Richard II, Duke of Normandy

Richard the Good as part of the "Six Dukes of Normandy" statue in the town square of Falaise.

Richard II (born 23 August 963, in Normandy, France – 28 August 1027, in Normandy), called the Good, was the son and heir of Richard I the Fearless and Gunnora. 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 of England. He pursued a reform of the Norman monasteries.

Richard attempted to improve relations with England through his sister's marriage to King 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 (999), duke of Normandy
• William, monk at Fécamp, d. 1025
• Adélaide, married Renaud I, Count of Burgundy
• Eleanor (or perhaps Ainor or Judith), married Count Baldwin IV of Flanders
• Matilda, d. 1033

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

• Mauger, Archbishop of Rouen
• William , count of Arques

Richard II (right), with the Abbot of Mont Saint Michel (middle) and Lothair of France (left).

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.

See also

• Dukes of Normandy family tree