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Jan 16, 1027
Duke William of Normandy
Born out of wedlock between Robert the Devil and Herleva of Falaise, he was the only son of Robert and thus other swore fealty to him when Robert left on the pilgrimage that he died on. Many didn't like this and assassions attemps were made on his life which ended only killing his guardins. In 1045, he began to govern Normandy. In 1066, Duke William invaded England. This was followed by a swift military victory. Afterwards, he was known as William the Conqueror. -
Jan 16, 1035
Robert the Devil
Robert the Devil, the fifth Duke of Normandy and a direct descendant of Rollo the Ganger, died without any legitimate heirs. Which was a problem due to the Norman's belief, primogeniture. This means that their wealth goes to the oldest son. But he did have one illegitimate son who was seven when he died. His son, William, would come to be the next Duke of Normandy. -
Jan 1, 1053
Robert Curthose
The son of William and Matilda. He ruled over Normandy after his father's death. He never married due to the death of the woman he was supposed to marry. In 1077, he started a fight with his father which ended in 1080 because of his mother's intervention. He wanted to be king of England as well but his father left it for his younger brother. Others led a rebellion agaisnt William on Robert's behalf, but amounted to nothing. -
Period: May 18, 1061 to Jan 18, 1091
Conquest of Sicily
Robert and Roger first invaded in May 1061. It took about 30 years to "clense" the land of Arabics. -
Oct 14, 1066
Battle of Hastings
William the Conqueror invaded England because of Harold of Wessex, his son-in-law, who broke his promise to make William the king of England. Edward the Confessor, who had been the previous king, died and Harold claimed to be the heir. The Witan chose Harold as the next king and he abondonded his promise to William. WIlliam want to war with Harold after getting the pope's blessings. (Alexander II) -
Jan 17, 1068
Henry Beauclerk
The thrid son of William the Conqueror, he got a good sum of money but no land. He often played his brothers until they both grew distrustful and disinheirted him. When William Rufus died, Henry claimed himself as the king and began ruling. He fought and captured his brother, Robert. He married twice and fathered over twenty children. But he only had one living legitimate child, Matida. Henry died in December 1135. -
Sep 9, 1087
William the Conqueror's Death
After William was called fat, he mounted an attack on the King of France. He fell off his horse and suffered internal injuries. He was brought to the priory of St. Gervase. There he named his eldest son, Robert Curthose, leader of Normandy and William Rufus, a younger son, to become the king of England. -
Jan 17, 1096
Robert Curthose and the First Crusade
He joined the first crusade and helped capture Jerusalem in July 1099. -
Aug 2, 1100
William Rufus
He died in 1100 (hunting accident) and then his older brother, Robert Curthose, made an attemp for the kingship of England. He had a deep distrust of Henry I, his brother and the next king. -
Feb 10, 1134
Robert Cuthose's Death
In 1106, Robert was captured by Henry I (his brother) at Tinchebrai in Normandy. He was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was transferred to a castle in Devizes and spent his last years in Cardiff where he died. -
the beginning
normans were the descendants of the vikings who had settled in Normandy and surrounding regions in the 10th century. Rollo the Ganger, the first great leader of Normandy, made a deal with the French after a fierce battle to keep the peace. He was convert to Christianity and he was gifted with lands of their own on the French coast.