Person:Constance d'Eu (1)

Constance was a 1st cousin of the half blood to Gilbert, which makes marriage somewhat questionable, but would explain why Gilbert finally received the Countship of Eu, which his father had, but only after William was Count in the period between father and son.Constance was a 1st cousin of the half blood to Gilbert, which makesmarriage somewhat questionable, but would explain why Gilbert finally received the Countship of Eu, which his father had, but only after William was Count in the period between father and son.

The following information was in a post-em from Curt Hofemann, curt_hofemann@yahoo.com:

It has not been proven one way or another whether Godfrey & William were half or full brothers, so Constance (if she existed) may have been a full 1st cousin to Gilbert.

A better explanation of Gilbert becoming Count of EU would be that Gilberts father, Godfrey, who was originally given the lordship (Seigneury?) of Brionne, was then made Count of EU by his father Duke Richard I. When his brother Richard II "the Good" became Duke in 996, Godfrey rebelled & was then deprived of EU. Godfreys brother William, who had been Count of the Heimois, was then awarded the countship of EU. Godfrey was eventually forgiven & given back the lordship of Brionne, but not the countship of Eu. Godfrey died 1015 leaving Gilbert with only the lordship of Brionne. At Williams death, Godfreys son, Gilbert, _assumed_ the land & title, not through marriage, but because he argued that it was his inheritance since after William died, his wife & sons were expelled from Eu during Guy of Burgundy's rebellion. Gilbert was assassinated (having claimed the County of Eu for less than a year). His children were then forced to flee Normandy & were never to bring EU back into this branch. Eu reverted back to Williams son, William Busac, who in turn was deprived of it in favor of his brother Robert who became one of the Conquerors most trusted generals.

Another scenario put forth by Dave Utzinger (which I think incorrect) is that Godfrey didnt rebel & lose Eu & that Gilbert inherited it. It was Gilbert who rebelled against Richard II & was thus deprived of Eu. Chronologically this doesnt work as Richard II died 1027. In 1039-40, Wm the Conqueror (gson of Richard II) was Duke of Normandy. Also it is known that Gilberts uncle William was awarded Eu just prior to his death.

At any rate, it would seem that Gilbert claimed Eu, not by marriage but by inheritance & because at that time it had (temporarily) been vacated. Even if he married a dau of William Count of Eus dau (& I am extremely skeptical of this), he still would not have become Count of Eu because Wms sons had dibs.

Regards, Curt