William I of Provence, Marquis of and founder of Provence, Count of Arles. Nicknamed the Liberator.
William was the son of Boso II, Count of Avignon and Arles, and Constance of Viennois, the grandson of Rotbald I, Charles Constantine, Count of Vienne and Teutberge of Troye. Brother of Rotbold II. He was born circa 950 in Provence, and died in 993 in Avignon.
William married Arsenda, daughter of Arnold of Comminges, and had no children.
Secondly, he married Adelaide-Blanche of Alix of Anjou, the daughter of Foulques II d' Anjou m Gerberge du Main, married against papal advise. They had the following children:
* Constance of Provence, wife of Robert II, King of France
* William II, Count of Provence, husband of Gerberge of Macon.
* Ermengarde, wife of Robert I, Count of Auvergne
* Toda, wife of Bernard I, Count de Besalu
William was the Count of Provence since 968, took the title of Margrave around 975, became the Count of Arles in 980, and earned his nickname because of his victories against the Saracens by which he liberated Provence from their constant threat at the Battle of Tourtour in 973.
By royal consent, he and his descendants controlled the fief in Provence, rebuilt the Dauphine area, re-cultivated the land and donated land to Cluny, Burgundy.
William retired to become a monk, passing the margrave position to his brother, dying at Avignon, and buried in the church of Saint-Croix at Sarrians.
All his work and properties would decline as his aggressive vassals, kept well in control with is ducal power, took their portions and divided the kingdom.
Bio by Anne Shurtleff Stevens
William was the son of Boso II, Count of Avignon and Arles, and Constance of Viennois, the grandson of Rotbald I, Charles Constantine, Count of Vienne and Teutberge of Troye. Brother of Rotbold II. He was born circa 950 in Provence, and died in 993 in Avignon.
William married Arsenda, daughter of Arnold of Comminges, and had no children.
Secondly, he married Adelaide-Blanche of Alix of Anjou, the daughter of Foulques II d' Anjou m Gerberge du Main, married against papal advise. They had the following children:
* Constance of Provence, wife of Robert II, King of France
* William II, Count of Provence, husband of Gerberge of Macon.
* Ermengarde, wife of Robert I, Count of Auvergne
* Toda, wife of Bernard I, Count de Besalu
William was the Count of Provence since 968, took the title of Margrave around 975, became the Count of Arles in 980, and earned his nickname because of his victories against the Saracens by which he liberated Provence from their constant threat at the Battle of Tourtour in 973.
By royal consent, he and his descendants controlled the fief in Provence, rebuilt the Dauphine area, re-cultivated the land and donated land to Cluny, Burgundy.
William retired to become a monk, passing the margrave position to his brother, dying at Avignon, and buried in the church of Saint-Croix at Sarrians.
All his work and properties would decline as his aggressive vassals, kept well in control with is ducal power, took their portions and divided the kingdom.
Bio by Anne Shurtleff Stevens
William I of Provence, Marquis of and founder of Provence, Count of Arles. Nicknamed the Liberator.
William was the son of Boso II, Count of Avignon and Arles, and Constance of Viennois, the grandson of Rotbald I, Charles Constantine, Count of Vienne and Teutberge of Troye. Brother of Rotbold II. He was born circa 950 in Provence, and died in 993 in Avignon.
William married Arsenda, daughter of Arnold of Comminges, and had no children.
Secondly, he married Adelaide-Blanche of Alix of Anjou, the daughter of Foulques II d' Anjou m Gerberge du Main, married against papal advise. They had the following children:
* Constance of Provence, wife of Robert II, King of France
* William II, Count of Provence, husband of Gerberge of Macon.
* Ermengarde, wife of Robert I, Count of Auvergne
* Toda, wife of Bernard I, Count de Besalu
William was the Count of Provence since 968, took the title of Margrave around 975, became the Count of Arles in 980, and earned his nickname because of his victories against the Saracens by which he liberated Provence from their constant threat at the Battle of Tourtour in 973.
By royal consent, he and his descendants controlled the fief in Provence, rebuilt the Dauphine area, re-cultivated the land and donated land to Cluny, Burgundy.
William retired to become a monk, passing the margrave position to his brother, dying at Avignon, and buried in the church of Saint-Croix at Sarrians.
All his work and properties would decline as his aggressive vassals, kept well in control with is ducal power, took their portions and divided the kingdom.
Bio by Anne Shurtleff Stevens
William was the son of Boso II, Count of Avignon and Arles, and Constance of Viennois, the grandson of Rotbald I, Charles Constantine, Count of Vienne and Teutberge of Troye. Brother of Rotbold II. He was born circa 950 in Provence, and died in 993 in Avignon.
William married Arsenda, daughter of Arnold of Comminges, and had no children.
Secondly, he married Adelaide-Blanche of Alix of Anjou, the daughter of Foulques II d' Anjou m Gerberge du Main, married against papal advise. They had the following children:
* Constance of Provence, wife of Robert II, King of France
* William II, Count of Provence, husband of Gerberge of Macon.
* Ermengarde, wife of Robert I, Count of Auvergne
* Toda, wife of Bernard I, Count de Besalu
William was the Count of Provence since 968, took the title of Margrave around 975, became the Count of Arles in 980, and earned his nickname because of his victories against the Saracens by which he liberated Provence from their constant threat at the Battle of Tourtour in 973.
By royal consent, he and his descendants controlled the fief in Provence, rebuilt the Dauphine area, re-cultivated the land and donated land to Cluny, Burgundy.
William retired to become a monk, passing the margrave position to his brother, dying at Avignon, and buried in the church of Saint-Croix at Sarrians.
All his work and properties would decline as his aggressive vassals, kept well in control with is ducal power, took their portions and divided the kingdom.
Bio by Anne Shurtleff Stevens
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