William IV of Aquitaine
Encyclopedia
William IV called Fierebras or Fierebrace (meaning "Iron Arm", from the French
Fier-à-bras or Fièrebrace, in turn from the Latin Ferox brachium), was the Duke of Aquitaine
and Count of Poitou from 963 to his retirement in 990.
William's father, William III
, abdicated to the abbey of Saint-Cyprien
in Poitiers
and left the government to Fierebras. His mother was Gerloc
, the daughter of Duke Rollo of Normandy
. His sister was Adelaide
, wife of Hugh Capet, the king against whom William later battled for his duchy. His early reign was characterised by many wars. He fought frequently against the counts of Anjou, the first time against Geoffrey Greymantle
, who had taken Loudun
.
In 988, he went to war with the newly-elected king of France, Hugh Capet, whom he refused to recognise. Capet had been granted Aquitaine by King Lothair
before the latter had been reconciled to William's father. Capet renewed his claim on the great duchy and invaded it that year. A royal army was defeated on the plain of the Loire Valley
. William sheltered the young Louis, the son of Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine
, the last legitimate Carolingian
heir. He opened the palace of Poitiers
to him and treated him as royalty, regarding him as the true heir to the French throne.
In 968, he married Emma or Emmeline
, daughter of Theobald I of Blois
and Luitgarde of Vermandois
. Their marriage was stormy, in part because of William's indulgence in the pursuit of women and, a hunting aficionado, wild animals. She banished his paramours, they separated twice for long periods, and finally he retired to a monastery, as his father had done, leaving Emma to rule Aquitaine in the name of their son William
until 1004. Their second son, Ebles, died sometime after 997.
French language
French is a Romance language spoken as a first language in France, the Romandy region in Switzerland, Wallonia and Brussels in Belgium, Monaco, the regions of Quebec and Acadia in Canada, and by various communities elsewhere. Second-language speakers of French are distributed throughout many parts...
Fier-à-bras or Fièrebrace, in turn from the Latin Ferox brachium), was the Duke of Aquitaine
Duke of Aquitaine
The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....
and Count of Poitou from 963 to his retirement in 990.
William's father, William III
William III of Aquitaine
William III , called Towhead from the colour of his hair, was the "Count of the Duchy of Aquitaine" from 959 and Duke of Aquitaine from 962 to his death. He was also the Count of Poitou from 935 and Count of Auvergne from 950...
, abdicated to the abbey of Saint-Cyprien
Saint-Cyprien
Saint-Cyprien is the name or part of the name of several places. Most of them are named after Cyprian:-Canada:* Saint-Cyprien, Bas-Saint-Laurent, Quebec, municipality in Bas-Saint-Laurent, Quebec...
in Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
and left the government to Fierebras. His mother was Gerloc
Gerloc
Gerloc , baptised in Rouen as Adela in 912, was the daughter of Rollo, first duke of Normandy, and his wife, Poppa of Bayeux. She was the sister of Duke William Longsword....
, the daughter of Duke Rollo of Normandy
Rollo of Normandy
Rollo , baptised Robert and so sometimes numbered Robert I to distinguish him from his descendants, was a Norse nobleman of Norwegian or Danish descent and founder and first ruler of the Viking principality in what soon became known as Normandy...
. His sister was Adelaide
Adelaide of Aquitaine
Adbelahide or Adele or Adelaide of Aquitaine was the daughter of William III, Duke of Aquitaine and Adele of Normandy, daughter of Rollo of Normandy....
, wife of Hugh Capet, the king against whom William later battled for his duchy. His early reign was characterised by many wars. He fought frequently against the counts of Anjou, the first time against Geoffrey Greymantle
Geoffrey I of Anjou
Geoffrey I of Anjou , known as Grisegonelle , was count of Anjou from 960 to 987. He succeeded his father Fulk II...
, who had taken Loudun
Loudun
Loudun is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in western France.It is located south of the town of Chinon and 25 km to the east of the town Thouars...
.
In 988, he went to war with the newly-elected king of France, Hugh Capet, whom he refused to recognise. Capet had been granted Aquitaine by King Lothair
Lothair of France
Lothair , sometimes called Lothair IV, was the Carolingian king of West Francia , son of Louis IV and Gerberga of Saxony.-Regency:...
before the latter had been reconciled to William's father. Capet renewed his claim on the great duchy and invaded it that year. A royal army was defeated on the plain of the Loire Valley
Loire Valley
The Loire Valley , spanning , is located in the middle stretch of the Loire River in central France. Its area comprises approximately . It is referred to as the Cradle of the French Language, and the Garden of France due to the abundance of vineyards, fruit orchards, and artichoke, asparagus, and...
. William sheltered the young Louis, the son of Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine
Charles of Lorraine was the son of Louis IV of France and Gerberga of Saxony and younger brother of King Lothair. He was a sixth generation descendant of Charlemagne...
, the last legitimate Carolingian
Carolingian
The Carolingian dynasty was a Frankish noble family with origins in the Arnulfing and Pippinid clans of the 7th century AD. The name "Carolingian", Medieval Latin karolingi, an altered form of an unattested Old High German *karling, kerling The Carolingian dynasty (known variously as the...
heir. He opened the palace of Poitiers
Palace of Poitiers
The Palace of Justice in Poitiers began its life as the seat of the Counts of Poitou and Dukes of Aquitaine in the tenth through twelfth centuries.- Origin :...
to him and treated him as royalty, regarding him as the true heir to the French throne.
In 968, he married Emma or Emmeline
Emma of Blois
Emma of Blois became Duchess of Aquitaine through marriage. She was the daughter of Theobald I, Count of Blois and Luitgarde of Vermandois....
, daughter of Theobald I of Blois
Theobald I of Blois
Theobald I , called the Cheat or the Trickster , was the first count of Blois, Chartres, and Châteaudun from 960, and Tours from 945....
and Luitgarde of Vermandois
Luitgarde of Vermandois
Luitgarde of Vermandois was a daughter of Herbert II of Vermandois. She first married William I of Normandy, and following his death in 942, married Theobald I of Blois in 943.-Children:They had four children:*Theobald...
. Their marriage was stormy, in part because of William's indulgence in the pursuit of women and, a hunting aficionado, wild animals. She banished his paramours, they separated twice for long periods, and finally he retired to a monastery, as his father had done, leaving Emma to rule Aquitaine in the name of their son William
William V of Aquitaine
William V , called the Great , was Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou from 990 until his death. He was the son and successor of William IV by his wife Emma of Blois, daughter of Theobald I of Blois. He seems to have taken after his formidable mother, who ruled Aquitaine as regent until 1004...
until 1004. Their second son, Ebles, died sometime after 997.
Sources
- Owen, D. D. R. Eleanor of Aquitaine, Queen and Legend. 1993.
- Nouvelle Biographie Générale. Paris, 1859.