Richard I of Normandy facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard I
Statue of Richard the Fearless as part of the Six Dukes of Normandy statue in Falaise
Count of Rouen
Reign	17 December 942 – 20 November 996
Predecessor	William Longsword
Successor	Richard II
Born	28 August 932 Fécamp Normandy, France
Died	20 November 996 (aged 64) Fécamp Normandy, France
Spouse	Emma of Paris Gunnor
Issue more...	Richard II of Normandy Robert II (Archbishop of Rouen) Mauger, Count of Corbeil Robert Danus Emma of Normandy Maud of Normandy Hawise of Normandy Geoffrey, Count of Eu William I, Count of Eu
House	House of Normandy
Father	William I Longsword
Mother	Sprota

Richard I of Normandy (933–996), also known as Richard the Fearless (French, Sans Peur), was the "Duke of Normandy" from 942 to 996. Richard made Normandy into a feudal society where he owned all the land. His followers held on to the lands given them by remaining loyal to him. He made Normandy a much stronger a power in western France.

Early Career

Richard was the son of William Longsword, princeps or ruler of Normandy. His mother's name was Sprota. She was a Breton prisoner captured in war who William later married. William Longsword was told of the birth of a son after the battle with Riouf and other viking rebels. But he kept this a secret until a few years later. When he first met his son he kissed him and made him the heir to Normandy. William then sent Richard to be cared for in Bayeux.

When his father died, Richard was only 10 years old (he was born in 933). King Louis IV of France decided to take charge of Normandy himself. The king placed the young duke in the custody of the count of Ponthieu. Then the king gave the lands in lower Normandy to Hugh the Great. Louis kept Richard a prisoner at Lâon. Fearing the king was going to harm the boy Osmond de Centville, Bernard de Senlis (who had been a companion of Richard's grandfather Rollo), Ivo de Bellèsme, and Bernard the Dane freed Richard.

Duke of Normandy

In 946, Richard agreed to be a ward of Hugh, Count of Paris. He then allied himself with the Norman and Viking leaders. Together they drove Louis out of Rouen and took back Normandy by 947. In 962 Theobald I, Count of Blois, attacked Rouen. But Richard's army defeated them. Lothair king of West Francia stepped in to prevent any more war between the two. For the rest of his reign Richard chose not to make Normandy bigger. Instead he worked on making Normandy stronger.

Richard used marriages to build strong alliances. His marriage to Emma gave him a connection to the Capet family. His wife Gunnor was from a rival Viking group in the Cotentin. His marriage to her gave him support from her family. Her sisters married several of Richard's loyal followers. Also Richard's daughters provided valuable marriage alliances with powerful counts as well as to the king of England. Richard also made sure the church and the great monasteries were doing well. His reign was marked by a long period of peace and tranquility. Richard died in Fecamp, Normandy, on 20 November 996.

The first three "dukes" or counts, Rollo of Normandy, William I, of Normandy and Richard I of Normandy.

Images for kids

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  Coin of Richard I

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  Richard's grave

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  Richard and his children, from a 13th-century genealogical tree