1. William Longsword was the second ruler of Normandy, from 927 until his assassination in 942.
13 Facts About William Longsword
1. 2.
William Longsword is sometimes referred to as a "duke of Normandy", though the title duke did not come into common usage until the 11th century.
3.
William Longsword was born "overseas" to the Viking Rollo and his wife more danico, Poppa of Bayeux.
4.
William Longsword succeeded Rollo in 927 and, early in his reign, in 933, faced a rebellion from Normans who felt he had become too Gallicised.
5.
Sallying forth, William Longsword won a decisive battle, proving his authority to be duke.
6.
At the time of this rebellion, William Longsword sent his pregnant wife more danico, Sprota, to Fecamp where their son Richard was born.
7.
In 933, William Longsword recognized King Raoul, who was struggling to assert his authority in Northern France, as King of Western Francia.
8.
In 935, William Longsword married Luitgarde, daughter of Count Herbert II of Vermandois, whose dowry gave him the lands of Longueville, Coudres and Illiers-l'Eveque.
9.
William Longsword contracted a marriage between his sister Adela and William, Count of Poitou, with the approval of France's most powerful magnate, Hugh the Great.
10.
Arnulf captured the castle of Montreuil-sur-Mer, expelling Herluin, after which Herluin and William Longsword cooperated to retake the castle.
11.
William Longsword was excommunicated for his actions in destroying several estates belonging to Arnulf.
12.
William Longsword pledged his loyalty to King Louis IV when they met in 940 and, in return, he was confirmed in lands that had been given to his father.
13.
William Longsword fathered a son, Richard, with Sprota, his wife more danico.