William VII (1023 – Autumn 1058), called the Eagle (Aigret) or the Bold (le Hardi), was the duke of Aquitaine

Duke of Aquitaine

The Duke of Aquitaine ruled the historical region of Aquitaine under the supremacy of Frankish, English and later French kings....

 and count of Poitou (as William V) between 1039 and his death, following his half-brother Odo.

William was the third son of William V of Aquitaine

William V of Aquitaine

William V , called the Great , was Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou from 990 until his death. He was the son and successor of William IV by his wife Emma of Blois, daughter of Theobald I of Blois. He seems to have taken after his formidable mother, who ruled Aquitaine as regent until 1004...

, the eldest by his third wife, Agnes of Burgundy

Agnes of Burgundy, Duchess of Aquitaine

Agnes of Burgundy , Duchess of Aquitaine was a daughter of Otto-William, Count of Burgundy and Ermentrude of Roucy. She was a member of the House of Ivrea.-Life:...

. He was brother-in-law of the Holy Roman Emperor

Holy Roman Emperor

The Holy Roman Emperor is a term used by historians to denote a medieval ruler who, as German King, had also received the title of "Emperor of the Romans" from the Pope...

 Henry III

Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor

Henry III , called the Black or the Pious, was a member of the Salian Dynasty of Holy Roman Emperors...

, who married his sister Agnes

Agnes de Poitou

Agnes of Poitou, Agnes of Aquitaine or Empress Agnes was Holy Roman Empress and regent of the Holy Roman Empire from 1056 to 1062.-Family:...

. His mother remarried to Geoffrey Martel

Geoffrey II of Anjou

Geoffrey II, called Martel , was Count of Anjou from 1040 to 1060. He was the son of Fulk the Black. He was bellicose and fought against the Duke of Aquitaine, the Count of Blois, and the Duke of Normandy...

, Count of Anjou, during his reign. William won his patrimony in a war with his half-brother Odo, who was killed in battle at Mauzé

Mauzé

Mauzé is part of the name of 2 communes in the Deux-Sèvres department of France:* Mauzé-sur-le-Mignon* Mauzé-Thouarsais...

. He did not, however, succeed in occupying Gascony.

Geoffrey Martel refused to concede to him the territories gained in the reigns of his predecessors. William set to work regaining his patrimony by force of arms. He was besieging Geoffrey in Saumur

Saumur

Saumur is a commune in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France.The historic town is located between the Loire and Thouet rivers, and is surrounded by the vineyards of Saumur itself, Chinon, Bourgueil, Coteaux du Layon, etc...

 when he died of dysentery

Dysentery

Dysentery is an inflammatory disorder of the intestine, especially of the colon, that results in severe diarrhea containing mucus and/or blood in the faeces with fever and abdominal pain. If left untreated, dysentery can be fatal.There are differences between dysentery and normal bloody diarrhoea...

.

He was married to Ermesinde, of unknown origins. Two daughters have been hypothesized to be children of this couple: Clementia, who married Conrad I of Luxembourg, and Agnes

Agnes of Aquitaine, Countess of Savoy

Agnes of Aquitaine was a daughter of "Count William of Poitiers", probably William VII, Duke of Aquitaine and his wife Ermesinde...

, who married Peter I of Savoy

Peter I of Savoy

Peter I was count of Savoy and margrave of Turin jointly with his brother Amadeus II of Savoy from c. 1060 to 1078. He ruled only nominally, as true power was in the hands of his mother, Adelaide of Susa....

.

See also

• Dukes of Aquitaine family tree
  Dukes of Aquitaine family tree
  This is a family tree of the Dukes of Aquitaine, between 898 and 1204.See also: Aquitaine - Duke of Aquitaine - List of family trees-External links:*...