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The Duke of Normandy is a title held (or claimed) by various Norman, English, French and British rulers from the 10th century. Its origin comes from the year 911. The fief of Normandy itself was founded in 911 for the Viking leader Rollo. Modern research estimates that probably he was created a count, according to Werner, probably with traditional duties of a Carolingian count: protection and administration of justice, as vassal of the king of West Franks. Some later medieval sources have called also him as dux, like many his later successors have been. As his predecessors were styled jarl (earl) of the Northmen (Normans), Richard II was the first to be styled duke of Normandy (the ducal title established between 987-1006). In 1066, William the Conqueror added the kingdom of England to his realm, through the Norman Conquest. In 1204, during the reign of King John, mainland Normandy was taken from England by France under King Philip II while insular Normandy (the British Channel Islands) remained (and remains ceremonially today) under the English Duke of Normandy. Thus the Loyal Toast in the Channel Islands is given as La Reine, notre Duc (the Queen, our Duke). Under the Treaty of Paris (1259), Henry III of England recognised the legality of French possession of Normandy. English monarchs, and their British successors, continued (and continue) to use the title "Duke of Normandy" in reference to insular Normandy (the Channel Islands). English monarchs made subsequent attempts to reclaim their former continental possessions, particularly during the Hundred Years' War. From Henry V, by the Treaty of Troyes of 1420, until George III in 1801, English and British monarchs claimed the throne of France itself, and included "King of France" at the top of their list of titles. On several occasions, the Duchy was given out as an appanage for a member of the French royal family, most notably by Philip VI for his eldest son, the future King John II; by John II for his son, the future Charles V, who was, however, usually known as the Dauphin; and by Louis XI for his brother Charles, usually known by his other title of Duc de Berri. Interestingly, the future James VII & II of Scotland, England and Ireland, was created "Duke of Normandy" by King Louis XIV of France on December 31, 1660. This was a few months after James's brother, Charles II, had been restored to the throne in England and Ireland. (Charles had already been crowned in Scotland, in 1651.) Since Charles would have already claimed the title "Duke of Normandy" - indeed, it was in insular Normandy, specifically in Jersey, that he was first proclaimed king, in 1649 - the French king's giving the same title to James, in respect of mainland Normandy, was undoubtedly a political gesture. The future Louis XVII was also known as Duke of Normandy before his elder brother's death in 1789. Although the Monarch of the United Kingdom retains the title of Duke of Normandy, England ceased actual claim to Normandy--and, with it, any claim to land in France--in 1805.
Succession of the Dukes of Normandy Dynasty Dukes of Normandy were one of the most important princes in medieval France, both when the duchy was their main holding (911-1066) and when they were holders of other yet more remarkable holdings, such as kings of England (1066-1204). In male line, they were (as far as to Empress Maud) descended from Ragnvald Eysteinsson, Earl of More in Norway. Dukes of Normandy set a weight in their family tradition to legends that their male-line ancestry thus is the ancient kings of Finland. Further reading See also | ||||||||
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