Richard, Duke of Bernay
Encyclopedia
Richard of Normandy was the second son of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders
, and a potential heir to the English throne. However, Richard predeceased his father and the throne was eventually inherited by his younger brother William II "Rufus"
.
Richard was born in 1054 in Normandy
, a son of William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy
and Matilda of Flanders
. His older brother, Robert Curthose, was effectively exiled after a rebellion against their father in 1079, leaving Richard as the presumed heir to the English throne.
However, Richard was never to be king. In 1081, on a trip over the channel
Richard met with a hunting accident in the New Forest
, leaving his younger brother William Rufus as claimant. He was taken from the forest and buried at Winchester Cathedral
. In a twist of fate, William Rufus was himself killed in the New Forest nearly twenty years later.
Matilda of Flanders
Matilda of Flanders was the wife of William the Conqueror and, as such, Queen consort of the Kingdom of England. She bore William nine/ten children, including two kings, William II and Henry I.-Marriage:...
, and a potential heir to the English throne. However, Richard predeceased his father and the throne was eventually inherited by his younger brother William II "Rufus"
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
.
Richard was born in 1054 in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
, a son of William the Bastard, Duke of Normandy
Duke of Normandy
The Duke of Normandy is the title of the reigning monarch of the British Crown Dependancies of the Bailiwick of Guernsey and the Bailiwick of Jersey. The title traces its roots to the Duchy of Normandy . Whether the reigning sovereign is a male or female, they are always titled as the "Duke of...
and Matilda of Flanders
Matilda of Flanders
Matilda of Flanders was the wife of William the Conqueror and, as such, Queen consort of the Kingdom of England. She bore William nine/ten children, including two kings, William II and Henry I.-Marriage:...
. His older brother, Robert Curthose, was effectively exiled after a rebellion against their father in 1079, leaving Richard as the presumed heir to the English throne.
However, Richard was never to be king. In 1081, on a trip over the channel
English Channel
The English Channel , often referred to simply as the Channel, is an arm of the Atlantic Ocean that separates southern England from northern France, and joins the North Sea to the Atlantic. It is about long and varies in width from at its widest to in the Strait of Dover...
Richard met with a hunting accident in the New Forest
New Forest
The New Forest is an area of southern England which includes the largest remaining tracts of unenclosed pasture land, heathland and forest in the heavily-populated south east of England. It covers south-west Hampshire and extends into south-east Wiltshire....
, leaving his younger brother William Rufus as claimant. He was taken from the forest and buried at Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral
Winchester Cathedral at Winchester in Hampshire is one of the largest cathedrals in England, with the longest nave and overall length of any Gothic cathedral in Europe...
. In a twist of fate, William Rufus was himself killed in the New Forest nearly twenty years later.