General Notes

WILLIAM II, surnamed Talvas, who in 1033 or 1034 succeeded his brother Robert as Count of Belesme and Alen‡on; died 1048; married, first, Hildeburge, daughter of a chevalier named Arnold; second, HADEBURGE, daughter of Raoul, Vicomte de Beaumont, and widow of Tescelin, Seigneur de Monrevau

WILLIAM II., of Belˆsme, surnamed de Talvas, a name derived from a species of buckler he wore, or as some writers assert, a nickname denoting his great cruelty. He married Hildeburga, daughter of a chevalier pamed Arnulph, who is spoken of as a very noble man. By her he had a son Arnulph, and a daughter Mabel, married to the Count of Montgomerie. He was a man of savage and violent temper. On his wife's protesting against his enormities and condemning them openly, he caused her to be strangled. His treatment of William Giroie brought on him the fierce vengeance of Giroie's brothers, who ravaged his territories. Finally, his subjects and even his only son joined themselves to his enemies, and expelled him from his lands about the year 1048. Houseless and homeless he a long time wandered from house to house without obtaining succor or shelter. But, finally he found himself in the neighborhood of the Count of Montgomerie, who gave him a home. To Roger he gave his daughter in marriage, and made him a cession of all the wealth which by his perversity and baseness had been lost to him; and with him he spent the remainder of his days.2 To his daughter he left a heritage of cruelty, ambition, and pride.