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Birth:          ABT  965 
Death:          ABT 1028 Domfront, France
Burial:         Notre-Dame-sur-l'Eau

Notes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_of_Bell%C3%AAme
William of Bellême (960/5 – 1028) called William Princeps, was the Seigneur of 
Bellême and a member of the House of Bellême.
Life[edit]

William was the son of Yves de Bellême and his wife Godeheut.[1] Yves in turn was 
probably the son of Yves de Criel, magister balistarum (Latin meaning officer in charge 
of the royal siege train).[a][2]

With the consent of Richard I, Duke of Normandy William had constructed two 
castles, one at Alençon and the other at Domfront, while the caput of Yves' lordship 
was the castle of Bellême, constructed "a quarter of a league from the old dungeon of 
Bellême" in Maine.[3] The first mention of William in any records was in 1000 as 
Marshall of the king's forces when he accompanied the King of France to Toulouse, 
the next mention being his succeeding his father in 1005.[4] Also, in 1005 William 
along with his mother made several grants to local churches including the church of 
Boece, to which his father had founded in his castle of Bellême.[5] Initially William 
attempted to revoke a gift of his father to Fleury Abbey but was so impressed with the 
abbot Gauzlin's appeal he restored the gift and also allowed his young son Benoit to 
become a monk there.[6]

His brother Avesgaud, Bishop of Le Mans who was engaged in constant warfare with 
Herbert I, Count of Maine.[7] In 1020 Bishop Avesgaud fled to his brother's castle of 
Bellême after being driven out of his see by count Herbert, for which Avesgaud placed 
an interdict on Herbert and his lands and excommunicated the count. William joined 
forces with his brother Avesgaud attacking count Herbert at the castle of Ballon. At 
first William and Avesgaud were beaten back but Giroie (aka Géré), a vassal of 
William's held his ground and defeated Herbert's forces completely. William de Bellême 
introduced Giroie to Duke Richard at Rouen who rewarded Giroie with the lands of 
Heugon.[b][8]

In 1027 when Robert I, Duke of Normandy succeeded his brother Richard III, William 
de Bellême revolted against him. Robert laid siege to his castle of Bellême until 
William surrendered then had to humbly ask for forgiveness (in bare feet with a saddle 
on his shoulders).[4] Having been forgiven and his fief of Alençon restored, William 
sent his sons Fulk and Robert to harass the Normans, but they were defeated and 
Fulk was killed in battle at Blavon.[3]

It is worth noting that neither William nor his father Ives ever attested any of their acts 
using the title comes (count), indicating they had feudal authority in their own 
territories but were not officially invested as counts.[9]

Family[edit]

William married Mathilde of Condé-sur-Noireau. The couple had six sons:
Fulk, died in his father's lifetime.[3]
Warin, died in 1026 under mysterious circumstances.[10] He married Melisende, 
Viscountess of Châteaudun;[11] their daughter Adela married Rotrou, Count of 
Mortagne (whose grandson was Rotrou 'the Great', Count of Perche and Morgagne).
[10]
Robert, succeeded his father as Seigneur de Bellême, murdered in prison.[3]
Ives, Seigneur de Bellême and Bishop of Sées, succeeded his brother Robert, died 
1070.[1]
William I Talvas held the honor of Bellême in right of his brother Ives.[1]
Benoit, a monk at Fleury Abbey.[10]

His widow Mathilde along with her son William Talvas both confirmed and increased 
gifts of William de Bellême to the church of Bellême.[12]

Parents
DE CREIL AND  BELLEME Yves (ABT  930 - ABT 1005)
____ Gohilda (Godehaut) (ABT  930 - AFT 1005)

Siblings
TALVAS DE BELLEME William I (ABT  965 - ABT 1028)
DE LOIRE Godehilde (Godhaut) (Hildeberge) (ABT  980 - 27 Oct 1035)

Marriage To OF CONDE-SUR-NOIREAU Matilda ()
    m.  

Notes


Children by OF CONDE-SUR-NOIREAU Matilda 
TALVAS DE BELLEME William II "de Alencon" (ABT  995 - ABT 1052)
DE BELLEME (DE DOMFRONT) Warin (Guerin) (ABT 1005 - 1026)

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