Text this colour links to Pages. Text this colour links to Family Trees. Text this colour are links that disabled for Guests.
Place the mouse over images to see a larger image. Click on paintings to see the painter's Biography Page.
Mouse over links for a preview. Move the mouse off the painting or link to close the popup.
Sybilla Conversano Duchess Normandy was born to [her father] Geoffrey Count of Conversano.
In 1063 [her future husband] Robert Curthose III Duke Normandy (age 12) was created Count Maine.
On 9th September 1087 King William "Conqueror" I of England (age 59) died at the Priory of St Gervaise, Rouen [Map]. He was buried at the Abbaye aux Hommes, Caen [Map], at a ceremony presided over by Gilbert Arques Bishop Evreux. [her future brother-in-law] King Henry I "Beauclerc" England (age 19) attended. His son William (age 31) succeeded II King of England. His son [her future husband] Robert (age 36) succeeded III Duke Normandy.
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 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. He married (1) 1123 his fourth cousin once removed Sibylla Anjou Countess Essex, daughter of Fulk "Young" King Jerusalem and Ermengarde of Maine Countess of Anjou (2) 1127 his third cousin Joanna Monferrat Countess Essex, daughter of Rainier Aleramici Marquis of Monferrat and Gisela Ivrea Countess Savoy.
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.
On 18th March 1103 Sybilla Conversano Duchess Normandy died.
Chronicle of William of Malmesbury Book 4 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 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.
Henrici Quinti, Angliæ Regis, Gesta, is a first-hand account of the Agincourt Campaign, and subsequent events to his death in 1422. The author of the first part was a Chaplain in King Henry's retinue who was present from King Henry's departure at Southampton in 1415, at the siege of Harfleur, the battle of Agincourt, and the celebrations on King Henry's return to London. The second part, by another writer, relates the events that took place including the negotiations at Troye, Henry's marriage and his death in 1422.
Available at Amazon in eBook and Paperback format.
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.
Become a Member via our Buy Me a Coffee page to read more.
Around 3rd February 1134 [her former husband] Robert Curthose III Duke Normandy (age 83) died.
The Deeds of the Dukes of Normandy. When he was returning from the journey to Jerusalem, he took Sibylla as his wife, the sister of William, Count of Conversano, and from her he begot one son, named [her son] William. The aforesaid countess was beautiful in face, modest in her conduct, endowed with wisdom, and when the duke was sometimes absent, she herself arranged the affairs of the province, both private and public, better on her own than he would have done had he been present. She lived only a short time in Normandy, having been deceived by the envy and intrigue of certain noblewomen. The aforesaid William, son of Duke Robert, later became Count of Flanders. How this came about we shall explain briefly.
Cum autem rediret de via Hierusalem accepit Sibyllam in uxorem, sororem Willelmi comitis Conversanæ, de qua genuit unum filium, nomine Willelmum. Fuit autem prædicta comitissa pulchra facie, honesta moribus, sapientia prædita et aliquando absente duce ipsa melius per se negotia provinciæ tam privata quam publica disponebat, quam ipse faceret si adesset. Vixit autem in Northmannia parvo tempore, invidia et factione quarumdam nobilium feminarum decepta. Prædictus vero Willelmus filius Roberti ducis procedenti tempore comes fuit Flandrensis. Quod quomodo acciderit, paucis aperiamus.