Herleve De Falaise

Abt 1003 - Abt 1050  (47 years)

• Name	Herleve De Falaise
  Birth	Abt 1003	Calvados, France   [1, 2, 3, 4]
  Gender	Female
  FSID	GBDZ-QZ1
  Death	Abt 1050	Normandie, France
  Person ID	I8420	footsteps
  Last Modified	1 Jul 2025

  
  

  Father	Fulbet De Falaize,   b. 970, Falaise, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France d. Yes, date unknown
  Relationship	natural
  Family ID	F3878	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Robert Normandie, Duke De Normandie ,   b. 22 Jun 1000, Normandie, France d. 28 Jul 1035 (Age 35 years)
  Marriage	Abt 1025  [1, 2, 3]
  Children	+ 1. William Normandie, King Of England ,   b. 1026, Normandie, France d. 7 Sep 1087, Normandie, France (Age 61 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural] + 2. Adelais Normandie,   b. Bef 1035, Normandie, France d. Bef 1096, Seine, France (Age < 61 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F3562	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	1 Jul 2025

  
  

• Notes

  According to one legend, still recounted by tour guides at Falaise, it a l l s t a r ted when, the young Duke of Normandy saw Herleva from the roof o f h i s c a s tle tower. The walkway on the roof still looks down on the dye in g t r e n ches cut into stone in the courtyard below, which can be seen t o t h i s d a y from the tower ramparts above. The traditional way of dyeing l e a t h e r or garments was for individuals to trample barefoot on the garme n t s w h i ch were awash in the dyeing liquid in these trenches. Herleva, l e g e n d g oes, seeing the Duke on his ramparts above, raised her skirts pe r h a p s a b it more than necessary in order to attract the Duke's eye. The l a t t e r w as immediately smitten and ordered her brought in (as was custom a r y f o r a ny woman that caught the Duke's eye) through the back door. He r l e v a r efused, saying she would only enter the Duke's castle on horseba c k t h r o ugh the front gate, and not as an ordinary commoner. The Duke, f i l l e d w ith lust, could only agree. In a few days, Herleva, dressed in t h e f i n e st her father could provide, and sitting on a white horse, rode p r o u d l y through the front gate, her head held high. This gave Herleva a s e m i - o fficial status as the Duke's mistress.

  
  

• Sources

  [S3] Corr. with Barbara Baker, (bdocbaker@comcast.net). QUAY [S3] Corr. with Barbara Baker, (bdocbaker@comcast.net). N3125QUAY [S3] Corr. with Barbara Baker, (bdocbaker@comcast.net). [S38] 1881 Census of Canada, Year: 1881; Census Place: Lot 4, Prince, Prince Edward Island; Roll: C_13162; Page: 47; Family No: 194.