William V of Aquitaine

William V (969 – 30/31 January 1030, Maillezais), called the Great (le Grand), was Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou (as William II or III) from 995 until his death. He was the son and successor of William IV by his wife Emma, daughter of Theobald I of Blois. He seems to have taken after his formidable mother, who ruled Aquitaine as regent until 1004. He was a friend to Bishop Fulbert of Chartres and founded a cathedral school at Poitiers. He himself was very well educated, a collector of books, and turned the prosperous court of Aquitaine into the learning center of Southern France.

Though a cultivated prince, he was a failure in the field. He called in the aid of his suzerain Robert II, king of France, in subduing his vassal, the count of La Marche. But together they yet failed. He lost the Loudunais and Mirebalais to Fulk Nerra, count of Anjou, and, in 1006, he was defeated by Viking invaders. He had to give up Confolens, Ruffec, and Chabanais to compensate the count of Angoulême, but Fulbert negotiated a treaty (1020) outlining the reciprocal obligations of vassal and suzerain.

However, his piety and culture brought peace to his vast feudum and he tried to stem the tide of feudal warfare then destroying the unity of many European nations by supporting the current Peace and Truce of God movements initiated by Pope and Church.

In 1024-1025, an embassy from Italy came to France seeking a king of their own, the Emperor Henry II having died. The Italians asked for Robert's son Hugh Magnus, co-king of France, but Robert refused to allow his son to go and the Italians turned to William. He set out for Italy to consider the proposal, but the Italian political situation convinced him to renounce the crown for him and his heirs. His reign ended in peace and he died on the last or second to last day of January 1030.

The principle source of his reign is the panegyric of Adhemar of Chabannes.

Family

He was married three times. His first wife was Agnes of Gévaudan, widow of Adelbert I of La Marche. They had one son:

1. William, his successor

His second wife was Prisca (or Brisque), daughter of Duke Sans VI Guilhem of Gascony. She was dead by 1018. They had two sons and a daughter:

1. Otto, later duke also
2. Adalais, married Count Guiraut I Trancaleon of Armagnac
3. Theobald, died young

His third wife was Agnes of Burgundy, daughter of Otto-William, Duke of Burgundy. Her second husband was Geoffrey II of Anjou. They had two sons and a daughter also:

1. Peter William, later duke as William VII
2. Guy Geoffrey, later duke as William VIII
3. Agnes (or Ala), married Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor (1043)

Sources

• Owen, D.D.R. Eleanor of Aquitaine: Queen and Legend
• Weir, Alison. Eleanor of Aquitaine, 2001.

Preceded by: William IV	Duke of Aquitaine 1004–1030	Succeeded by: William VI
	Count of Poitou 1004–1030