Herluin de Conteville
Herluin de Conteville (1001–1066), also sometimes listed as Herlevin or Herlwin of Conteville, was the stepfather of William the Conqueror, and the father of Odo of Bayeux and Robert, Count of Mortain, both of whom became prominent during William's reign.
Conteville and Sainte-Mère-Église
No contemporary record provides the parentage for Herluin, although much later sources have assigned him parents (such as the otherwise unknown Jean de Conteville (965) and Harlette de Meulan). Herluin was a lord of moderate income and some land on the south side of the river Seine. He was viscount of Conteville, probably so created by his stepson, and held the honour of Sainte-Mère-Église, a portion of the county of Mortain. There he founded the Grestain Abbey around 1050 with his son Robert.
Herluin's marriage to Herleva
Towards the beginning of the 11th century, Conteville and its dependencies appear to be in the hands of Herluin, who married Herleva, the mistress of Robert I, Duke of Normandy and already mother of William the Bastard, called William the Conqueror later. Herluin and Herleva had two sons and two daughters: Odo or Eudes, who became Bishop of Bayeux, and Robert who became Count of Mortain; both were prominent in the reign of their half-brother William. The daughters: Emma, who married Richard LeGoz or Richard Goz (count or viscount of Avranches), and a daughter of unknown name, sometimes called Muriel, married Guillaume, Seigneur de la Ferté-Macé. Herluin is said to have loyally borne Guillaume's body to his grave at Caen after he died in the burning of Mantes.
Herluin (Abbott of Bec)
Herluin commonly called Hellouin, (995/997 in Bonneville-Aptot-August 26, 1078), was a knight at the court of Gilbert of Brionne and a Benedictine monk who founded Abbey of Our Lady of Bec, Normandy.
Early life
Born around 995/997AD, according to Mabillon, of Norman Nobiulity. Ansgot his father was a Danish Viking follower of Rollo, while his mother, Eloise had kinship to the counts of Flandres. In his youth he was a brave soldier to whom the Duke Robert gave more than a mark of esteem. Later, being poorly paid for his services by Gislbert, Herluin began to take the profession of arms in disgust. One day in 1034, amid a frightful melee where he had hardly any hope of salvation, he vowed to drop the sword and put on the garb of the monks, if escaped so great peril.
Monastic career
He survived and retired as a hermit to settle in one of his fields, about 1041AD. Quickly joined by several companions, he laid the foundation of a monastery. Herbert, Bishop of Lisieux, dedicated 25 March 1034 the chapel built by Herluin and ordained him, head of the small community. In 1034/1035, the Duke granted land and He built the cloister and the monastic buildings and adopted the Rule of St. Benedict.
Podcasts:
-
by Little Women Soundtrack
Here Alone
by: Little Women SoundtrackMarmee
'My dear husband…'
Write a letter, be inventive.
Tell you everything is fine.
Be attentive to the distance.
Send my love with every line.
Every word should bring you closer
And caress you with its tone.
Nothing should remind you
That I am here alone.
I can't tell you what I'm feeling.
I can't talk about the war.
How the pealing of the church bells
Brings the battle to our doors.
I don't know which part is harder,
What I know or what's unknown,
Or raising little women
When I am here alone.
Counting Days,
Praying for news,
Is this the life
We meant to choose?
Do you know how much I miss you
At this hour of the day?
How I wish you were the twilight
Come to take my fears away.
Can I manage four young women?
I'm not certain I know how.
Will I be there when they need me?
Do I fail them even now?
I wish that you were with me,
Wish that I could bring you home.
The night seems so much longer
Now that I am here alone.