Individual
Go to List of Family Names Go to List of People < Previous Next >
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)
Produced by Fzip 1.7 6/20/2017