Richard III, Duke of Normandy

Richard III (997–1027) was the eldest son of Richard II, who died in 1027.

Before succeeding his father, perhaps about 1020, he had been sent by his father in command of a large army, to attack bishop/count Hugh of Chalon in order to rescue his brother-in-law, Reginald, later Count of Burgundy, whom the count/bishop had captured and imprisoned.

He was married to Adela, countess of Corbie (1009 – 5 June 1063), second daughter of Robert II of France and Constance of Arles. After his father's death, he ruled the Duchy of Normandy only briefly, dying mysteriously, perhaps by poison, soon after his father. The duchy passed to his younger brother Robert I. Adela later married Baldwin V, Count of Flanders.

Issue:

By unknown women, he had two known children:

• Alice/Alix of Normandy who married Ranulf, Viscount of Bayeux.
• Nicolas, the Lay Abbot of Rouen (died 27 Feb 1092). He helped his cousin, Duke William II the Conqueror with the contribution of 15 ships and 100 soldiers for the invasion of England in 1066. He would probably have been chosen to succeed his father as Duke of Normandy if he had not been "immediately relegated first to the monastery of Fécamp and then to that of Saint-Quen in Rouen."^[1]

References