Mon arbre généalogique

GUILLAUME [II] "le Libérateur", son of ([955]-Avignon 993 after 29 Aug, bur Sarrians, église de Sainte-Croix). "Boso comes et uxor sua Constantia…illorum filii…Willelmus comes, Rotbaldus comes, Pontius juvenis" signed the charter dated May [963] under which "Gencius et uxor mea Aiburga" donated property "in pago Aquense superiore ad castrum…Ansoyse" to Monmajour[250]. The order of birth of the two sons of Boson is unclear. The May [963] charter suggests that Guillaume was his older son. However, Guillaume is omitted from the charter dated Mar 965 under which "eius filio Rothboldo et fratre eius Wilelmo comite" consented to the charter of "Bosoni comitis, filii Rothboldi quondam"[251], which suggests that Rotbald was older. Comte de Provence, charters showing that both he and his older brother Rotbald were recorded as counts during the same period, although it is not known whether this was a joint countship or whether there was a geographical split between their jurisdictions. Marquis de Provence. "Vuilelmus marchius Arelatense Provintie" donated property "in comitatu Avinionense, in agro Rupiano, in loco…la Lona" to Saint-Victor, Marseille by charter dated 17 Apr 979, signed by "Arsinda comitissa"[252]. "Willelmus comes" donated property to Cluny by charter dated 28 Aug [990] signed by "Rodbaldus comes, Adalaix comitissa, Wilelmus comes et filius eius Wilelmus"[253]. "Dominus princeps et marchio istius provinciæ…Willelmus cum coniuge sua…Adelaix et filio suo…Willelmo" restored property to the abbey of Saint-Césaire d´Arles by charter dated 992, subscribed by "Domnus Rotbaldus comes…Willelmus comes filius Rotbaldi et uxor sua Lucia, Wilelmus comes Tolosanus et uxor sua Ema…"[254]. He became a monk.
m firstly (before Apr 970) ARSINDE, daughter of --- (-after 17 Apr 979). "Wilelmus comes Provincie et coniunx mea Arsinna" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille by charter dated Apr 970[255]. "Vuilelmus marchius Arelatense Provintie" donated property "in comitatu Avinionense, in agro Rupiano, in loco…la Lona" to Saint-Victor, Marseille by charter dated 17 Apr 979, signed by "Arsinda comitissa"[256]. Szabolcs de Vajay suggests that the first wife of Marquis Guillaume was the sister of Adelais, whose first testament dated 4 Oct 978 names her, basing the hypothesis on onomastics and favorable chronology[257]. Under this testament of "Adelais", she donated her foundation "Narbonam…sanctique Salvatoris" to "sororibus meis et domnæ Arsindæ comitissæ", bequeathed "mea hereditas de Vidiliano" to "Arsindi sorori meæ", "alodes de Tolomiano" to "Ermesindi", and "mea hereditas de Artimiciano" to "Garsindi"[258]. The wording suggests that "Arsindi…Ermesindi…Garsindi" were all sisters of the testator, although the relationship is not specified in the case of Arsinde. It is probable that "domnæ Arsindæ comitissæ" in this document was the wife of Guillaume II Comte de Provence as no other Ctss Arsende has been identified at the time. However, the wording of the passage in which she is named suggests that she was a different person from "Arsindi sorori meæ". Szabolcs de Vajay suggests (as reported by Settipani: the Szabolcs article has not yet been consulted) that the testator was the possible daughter of Arnaud [I] Comte de Comminges. She can be identified as Adelais, widow of Matfried Vicomte de Narbonne, as the document names the couple´s two sons whose affiliation is confirmed by other primary sources. As explained more fully in the document TOULOUSE, KINGS, DUKES & COUNTS, other primary source documentation suggests that the wife of Vicomte Matfried may have been the daughter of Raymond Pons Comte de Toulouse. If this is correct, the chronology suggests that her sister would have been too old to have married Guillaume II Comte de Provence.
m secondly ([984/86]) as her fourth husband, ADELAIS [Blanche] d'Anjou, widow firstly of ETIENNE de Brioude, secondly of RAYMOND IV Comte de Toulouse, divorced wife (thirdly) of LOUIS V King of the West Franks, daughter of FOULQUES II "le Bon" Comte d'Anjou & his first wife Gerberge --- ([945/50]-1026, bur Montmajour, near Arles). Her parentage and first marriage are confirmed by the Chronicle of Saint-Pierre du Puy which names "comes Gaufridus cognomento Grisogonella…Pontius et Bertrandus eius nepotes…matre eorum Adalaide sorore ipsius"[259], the brothers Pons and Bertrand being confirmed in other sources as the sons of Etienne de Brioude, for example the charter dated 1000 under which "duo germani fratres…Pontius, alter Bertrandus" donated property to Saint-Chaffre for the souls of "patris sui Stephani matrisque nomine Alaicis"[260]. Adelais's second and third marriages are confirmed by Richer who records the marriage of Louis and "Adelaidem, Ragemundi nuper defuncti ducis Gothorum uxorem" and their coronation as king and queen of Aquitaine[261]. The Chronicon Andegavensi names "Blanchiam filiam Fulconis Boni comitis Andegavensis" as wife of the successor of "Lotharius rex Francorum", but confuses matters by stating that the couple were parents of "filiam Constantiam" wife of Robert