Normandy

Normandy was a province in the North-West of France under the Ancien Regime. Initially populated by Celtic tribes in the West and Belgic tribes in the North East, it was conquered in 98 AD by the Romans and integrated into the province of Gallia Lugdunensis by Augustus. In the 4th century, Gratian divided the province into the civitates which constitute the historical borders. After the fall of Rome in the 5th century, the Franks became the dominant ethnic group in the area, built several monasteries, and replaced the barbarism of the region with the civilization of the Carolingian Empire. Towards the end of the 8th century, Viking raids devastated the region, prompting the establishment of the Duchy of Normandy in 911.

DUKE RICHARD (ROLLO) 36TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER

Rollo (846-931), also known as Robert or Robert I, (36th great grandfather) was a Norse nobleman who was the founder of the Viking Principality which became known as Normandy. Norwegian and Icelandic historians also referred to him as Ganger Hrolf, a son of Rognvald Eysteinsson, Earl of More, in Western Norway. Rollo made a number of attempts to raid and conqueror Paris. The end result was the Treaty of Saint-Clare-sur-Epte in 911 between Rollo and King Charles of France. That treaty provided that in return for Rollos loyalty, the protection of King Charles and the land which would become Normandy, Rollo had to be baptized in the Christian church as Robert and marry King Charles’s daughter Gisela.

Poppa (b. 872 - d. 925 [36th GGM], daughter of Count Bergengar II and Judith, was kidnapped by Rollo and was made Rollo's wife. Rollo Rognvaldsson eventually became the first Duke of Normandy in a treaty between the French King, Charles the Simple and Rollo. In return, Rollo had to convert to Christianity and change his first name to Robert. Thus was born the Normandy line of the family.

DUKE WILLIAM 35TH GREAT-GRANDFATHER

Rollo (now Duke Robert of Normandy) and his wife, Poppa had two children - William (b. 893 - d. 942) [35th GGF] and Adele. Duke William married Luitgarde of Vermandois but had no children. Duke William, however, did have one son with his concubine, Sprote (b. 911) [35th GGM], - Duke Richard I of Normandy [34th GGF] and [34th GGF] of Queen Elizabeth II). Duke Richard I had several children including Richard II, whose son, Robert I, was the father of William I King of England and known as William the Conqueror which is the linage from which Queen Elizabeth II hails from.

Geoffery, Count of D' Eu & Brionne (b. 953, 33rd great Grandfather)

Duke Richard I also has a son with an unnamed concubine, Geoffrey, Count of D' Eu & Brionne [33rd GGF] (b. 953). Geoffrey and Duke Richard II were half brothers; and Duke Richard II bestowed the title and lands of Count of Eu and Brionne, in Normandy.

This became the start of the deClare Family.