William the Conqueror (part 2)
Duke Robert encountered Herleva and he swore that he would never leave her!
According to legend, Duke Robert was surveying his lands from the battlements of his castle at Falaise. A glorious scene, he no doubt thought, as his eyes scanned the fertile green fields of his duchy.
Robert 1st, Duke of Normandy (1000-1035).
On this particular day a young woman was washing clothes in the river. Her skirts were hitched high up her legs in order to keep them dry. He marvelled at her beauty and was unable to take his gaze from where she stood in the water. The young Duke was besotted by what he saw and immediately inquired about her name. He was told that the young woman’s name was Herleva.
Herleva of Falaise.
The invitation which changed the destiny of an entire nation!
Without delay, Robert sent an invitation for Herleva to dine with him at the castle. Herleva naturally accepted, dinner was divine, and within a short time she was ensconced at Falaise as the ducal mistress. Robert could not have any idea that the invitation would alter the entire course of England’s history.
A conqueror is born!
A birth that unborn generations would tearfully mourn!
In 1028, Herleva gave birth to a boy, William. The couple were not married because Herleva was of humble birth. The social protocol of the time forbade the marriage the marriage of a Duke to a commoner. Her father Fulbert appears to have made his living by means which were considered very low down the Norman pecking order. Fulbert was a tanner.
This would have meant working with the hides (skins) of dead animals. Tales of the stench from the hides in a tannery were infamous. It was said that you could detect a tanner’s presence by his smell from a 20 paces and a scent of this sort permeating the Great Hall at Falaise would have been most unwelcome. So for the time being Duke Robert could not put a wedding ring on Herlava’s finger.
In the meantime Robert decided to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem but was taken ill on the return journey and died at Nicaea in July 1035. The dreadful news was accompanied by dark rumours of murder by poison.
Duke Robert’s death in a faraway land!
Before he had taken in marriage, fair Herleva’s hand!
Would serve to advance the ambitions of many a traitorous Norman band!
Herleva was naturally keen to see that her son, eight year old William would succeed his father as Duke of Normandy. However not all of the Norman nobility were not about to rally to the aid of this particular damsel in distress. Duke Robert’s death coupled with William’s youth combined with his illegitimate birth and compounded by the treachery of the barons meant that it was highly improbable that he would ever live to be Duke. Seeing what appeared to be a golden opportunity, a number of nobles conspired to rob the boy of his birthright!
Young William!
‘Boyhood reveals the man as morning shows the day’.
Jesuit axiom.
Clearly William needed loyal adults to ensure his safety. Herleva’s brother, Walter was appointed as young William’s chief guardian. However it soon became clear that any man accepting a post in William’s ducal employment could expect a seriously shortened life expectancy.
A happy childhood!
Of William’s, nothing was good!
One of William’s bodyguard’s, Osborn had had his throat cut while he slept next to the young Duke in his bedchamber.
Any time to educate?
No! Barely a second to evacuate!
William’s tutor was slain as he arrived to teach the boy his lessons. On one occasion, uncle Walter had to rush the boy from his bed as he lay sleeping when a gang led by a local landowner intent on murder tried to gain entry. William was forced to mount a horse clad only in his underclothes and compelled to cross a fast flowing river in a bid to reach safety.
Normandy descended into chaos with the rival bands attacking each other with unbridled savagery . No one was safe! Friend turned against friend and neighbour against neighbour!
Hear no evil!
See no evil!
Speak no evil!
This was certainly true of one unfortunate Norman noble. The unsuspecting fellow arriving at a neighbour’s wedding feast at a time when hostilities appeared to have ceased was in for an unpleasant surprise! Nuptial festivities? This guest returned home without his ears, eyes and tongue!
Love thy neighbour?
No! No! Neighbourhood watch!
With neighbours such as these, William had to exercise constant vigilence as he sought to regain his authority. Young William proved himself to be a youth of great courage and resourcefulness by outwitting those who threatened his ascension to the ducal seat.
By the 1050’s, William (often called William the bastard, but never to his face) had defeated his rivals and his position as Duke of Normandy was secure.