyprian, England
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_V,_Duke_of_Aquitaine
William the Great (French: Guillaume le Grand; 969 – 31 January 1030) was duke of 
Aquitaine (as William V) and count of Poitou (as William II or III) from 990 until his 
death.[1] Upon the death of the emperor Henry II, he was offered the kingdom of Italy 
but eventually declined to contest the title against Conrad II.
Life[edit]

He was the son and successor of William IV by his wife Emma of Blois, daughter of 
Theobald I of Blois.[1] He seems to have taken after his formidable mother, who ruled 
Aquitaine as regent until 1004. He was a friend to Bishop Fulbert of Chartres, who 
found in him another Maecenas, and founded a cathedral school at Poitiers. He 
himself was very well educated, a collector of books, and turned the prosperous court 
of Aquitaine into the learning centre of Southern France.

Though a cultivated prince, he was a failure in the field. He called in the aid of his 
suzerain Robert II of France in subduing his vassal, Boso of La Marche. Together, 
they yet failed. Eventually, Boso was chased from the duchy. He had to contain the 
Vikings who yearly threatened his coast, but in 1006, he was defeated by Viking 
invaders. He lost the Loudunais and Mirebalais to Fulk Nerra, count of Anjou. He had 
to give up Confolens, Ruffec, and Chabanais to compensate William II of Angoulęme, 
but Fulbert negotiated a treaty (1020) outlining the reciprocal obligations of vassal and 
suzerain.

However, his court was a centre of artistic endeavour and he its surest patron. His 
piety and culture brought peace to his vast feudum and he tried to stem the tide of 
feudal warfare then destroying the unity of many European nations by supporting the 
current Peace and Truce of God movements initiated by Pope and Church. He 
founded Maillezais Abbey (1010) and Bourgueil Abbey. He rebuilt the cathedral and 
many other religious structures in Poitiers after a fire. He travelled widely in Europe, 
annually visiting Rome or Spain as a pilgrim. Everywhere he was greeted with royal 
pomp. His court was of an international flavour, receiving ambassadors from the 
Emperor Henry II, Alfonso V of León, Canute the Great, and even his suzerain, Robert 
of France.

Upon the death of Henry II without an obvious heir, some of the nobles of the kingdom 
of Italy looked for a separate candidate to elect rather than maintain their union with 
Germany by accepting its election of Conrad II. An embassy led by Ulric Manfred, the 
marquis of Susa, came to France in 1024 and remained for a year, attempting to 
interest Robert's son Hugh Magnus and then (after Robert's refusal to permit this) 
William, whose character and court impressed many. William considered the proposal 
seriously but, upon visiting Italy himself, he found the political situation so unfavorable 
that he renounced the crown for himself and his heirs. Most of his surviving six letters 
deal with the Italian proposal.

His reign ended in peace and he died on the last (or second to last) day of January 
1030 at Maillezais, which he founded and where he is buried.[citation needed]

The principal source of his reign is the panegyric of Adhemar of Chabannes.

Family[edit]

He was married at least 3 times. His first wife was Adalemode of Limoges, widow of 
Adalbert I of La Marche.[1] They had one son:
1.William VI, his successor[1]

His second wife was Sancha of Gascony [1] (or Brisa/Prisca), daughter of Duke 
William II Sánchez of Gascony and sister of Duke Sancho VI William. She was dead 
by 1018. They had two sons and a daughter:
1.Odo,[1] later duke also
2.Adalais, married Count Guiraut I Trancaleon of Armagnac
3.Theobald, died young

His third wife was Agnes of Burgundy, daughter of Otto-William, Duke of Burgundy.[1] 
Her second husband was Geoffrey II of Anjou. They had two sons and a daughter 
also:
1.Peter William, later duke as William VII[1]
2.Guy Geoffrey, later duke as William VIII[1]
3.Agnes (or Ala),[1] married Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor (1043)

Parents
____ William (Guillaume) IV (II) "Fier-a-bras" (ABT  937 - 3 Feb  994)
OF BLOIS Emma (ABT  954 - AFT 27 Dec 1003)

Siblings
DE POITOU William (Guillaume) V (III) "The Grand" (ABT  969 - 31 Jan 1030)

Marriage To OF BURGUNDY (DE MACON) Agnes (ABT 987 - 10 Nov 1068) m. 1019 his 3d Notes Parents ____ Otto William (Otton I) (ABT 958 - 21 Sep 1026) DE ROUCY Ermentrude ( 958 - 5 May 1005) Children by OF BURGUNDY (DE MACON) Agnes ABT 987 - 10 Nov 1068
DE POITOU Beatrix (ABT 1020 - ) DE POITOU Agnes (ABT 1025 - 14 Dec 1077) DE POITOU William (Guillaume) VI (VIII) (ABT 1026 - 25 Sep 1086)
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