Anslech de Bricquebec
Encyclopedia
Anslech or Anslec de Bricquebec (active in the 930s and 940s) played a major political role in the first days of the duchy of Normandy
, though the sources on him are rather opaque.
evoked Anslech as one of the three secretarii to the jarl of the Normans, William I (v.927-942). He thus makes him a part of the entourage close to the son of Rollo
. A later source, le Roman de Rou, explains that Anslech supported Guillaume when Rioulf began an important rebellion against him.
We see the same figure again in the writings of William of Jumièges
. After the assassination of William I, Anslech, Raoul (called Taisson l'Ancien) and Bernard the Dane
formed what William of Jumièges called "guardians of the whole duchy of Normandy", awaiting the majority of the new duke Richard. In 943, they welcomed the king of the Franks, Louis IV
to Rouen
, who came as overlord to receive the homage of the inhabitants of Rouen.
s from Norway
and the islands make Anslech a Norman noble, Danish or Norwegian in origin but always from the old Viking
nobility. Son of Rollo Turstain Brico (or Hrolf Turstan), a supposed nephew of Rollo
, in these he was the grandson of a certain Rollanger Rognvaldsson, a half-brother of Rollo, and the great-grandson of Rognvald Eysteinsson. This genealogy is noted proven.
All the same, his descendents continue to be discussed. A tradition - held since the 17th century, though with no evidence - considers him as the ancestor of the families of Montfort and Bertran via his son Tursten of Bastembourg. Finally, he is traditionally presented as the founder of the castle of Bricquebec
in Cotentin (perhaps at the beginning of the 10th century), from which comes his nickname Anslech of Bricquebec, though this too is an assumption.
Duchy of Normandy
The Duchy of Normandy stems from various Danish, Norwegian, Hiberno-Norse, Orkney Viking and Anglo-Danish invasions of France in the 9th century...
, though the sources on him are rather opaque.
In the Anglo-Norman chronicles
Around 1000, Dudo of Saint-QuentinDudo of Saint-Quentin
Dudo, or Dudon was a Norman historian, and dean of Saint-Quentin, where he was born about 965. Sent in 986 by Albert I, Count of Vermandois, on an errand to Richard I, Duke of Normandy, he succeeded in his mission, and, having made a very favorable impression at the Norman court, spent some years...
evoked Anslech as one of the three secretarii to the jarl of the Normans, William I (v.927-942). He thus makes him a part of the entourage close to the son of Rollo
Rollo
Rollo has multiple meanings. It may mean:a first name*Rollo Armstrong, member of British dance act Faithless* Rollo May, American psychologist...
. A later source, le Roman de Rou, explains that Anslech supported Guillaume when Rioulf began an important rebellion against him.
We see the same figure again in the writings of William of Jumièges
William of Jumièges
William of Jumièges was a contemporary of the events of 1066, and one of our earliest writers on the subject of the Norman Conquest. He is himself a "shadowy figure", only known by his dedicatory letter to King William as a monk of Jumièges...
. After the assassination of William I, Anslech, Raoul (called Taisson l'Ancien) and Bernard the Dane
Bernard the Dane
Bernard the Dane was a Viking jarl of Danish origins. He put himself in the service of another jarl installed at the mouth of the Seine, Rollo...
formed what William of Jumièges called "guardians of the whole duchy of Normandy", awaiting the majority of the new duke Richard. In 943, they welcomed the king of the Franks, Louis IV
Louis IV of France
Louis IV , called d'Outremer or Transmarinus , reigned as King of Western Francia from 936 to 954...
to Rouen
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
, who came as overlord to receive the homage of the inhabitants of Rouen.
Rise and fall
The sagaSaga
Sagas, are stories in Old Norse about ancient Scandinavian and Germanic history, etc.Saga may also refer to:Business*Saga DAB radio, a British radio station*Saga Airlines, a Turkish airline*Saga Falabella, a department store chain in Peru...
s from Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
and the islands make Anslech a Norman noble, Danish or Norwegian in origin but always from the old Viking
Viking
The term Viking is customarily used to refer to the Norse explorers, warriors, merchants, and pirates who raided, traded, explored and settled in wide areas of Europe, Asia and the North Atlantic islands from the late 8th to the mid-11th century.These Norsemen used their famed longships to...
nobility. Son of Rollo Turstain Brico (or Hrolf Turstan), a supposed nephew of Rollo
Rollo
Rollo has multiple meanings. It may mean:a first name*Rollo Armstrong, member of British dance act Faithless* Rollo May, American psychologist...
, in these he was the grandson of a certain Rollanger Rognvaldsson, a half-brother of Rollo, and the great-grandson of Rognvald Eysteinsson. This genealogy is noted proven.
All the same, his descendents continue to be discussed. A tradition - held since the 17th century, though with no evidence - considers him as the ancestor of the families of Montfort and Bertran via his son Tursten of Bastembourg. Finally, he is traditionally presented as the founder of the castle of Bricquebec
Bricquebec
Bricquebec, a commune in the Manche department in Normandy in north-western France.Inhabitants are referred to as Bricquebétais.-History:...
in Cotentin (perhaps at the beginning of the 10th century), from which comes his nickname Anslech of Bricquebec, though this too is an assumption.
Sources
- Dudo of Saint-QuentinDudo of Saint-QuentinDudo, or Dudon was a Norman historian, and dean of Saint-Quentin, where he was born about 965. Sent in 986 by Albert I, Count of Vermandois, on an errand to Richard I, Duke of Normandy, he succeeded in his mission, and, having made a very favorable impression at the Norman court, spent some years...
, De moribus et actis primorum Normanniae ducum, Ed. Jules Lair, Caen, F. Le Blanc-Hardel, 1865 - William of JumiègesWilliam of JumiègesWilliam of Jumièges was a contemporary of the events of 1066, and one of our earliest writers on the subject of the Norman Conquest. He is himself a "shadowy figure", only known by his dedicatory letter to King William as a monk of Jumièges...
, History of the Normans, ed. Guizot, Brière, 1826, Livre IV, p. 79 (French translation of Gesta Normannorum ducum written c.1172)