Also known as Guillaume “Longue Épée”. William would have been his baptismal name, replacing a Viking name.
Leader of the Normans.
Events
Date of Birth: unknown.
Place of Birth: “overseas”.
The place is given by Baldwin. Crouch (p. 8) notes that William is said to have been born to a father dwelling in heathen lands, presumably in Scandanavia.
Date of Death: probably 16 December 942.
Place of Death: Picquigny-sur-Somme.
The date is given by Peter Stewart in a post to soc.genealogy.medieval. The place is given by Baldwin, who gives the date as probably 17 December. Guillaume was assassinated.
Relationships
Father: Rollo.
This relationship is given by pére Anselme (2:463), by Crouch, and by Baldwin.
Mother: “Poppa”.
This relationship is given by pére Anselme (2:463) and by Baldwin.
Spouse: Sprota.
This relationship is given by pére Anselme (2:464) and by Baldwin.
Spouse: Liutgard (died 985), daughter of Heribert II, count of Vermandois.
This relationship is given by pére Anselme (2:464) and by Baldwin.
Children (by Sprota):
Richard I of Normandy (died 21 November 996) married (1) Emma, daughter of Hugues le Grand; married (2) Gunnor.
References
Anselme de Sainte-Marie. Histoire Généalogique et Chronologique de la Maison Royale de France, des Pairs, Grands Officiers de la Couronne, de la Maison du Roy et des Anciens Barons du Royaume. 9 Volumes (Paris: 1726-1733).
Baldwin, Stewart. “Guillaume "Longue Épée" of Normandy” in The Henry Project.
Crouch, David. Normans: The History of a Dynasty. (Hambledon, 2002).
Tanner, Heather J. Families, Friends, and Allies: Boulogne and Politics in Northern France and England c. 879 - 1160. (Brill: 2004).