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Sybilla Conversano Duchess Normandy was born to Geoffrey Count of Conversano.
In September 1100 [her father] Geoffrey Count of Conversano died.
Before 25th October 1102 Robert Curthose III Duke Normandy (age 51) and Sybilla Conversano Duchess Normandy were married. She by marriage Duchess Normandy. He the son of King William "Conqueror" I of England and Matilda Flanders Queen Consort England.
On 25th October 1102 [her son] William Clito Normandy Count Flanders was born to [her husband] Robert Curthose III Duke Normandy (age 51) and Sybilla Conversano Duchess Normandy. He a grandson of King William "Conqueror" I of England.
The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy by Orderic Vitalis. [Before 18th March 1103] The monks of Cluni paid great honours to this baron's memory, and commended his soul to the Lord God by incessant prayers, mindful of the berefits they richly enjoyed on his foundation at Longueville. His wife Agnes was sister of Anselm de Ribemont, and fifteen years after their marriage gave birth to a son [Walter Giffard 2nd Earl Buckingham], who was named Walter1. After his father's death, she carefully educated him until he arrived at manhood, and managed his hereditary domains for him many years with great prudence. This lady, giving way to the feelings of her sex, formed an affection for [her husband] Duke Robert (age 52); and entangled him in an illicit connection, by the blandishments of love. Promising him succour against his enemies, both from her own resources and those of her powerful relations, she induced the silly duke to engage that on the death of his present wife [Sybilla Conversano Duchess Normandy], he would not only marry her, but entrust to her the government of the whole of Normandy.
Note 1. Walter Giffard, third of that name, died in 1164, according to Robert du Mont (Hist. de France, t. xiii. p. 309), without leaving any issue by his wife Ermengarde.
Chronicle of William of Malmesbury Book IV Chapter 2. [18th March 1103] His [[her husband] Robert Curthose's (age 52)] wife [Sybilla Conversano Duchess Normandy], the daughter of William de Conversano [[her father] Geoffrey Count of Conversano], whom he had married in Apulia on his return, and whose surpassing beauty, all endeavours to describe are vain, died after a few years, by disease458; misled, as it is said, by the advice of the midwife, who had ordered her breasts, when in childbed, to be bound with a tight bandage, on account of the copious flow of her milk. A great consolation, however, in this extreme distress, was a son by his consort; who, called William [[her son] William Clito Normandy Count Flanders] by presage of his grandfather's [King William "Conqueror" I of England] name, gave hope of noble talents hereafter.
Note 458. "Sibilla, duchess of Normandy, died by poison, according to Ordericus Vitalis, and the Continuator of William of Jumièges. Malmesbury's account does not appear to be supported by any contemporary testimony."—Hardy.
Note 459. "Normandy was only mortgaged for 10,000 marks, about the 100th part of its present value."—Hardy.
The Ecclesiastical History of England and Normandy by Orderic Vitalis. [18th March 1103] Not long afterwards the duchess Sibylla took to her bed infected by poison, and died in the season of Lent, to general sorrow.1. William, archbishop of Rouen, celebrated her obsequies with the clergy and people, respectfully interring her in the church of St. Mary [Map], mother of God. Her grave in the nave of the church is covered with a polished slab of white marble, on which the following epitaph may be distinctly seen. |
Not birth, nor beauty, rank, or power,
Can lengthen this life's fleeting hour;
Ev'n the illustrious SIBYLLE must,
Laid in this tomb, return to dust.
Apulia mourns her daughter's fate,
And Normandy is desolate;
The duchess gone, whose conduct pure,
And all that could her hopes secure
The wisdom to promote her weal
And liberal hand her wounds to heal
She lost, when in the Golden Fleece
The bright sun shone: God give her peace.
Note 1. This duchess had, according to the continuator of Jumieges, more intelligence and ‘capacity for business than her husband, who often entrusted her with the administration of affairs during his absence. Sibylla paid dearly during her short residence in Normandy for the mistake she made in quitting the delicious climate and advanced civilization of Italy to attach herself to a prince who possessed neither talent nor morals.
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On 18th March 1103 Sybilla Conversano Duchess Normandy died.