William I of Normandy

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This article is about the ruler of Normandy. For others of the same name, see William Longsword.

Statue of William Longsword as part of the Six Dukes of Normandy statue in Falaise.

William Longsword (in French, Guillaume Longue-Épée, in old scandinavian languages, Viljâlmr Langaspjôt) (died December 17, 942) was jarl (ruler) of Normandy. He is considered as the second duke of Normandy, even if this title was not existing at the time.

Little is known about his early years. He was born in Bayeux or Rouen. His parents were Rollo and Poppa. All that is known of Poppa is that she was a Christian, and the daughter to Berengar of Rennes, the previous lord of what (Brittania Nova) became Normandy. According to the Planctus, he was baptized a christian

William succeeded Rollo sometime around 928. It appears that he faced a rebellion early in his reign, from Normans who felt he had become too Frankified. The following years are obscure. In 939 William became involved in a war with Arnulf I of Flanders, which soon became intertwined with the other conflicts of the reign of Louis IV of France. He was killed by followers of Arnulf while at a meeting to settle their conflict. His son Richard I of Normandy succeeded him.