II King of France[262]. The Chronicle of Saint-Maxence names "Blanchiam" as the wife of "Lotharius rex…Ludovicum filium" but does not give her origin[263]. She was crowned Queen of Aquitaine with her third husband on the day of their marriage. The Libro de Otiis Imperialibus names "Blanchiam" as wife of "Ludovicus puer [filius Lotharii]"[264]. Rodulfus Glaber refers to the unnamed wife of "Ludowicum" as "ab Aquitanis partibus uxorem", recounting that she tricked him into travelling to Aquitaine where "she left him and attached herself to her own family"[265]. Richer records her marriage with "Wilelmum Arelatensem" after her divorce from Louis[266]. Her fourth marriage is confirmed by the Historia Francorum which names "Blanca sorore Gaufridi comitis Andegavensis" as wife of "Guillelmi comitis Arelatensis"[267]. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines names "Blanche comitisse Arelatensis" as mother of "Constantia [uxor Robertus rex]", specifying that she was "soror Gaufridi Grisagonelli"[268]. The Gesta Consulum Andegavorum names "Blanca sorore eius" ( "eius" referring incorrectly to Foulques "Nerra" Comte d'Anjou) as wife of "Guillelmi Arelatensis comitis" and as mother of Constance, wife of Robert II King of France[269]. "Dominus princeps et marchio istius provinciæ…Willelmus cum coniuge sua…Adelaix et filio suo…Willelmo" restored property to the abbey of Saint-Césaire d´Arles by charter dated 992, subscribed by "Domnus Rotbaldus comes…Willelmus comes filius Rotbaldi et uxor sua Lucia, Wilelmus comes Tolosanus et uxor sua Ema…"[270]. "Adalaiz comitissa" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille by charter dated 1003[271]. This charter is subscribed by "Emma comitissa…Wilelmus comes", the second of whom was presumably the son of Adelais but the first of whom has not been identified. "Pontius…Massiliensis ecclesie pontifex" issued a charter dated 1005 with the consent of "domni Rodhbaldi comitis et domne Adalaizis comitisse, domnique Guillelmi comitis filii eius"[272]. "Adalax comitissa mater Villelmi quondam Provintie comitis et Geriberga eque comitissa…eiusdem principis olim uxor" donated property to Saint-Victor de Marseille for the soul of their late son and husband respectively by charter dated 1018[273]. No explanation has been found for her having been named Adelais in some sources and Blanche in others, as it is difficult to interpret the documentation as meaning that they refer to two separate individuals. [Adelais may have married fifthly (before Sep 1016) as his second wife, Othon Guillaume Comte de Mâcon et de Nevers [Bourgogne-Comté]. Adelais's supposed fifth marriage is deduced from the following: Count Othon-Guillaume's wife is named Adelais in several charters[274], and Pope Benedict VIII refers to "domnæ Adeleidi comitissæ cognomento Blanchæ" with "nuruique eius domnæ Gerbergæ comitissæ" when addressing her supposed fifth husband in a document dated Sep 1016[275], Gerberga presumably being Count Othon-Guillaume's daughter by his first wife who was the widow of Adelaide-Blanche d´Anjou's son by her fourth husband. However, the document in question appears not to specify that "domnæ Adeleidi…" was the wife of Othon Guillaume and the extracts seen (the full text has not yet been consulted) do not permit this conclusion to be drawn. It is perfectly possible that the Pope named Adelais-Blanche in the letter only in reference to her relationship to Othon Guillaume´s daughter. If her fifth marriage is correct, Adelais would have been considerably older than her new husband, and probably nearly sixty years old when she married (Othon-Guillaume's first wife died in [1002/04]), which seems unlikely. Another difficulty is presented by the entries dated 1018, 1024 and 1026, quoted above and below, which appear to link Adelais to Provence while, if the fifth marriage was correct, she would have been with her husband (whose death is recorded in Sep 1026) in Mâcon.] "Vuilelmus filius Rodbaldi" donated property "in comitatu Aquense in valle…Cagnanam" to Marseille Saint-Victor by charter dated 1024, signed by "Adalaiz comitissa, Vuilelmus comes filius Rodbaldi"[276]. A manuscript written by Arnoux, monk at Saint-André-lès-Avignon, records the death in 1026 of "Adalax comitissa"[277]. The necrology of Saint-Pierre de Mâcon records the death "IV Kal Jun" of "Adalasia comitissa vocata regali progenie orta"[278]. An enquiry dated 2 Jan 1215 records that "comitissa Blanca" was buried "apud Montem Majorem"[279].

http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/PROVENCE.htm#GuillaumeIIArlesProvencedied993A
http://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/PROVENCE.htm#GuillaumeIIArlesProvencedied993

Guillaume Ier de Provence dit le Libérateur, (né v. 955 - mort en 993, après le 29 août), fils de Boson II, comte d'Arles et de Constance de Provence, il fut successivement comte d'Avignon (962), comte de Provence (972), marquis de la Provence arlésienne (979) et prince de toute la Provence (991)[1].
En raison d'un oncle appelé lui aussi Guillaume[2], il est parfois dénommé Guillaume II de Provence.

