Guillaume Adelin , born in 1103 and dead the November 25th 1120, was the only legitimate son of Henri I {{er}} Beauclerc and of his wife Edith of Scotland. Its untimely death in the shipwreck of the White-Nave brought a rehandling in the political relations between the England and the France.
His/her maternal grandparent were Malcolm III of Scotland and Marguerite of Scotland. The second part of the name of Guillaume, who is written indifferently Audelin, Atheling or Aetheling, drift of the Vieil English Ætheling meaning “wire of king”.
Biography
Designated heir
The queen was usually used as regent when Henri left England for the Normandy. After its death in 1118, Guillaume was enough old to occupy its place. He was narrowly advised in this role by the administrators of the king like Roger de Salisbury. About the last year of its life, it is sometimes called “ designatus rex ” (appointed king). Guillaume nevertheless had very little real capacity.As it had only seventeen or eighteen years, it on only one occasion limited to put forward its personal influence in the political matters of the fields of his father, mainly in two ways. During his long reign, Henri was confronted with several eruptions of hostility due to the alliance of rival areas with some of his neighbors. By will to introduce the rival state of Anjou into his sphere of allegiance, Henri had promised in 1113 Guillaume with Isabelle (or Mathilde) of Anjou, the oldest daughter of the count Foulque V of Anjou. The marriage took place finally in 1119. The new wife of Guillaume being on another ship at the time of the shipwreck, it survived to him and entered the orders to become, thereafter, abbess of Fontevrault.
Henri Ier was aware that if it had suddenly died, then his son would be in a vulnerable position, and his succession with the throne not assured. In 1115 and 1116, it obliged the barons Normandy and of England to swear homage and fidelity with Guillaume. It was a new ceremony in England.
The king of France was another of the hostile neighbors of Henri. An important dispute turned around the apparent obligation for Henri to lend to him Hommage as a duke of Normandy. As a king himself, Henri felt reluctant to conform to this use and, in 1115, it proposes in Guillaume to do it in his place. After one period of conflict, this offer ends up being accepted in 1120 and Guillaume lent homage to Louis VI in 1120. He, for this reason, is sometimes counted like duke of Normandy.
This is however of less importance in comparison with the significant way in which its death has affected the events of the beginning of.
Shipwreck of the White-Nave
See also: White-Nave
November 25th, 1120, the White-Nave, which carries out the crossing between Normandy and England, sinks after having run up against shelves close to Barfleur. Guillaume is put in the lifeboat, but it makes half-turn to help his half-sister, and its boat is reversed by baufragés which cling to it desperate. Its death results in to leave Henri Ier without male heir. An older sister of Guillaume, Mathilde Emperesse succeeds to him like heiress with the throne but, died of Henri, the barons who had sworn to support his accession with the throne give up it, allowing Etienne of Blois, cousin of Guillaume and Mathilde to seize some. Its reign will then know a civil war of 1135 to 1154.
Marriage
Guillaume was promised in marriage to Isabelle (or Mathilde) of Anjou, girl of Foulque V, Count d' Anjou. The marriage took place finally in 1119 with Lisieux.
See too
- English Anarchy
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