2016-12-17 Sat

William Longsword also known as William I (c.893 – 17th December, 942) was the second ruler of Normandy. He was known in his time by the title Count of Rouen and is also often referred to as the “Duke of Normandy”.

In 939, Herluin II sought the support of Hugh the Great to regain his land – Montreuil from Herbert supported by Arnulf of Flanders but was rejected as Herluin II already had an alliance with Arnulf. He then turned to William for help. Troops from the Cotentin attacked and recaptured Montreuil, slaughtering most of Arnulf’s garrison.

For Arnulf, Hugh the Great and other Carolingian Lords the Normans remained undesirable intruders in France. They felt William was becoming too powerful and increasingly playing a role in politics of the French Monarchy and decide to eliminate him. Arnulf sent messengers to William asking to settle their conflict over Montreuil; William agreed and met him on an Island in the river Somne at Picquigny, where he was murdered by Arnulf’s men on 17th December, 942.

This coin shows that Rollo’s (William I’s father) dynasty had become established and bears the likeness of William I. It is presently in the Musee des Antiquities de Rouen. It reads Wilelmus on top and Rotomagus on the bottom.