Richard I of Normandy (933–996), also known as Richard the Fearless (French, Sans Peur), was the "Duke of Normandy" from 942 to 996.[a] Richard made Normandy into a feudal society where he owned all the land. His followers held on to the lands given them by remaining loyal to him. He made Normandy a much stronger a power in western France.
Richard was the son of William Longsword, princeps[3] or ruler of Normandy. His mother's name was Sprota.[4] She was a Breton prisoner captured in war who William later married.[b][7] William Longsword was told of the birth of a son after the battle with Riouf and other viking rebels. But he kept this a secret until a few years later. When he first met his son he kissed him and made him the heir to Normandy. William then sent Richard to be cared for in Bayeux.[8]
When his father died, Richard was only 10 years old (he was born in 933).[4] King Louis IV of France decided to take charge of Normandy himself. The king placed the young duke in the custody of the count of Ponthieu.[9] Then the king gave the lands in lower Normandy to Hugh the Great. Louis kept Richard a prisoner at Lâon.[10] Fearing the king was going to harm the boy Osmond de Centville, Bernard de Senlis (who had been a companion of Richard's grandfather Rollo), Ivo de Bellèsme, and Bernard the Dane freed Richard.[11]
In 946, Richard agreed to be a ward of Hugh, Count of Paris. He then allied himself with the Norman and Viking leaders. Together they drove Louis out of Rouen and took back Normandy by 947.[12] In 962 Theobald I, Count of Blois, attacked Rouen. But Richard's army defeated them.[13] Lothair king of West Francia stepped in to prevent any more war between the two.[14] For the rest of his reign Richard chose not to make Normandy bigger. Instead he worked on making Normandy stronger.[15]
Richard used marriages to build strong alliances. His marriage to Emma gave him a connection to the Capet family. His wife Gunnor was from a rival Viking group in the Cotentin. His marriage to her gave him support from her family. Her sisters married several of Richard's loyal followers.[16] Also Richard's daughters provided valuable marriage alliances with powerful counts as well as to the king of England.[16] Richard also made sure the church and the great monasteries were doing well. His reign was marked by a long period of peace and tranquility.[17] Richard died in Fecamp, Normandy, on 20 November 996.[18]
William married first (960)to Emma, daughter of Hugh "The Great" of France.[4] They were promised to each other when both were very young. She died after 19 March 968, before they had any children.[4]
Richard had children with his concubine Gunnora. Richard later married her to make their children legitimate:[4]
Richard was known to have had several other concubines and had children with many of them. Known children are: