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Birth:          ABT 1003 of Falaise, Normandy
Death:          ABT 1050 

Notes
bdate per Stuart
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herleva
Herleva (c. 1003 – c. 1050) also known as Herleve,[1] Arlette,[2] Arletta[3] and 
Arlotte,[4] and Harlette had three sons – William I of England, who was fathered by 
Robert I, Duke of Normandy, and Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain, who 
were both fathered by Herluin de Conteville. All became prominent in William's realm.
Life[edit]

The background of Herleva and the circumstances of William's birth are shrouded in 
mystery. The written evidence dates from a generation or two later, and is not entirely 
consistent, but of all the Norman chroniclers only the Tours chronicler asserts that 
William's parents were subsequently joined in marriage.[5] The most commonly 
accepted version says that she was the daughter of a tanner named Fulbert from the 
town of Falaise, in Normandy. The meaning of filia pelletarii burgensis[6] is somewhat 
uncertain, and Fulbert may instead have been a furrier, embalmer, apothecary, or a 
person who laid out corpses for burial.[7]

Some argue that Herleva's father was not a tanner but rather a member of the burgher 
class.[8] The idea is supported by the appearance of her brothers in a later document 
as attestors for an under-age William. Also, the Count of Flanders later accepted 
Herleva as a proper guardian for his own daughter. Both of these would be nearly 
impossible if Herleva's father was a tanner, which would place his standing as little 
more than a peasant.

Orderic Vitalis described Herleva's father Fulbert as the Duke's Chamberlain 
(cubicularii ducis).[9]

Relationship with Robert the Magnificent[edit]

According to one legend, still recounted by tour guides at Falaise, it all started when 
Robert, the young Duke of Normandy, saw Herleva from the roof of his castle tower. 
The walkway on the roof still looks down on the dyeing trenches cut into stone in the 
courtyard below, which can be seen to this day from the tower ramparts above. The 
traditional way of dyeing leather or garments was to trample barefoot on the garments 
which were awash in the liquid dye in these trenches. Herleva, legend goes, seeing 
the Duke on his ramparts above, raised her skirts perhaps a bit more than necessary 
in order to attract the Duke's eye. The latter was immediately smitten and ordered her 
brought in (as was customary for any woman that caught the Duke's eye) through the 
back door. Herleva refused, saying she would only enter the Duke's castle on 
horseback through the front gate, and not as an ordinary commoner. The Duke, filled 
with lust, could only agree. In a few days, Herleva, dressed in the finest her father 
could provide, and sitting on a white horse, rode proudly through the front gate, her 
head held high.[10] This gave Herleva a semi-official status as the Duke's concubine.
[11] She later gave birth to his son, William, in 1027 or 1028.[12]

Some historians suggest Herleva was first the mistress of Gilbert of Brionne with whom 
she had a son, Richard. It was Gilbert who first saw Herleva and elevated her position 
and then Robert took her for his mistress.[13]

Marriage to Herluin de Conteville[edit]

Herleva later married Herluin de Conteville in 1031. Some accounts maintain that 
Robert always loved her, but the gap in their social status made marriage impossible, 
so, to give her a good life, he married her off to one of his favourite noblemen.[citation 
needed]

Another source suggests that Herleva did not marry Herluin until after Robert died, 
because there is no record of Robert entering another relationship, whereas Herluin 
married another woman, Fredesendis, by the time he founded the abbey of Grestain.
[14]

From her marriage to Herluin she had two sons: Odo, who later became Bishop of 
Bayeux, and Robert, who became Count of Mortain. Both became prominent during 
William's reign. They also had at least two daughters: Emma, who married Richard le 
Goz, Viscount of Avranches, and a daughter of unknown name who married William, 
lord of la Ferté-Macé.[15]

Death[edit]

According to Robert of Torigni, Herleva was buried at the abbey of Grestain, which 
was founded by Herluin and their son Robert around 1050. This would put Herleva in 
her forties around the time of her death. However, David C. Douglas suggests that 
Herleva probably died before Herluin founded the abbey because her name does not 
appear on the list of benefactors, whereas the name of Herluin's second wife, 
Fredesendis, does.[16]

Parents
DE FALAISE Fulbert (ABT  978 - ABT 1017)
DE FALAISE Doda (ABT  985 - )

Siblings
DE FALAISE Walter (ABT 1002 - )
DE FALAISE Herleve (Harlette) (Arlotta) (ABT 1003 - ABT 1050)
____ Reynald (1008 - )
DE FALAISE Beatrice (ABT 1015 - 10 Apr 1085)

Marriage To ____ Robert II "the Magnificent" (ABT  998 - 2 Jul 1035)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
____ Richard II "the Good" (23 Aug  963 - 28 Aug 1026)
OF BRITTANY (RENNES) Judith ( 982 - 1017)

Children by ____ Robert II "the Magnificent" ABT  998 - 2 Jul 1035
____ William I "the Conqueror" (14 Oct 1024 - 9 Sep 1087)
OF NORMANDY Adelaide (ABT 1027 - BEF 1090)

Marriage To DE CONTEVILLE Herlevin (Harlevin) (ABT 1001 - ABT 1066)
    m.  

Notes

Parents
DE CONTEVILLE Jean (ABT  962 - )
----- ----- ()

Children by DE CONTEVILLE Herlevin (Harlevin) ABT 1001 - ABT 1066
____ Odo (ABT 1030 - Feb 1096)
DE CONTEVILLE Emma (ABT 1033 - )
DE CONTEVILLE Muriel (ABT 1034 - )
DE MORTAIGNE [DE CONTEVILLE] Robert (ABT 1037 - 8 Dec 1090)
DE CONTEVILLE ----- (ABT 1042 - )

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