Ses premières années [modifier]

Guillaume et son frère ainé Roubaud, succèdent à leur père Boson et oncle appelé lui aussi Guillaume entre 962 et 966. Le comté de Provence leur appartient en indivision, Guillaume devenant comte d'Avignon et Roubaud comte d'Arles suivant la division opérée à la génération précédente entre leur père et oncle. Il épouse entre 968 et avril 970[3], Arsinde de Comminges[4], fille d'Arnaud, comte de Comminges et d'Arsinde de Carcassonne. Si Arsinde, sa première femme, a été parfois été confondue avec Adelaïde, sa seconde, pour ne lui faire qu'une seule et unique épouse, la controverse est aujourd'hui terminée[5]. De cette première union seraient nés :

* Odile de Provence dite Odile de Nice (c.976-c.1032)
* Guillaume II de Provence (c.981-av. 30 mai 1018)[6].

La libération de la Provence et ses conséquences [modifier]

A la suite à l'enlèvement de l'abbé Mayeul en juillet 972 par les bandes de Sarrasins installées dans le massif des Maures depuis la fin du IXe siècle, le comte Guillaume et son frère Roubaud prennent la tête de l'ost provençal renforcé par les troupes d'Ardouin, comte de Turin. Ils traquent les Maures (quelques centaines d'hommes au mieux) qu'ils écrasent à la bataille de Tourtour en 973, puis les chassent de Provence[7]. Cette campagne militaire contre les Sarrasins conduite sans les troupes de Conrad, masque en fait une mise au pas de la Provence, de l'aristocratie locale et des communautés urbaines et paysannes qui avaient jusque là toujours refusé la mutation féodale et le pouvoir comtal. Elle permet à Guillaume d'obtenir la suzeraineté de fait de la Provence et avec le consentement royal, de contrôler le fisc de la Provence. Il distribue les terres reconquises à ses vassaux, arbitre les différents et crée ainsi la féodalité provençale[8]. Avec Isarn, évêque de Grenoble, il entreprend de repeupler le Dauphiné et autorise un comte italien nommé Ugo Blavia à se fixer près de Fréjus au début des années 970 pour remettre les terres en cultures.

Son gouvernement et sa renommée [modifier]

Comme son père Boson, Guillaume se fait conseiller par un vicomte qui dès 977 l'accompagne dans tous ces déplacements et il s'appuie sur un groupe important de juges pour rendre la justice. Devenu marquis de Provence en 979, il s'installe à Arles au début des années 980. Sa première femme Arsinde de Comminges (c.950-983) venant à décéder, il épouse en 984 dans cette cité, contre l'avis du pape, Adélaïde d'Anjou qui vient de se séparer de son époux, le futur roi de France, Louis V. Le couple aurait eu deux enfants :

* Constance d'Arles (986-1032) reine de France par son mariage avec Robert II vers l'an 1000,
* et une autre fille Ermengarde d'Arles, dont la filiation est plus contestée[9]; Ermengarde d'Arles épouse par la suite Robert Ier d'Auvergne.

Pour tout ceci, il est un personnage important des chroniques de Raoul Glaber qui le traite de duc et il apparaît dans une charte de 992 avec le nom de pater patriae.

La fin de sa vie [modifier]

À la fin de sa vie Guillaume devient très pieux et restitue de nombreux biens au temporel de l'Eglise. Déjà en 991[10], à la demande de l'évêque de Fréjus, Riculf[11], qui implore à Arles auprès du prince la restitution des anciens domaines de l'évêché, Guillaume accède à cette pétition et lui accorde de surplus la moitié de Fréjus et le village de Puget[12]. En 992, il rend également d'importants domaines en Camargue au monastère Saint-Jean d'Arles. En 993, se sentant mourir dans la ville d'Avignon dont il a été le comte, il prend l'habit de moine et fait appel à l'abbé Mayeul pour soulager son âme. Il fait des restitutions et des offrandes à l'abbaye de Cluny[13], et c'est entouré par la multitude de ses sujets, que Guillaume de Provence passe de vie à trépas dans cette ville, peu après le 29 août 993. Avant de mourir, il avait émis le vœu d'être inhumé à Sarrians, près de Carpentras, dans le prieuré en cours de construction sur la villa offerte à l'abbaye bourguignonne[14].

http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guillaume_Ier_de_Provence