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William IV (937 - 3 February 994[1]), called Fierebras or Fierebrace (m e a n i n g "Proud Arm", from the French Fier-à-bras or Fièrebrace, in turn f r o m t h e L atin Ferox brachium), was the Duke of Aquitaine and Count of P o i t o u f rom 963 to his retirement in 990.
William's father, William III, abdicated to the abbey of Saint-Cyprien i n P o i t i ers and left the government to Fierebras. His mother was Gerloc, t h e d a u g hter of Duke Rollo of Normandy. His sister was Adelaide, wife of H u g h C a p et, the king against whom William later battled for his duchy. H i s e a r l y reign was characterised by many wars. He fought frequently aga i n s t t h e counts of Anjou, the first time against Geoffrey Greymantle, w h o h a d t a ken Loudun.
In 988, he went to war with the newly elected king of France, Hugh Cape t , w h o m h e refused to recognise. Capet had been granted Aquitaine by Ki n g L o t h air before the latter had been reconciled to William's father. C a p e t r e newed his claim on the great duchy and invaded it that year. A r o y a l a r my was defeated on the plain of the Loire Valley. William shelte r e d t h e y oung Louis, the son of Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine, the la s t l e g i timate Carolingian heir. He opened the palace of Poitiers to him a n d t r e a ted him as royalty, regarding him as the true heir to the French t h r o n e .
In 968, he married Emma, daughter of Theobald I of Blois and Luitgarde o f V e r m a ndois.[2] Their marriage was stormy, in part because of William' s i n d u l gence in the pursuit of women and, as a hunting aficionado, wild a n i m a l s. She banished his paramours, they separated twice for long perio d s , a n d f inally he retired to a monastery, as his father had done, leav i n g E m m a to rule Aquitaine in the name of their son William until 1004. T h e i r s e cond son, Ebles, died sometime after 997.
William IV Fierebras or Fierebrace ("Iron Arm"), Duke of Aquitaine and C o u n t o f P oitou from 963 to his retirement in 990.
William's father, William III, abdicated to the abbey of Saint-Cyprien i n P o i t i ers and left the government to Fierebras. His mother was Gerloc, t h e d a u g hter of Duke Rollo of Normandy. His sister was Adelaide, wife of H u g h C a p et, the king agains t w hom William later battled for his duchy. H i s e a r l y reign was characterised by many wars. He fought frequently aga i n s t t h e counts of Anjou, the first time against Geoffrey Greymantle, w h o h a d t a ken Loudun.
In 988, he went to war with the newly-elected king of France, Hugh Cape t , w h o m h e refused to recognise. Capet had been granted Aquitaine by Ki n g L o t h air before the latter had been reconciled to William's father. C a p e t r e newed his claim on the gre a t duchy and invaded it that year. A r o y a l a r my was defeated on the plain of the Loire Valley. William shelte r e d t h e y oung Louis, the son of Charles, Duke of Lower Lorraine, the la s t l e g i timate Carolingian heir. He opened the palace of Poitier s t o h i m a n d t r eated him as royalty, regarding him as the true heir to the Fr e n c h t h rone.
In 968, he married Emma or Emmeline, daughter of Theobald I of Blois an d L u i t g arde of Vermandois. Their marriage was stormy, in part because o f W i l l i am's indulgence in the pursuit of women and, a hunting aficionad o, w i l d a n imals. She banished his paramours, they separated twice for l ong p e r i o ds, and finally he retired to a monastery, as his father had d one, l e a v i ng Emma to rule Aquitaine in the name of their son William un til 1 0 0 4 . T heir second son, Ebles, died sometime after 997.
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Abt 937 - 994 (57 years)
d. 3 Apr 963, Deux-Sevres, France