#constance of normandy

[docpiplup]

The Bastard Kings and their families

This is series of posts are complementary to this historical parallels post from the JON SNOW FORTNIGHT EVENT, and it's purpouse to discover the lives of medieval bastard kings, and the following posts are meant to collect portraits of those kings and their close relatives.

In many cases it's difficult to find contemporary art of their period, so some of the portrayals are subsequent.

1) William I of England (c. 1028 – 1087), son of Robert I of Normandy and Herleva of Falaise; with his brothers Odo of Bayeux (d. 1097) and Robert of Mortain (c. 1031–c. 1095), sons of Herleva of Falaise and her husband Herluin de Conteville

2) His father, Robert I of Normandy (1000 –1035), son of Richard II of Normandy and his wife Judith of Brittany

3) His uncle, Richard III of Normandy (997/1001 – 1027), son of Richard II of Normandy and his wife Judith of Brittany

4) His son, Robert II of Normandy (c. 1051 – 1134), son of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

5) His son, William II of England( c. 1057 – 1100), son of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

6) His son, Henry I of England (c. 1068 –1135), son of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

7) His daughter, Cecily of Normandy (c. 1056 – 1126), daughter of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

8) His daughter, Constance of Normandy (c. 1057/61– 1090), daughter of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

9) His daughter, Adela of Normandy (c. 1067– 1137), daughter of William I of England and Matilda of Flanders

[tercessketchfield]

— Children of William I the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders

[venicepearl]

Constance of Normandy (between 1057 and 1061 – 13 August 1090) was a Duchess of Brittany.

She was one of the nine children of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders. She was born in Normandy, where her father was duke. William of Jumièges, the monk who chronicled the 1066 Norman conquest of England, names Constance second among the daughters of King William and Queen Matilda. No source indicates the order of birth of the couple's daughters, however.

In 1086, Constance's father arranged a marriage between the duke of Brittany Alan Fergant and Constance, who was already nearly 30, to ensure peace at his Western border. Like her mother, Constance was an able administrator. William of Malmesbury, an early 12th century historian, wrote that her "severe and conservative manner" made Constance an unpopular duchess. According to his contemporary, Orderic Vitalis, however, Constance was caring, considerate, and well-liked by her subjects. William of Malmesbury alleges that her husband had their servants poison her. She died on 13 August 1090.