General Notes

REFN: 1421AN
REFN: P1421
Herleva, the daughter of a tanner from Falaise in Normandy, was bo rn in
1010. When she was sixteen gave birth to a son called Richard. The boy' s
father was Gilbert, Count of Brionne, one of the most powerful landowners
in Normandy. As Herleva was not married to Gilbert, the boy became known
as Richard Fitz Gilbert. The term 'Fitz' was used to show that Richard
was the i llegitimate son of Gilbert.
The following year, Herleva became the mistress of Robert, Duke of
Normandy. In 1028, Herleva and Robert had a son who eventual ly became
known as William, Duke of Normandy. Instead of marrying Herleva, Ro bert
persuaded her to marry his friend, Herluin of Conteville. After marriage ,
Herleva had three more children, Odo, Robert and Muriel. Later the sons
b ecame known as Odo of Bayeux and Robert of Mortain.
In 1035, Robert, Duke of N ormandy died. Although William was
illegitimate, he was Robert's only living son, and so inherited his
father's title. Gilbert, Count of Brionne, became W illiam's guardian. A
number of Norman barons would not accept an illegitimate son as their
leader and in 1040 an attempt was made to kill William. The plo t failed
but they did manage to kill Gilbert of Brionne.
Gilbert of Brionne' s large estates in Normandy were now passed on to his
legitimate son, Baldwin of Flanders. As Richard Fitz Gilbert was
illegitimate, he did not receive ve ry much land when his father died.
When William, Duke of Normandy, decided to invaDe England in 1066, he
invited his three half-brothers, Richard Fitz Gil bert, Odo of Bayeux and
Robert of Mortain to join him. Richard, who had marri ed Rohese, daughter
of Walter Giffard of Normandy, also brought with him memb ers of his
wife's family.