Richard 'the Good' 4th Duke of Normandy

  General Notes:

He succeeded his father as Duke of Normandy in 996. Richard held his own against a peasant insurrection and helped Robert II of France against the Duchy of Burgundy. He also repelled an English attack on the Cotentin Peninsula that was led by Ethelred II. He pursued a reform of the Norman monasteries.

Richard attempted to improve relations with England through his sister's marriage to Ethelred but she was strongly disliked by the English. However, this connection later gave his grandson, William the Conqueror, his claim to the throne of England.

He married firstly (996) Judith (982-1017), daughter of Conan I of Brittany, by whom he had the following issue:

Richard (c. 997), duke of Normandy.
Robert (c. 1000), duke of Normandy.
William, monk at Fécamp, d. 1025.
Adelaide married Renaud I, Count of Burgundy.
Eleanor, married to Baldwin IV, Count of Flanders.
Matilda, d. 1033 - the only daughter of Richard and Judith who remained a virgin
according to the Annals of Rouen.

Secondly he married Poppa of Envermeu by whom he had the following issue:

Mauger, Archbishop of Rouen
William , count of Arques

Traditionally, Richard had a third wife named Astrid (Estritha), daughter of Sweyn Forkbeard, King of England, Denmark, and Norway, and Sigrid the Haughty. This is extremely unlikely, however, given the political situation. ²⁶

Richard married Judith of Brittany in 996. (Judith of Brittany died on 17 Jun 1017 ⁶⁸.)

Richard next married Poppa of Envermeu.