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Archiver > GEN-MEDIEVAL > 1995-07 > 0805060536


From: Tom Camfield< >
Subject: Re: Gunnora's parents and sisters
Date: Thu, 06 Jul 1995 22:55:36 +0300


In article <>,
"R. Leutner" <> wrote:

> Let's let Rollo and his folks lie for a while. I would like to know if
> there is a genealogical consensus, whether it is Icelandic, Norse, or
> English, as to the parentage and siblings of Gunnor/Gunnora, wife of
> Richard I, Duke of Normandy. Eleanor Searle, _Predatory Kinship and the
> Creation of Norman Power, 840-1066_, a title that says it all (UCAl
> Press, 1988), does not name Gunnor's parents for her own reasons, but we
> don't necessarily have to buy them; but here is her list of Gunnor(a) and
> siblings:
>
> GUNNOR=Richard I-->ducal line (Normandy)
> SISTER=Thorold of Pont-Audemer-->Humphrey de Vielles-->Beaumonts (Warwick,
> Leicester, etc.)
> SISTER=Osbern of Bolbec-->Walter Giffard et al. (incl. Clare, earls of
> Hertford, Pembroke, etc.)
> HERFAST (brother)-->Osbern=Emma (da. of Rodulf)-->William fitz Osbern,
> earl of Hereford-->lords of Breteuil, Ballon; and Bishop Osbern f. Osbern
> of Exeter
> SIBLING-->Gunnor's niece-->Warenne, earls of Surrey, and Mortimer, of
> Wigmore
> SISTER-->Gunnor's niece=Roger of Montgomery-->MONTGOMERY
> SIBLING-->Gunnor's niece=Keeper of Vernon
> SIBLING-->Gunnor's niece=Vicomte of Rouen
>
>
>
> Who were the parents of this illustrious brood? Is Gunnor's family
> wholly fabulous, or can it be claimed in a genealogical way? I can live
> without her, but it would be nice to take on Thorold's and Osbern's wives
> and whatever parentage they might share with Gunnor, and others might be
> happy to have clear title to these other siblings.

The most interesting thing about your list of family members is the lack of
names for Gunnor's sisters. Not surprising, as all sources that I have
encountered disagree totally.
I'm sticking with Aveline/a (perhaps a.k.a.Eva) as one sister--who married
Thorold/Turolf/Thourade/Thorolf of Pont-Audemer and was the mother of a
Joceline who married Hugh de montgomery (who in turn was father of Roger
Montgomery).
This is the thread followed in most Montgomery family accounts. (Whether
there was a Roger the Great Montgomery before the Roger, Earl of
Shrewsbury, is another point of contention.) This would be the same sister
who was mother of Humphrey de Vetulis, according to my chart.
Other sisters I have identified as Wevie, Senfrie, perhaps a Dulceline (who
perhaps also is the one a.k.a. Eve).
I have waded thru the confusion and stuck to my arbitrary choices which
include Gunnor's brother Herfastus. The Osbern de Bolebec also appears
pretty solid as a brother-in-law of Gunnor, as he turns up in various
accounts. I don't believe I have tied my Giffards and de Clares to him yet,
but I will check on this.

I am accepting the general statement that Gunnor's parents remain
unknown...that her father was ----- de Crepon (possibly Danish), Sire of
Crepon, Forester of Equiqueville/Sechevile.

Bernard the Dane appears to have been associated with the family in some
fashion at some point.

Kathleen Much at Stanford U. posted a considerable amount of material
concerning Gunnor and her sisters about a year ago.
-
Tom Camfield

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