1. HERLUIN, VICOMTE DE CONTEVILLE

m.1. HERLEVA de FALAISE (mistress of ROBERT I, DUKE of NORMANDY)
2. Fredesendis
d.c. 1066, bur. Grestain Abbey

Herluin was Vicomte de Conteville and founded the abbey of Grestain with his son Robert after 1050 in the hopes of a cure for his leprosy or other similar disease.

Herluin married first Herleve, mistress of Robert II, Duke of Normandy. The Chronicle of Alberic de Trois-Fontaines refers to the mother of Duke Guillaume as "filia�Herbertus pelliparius et uxor eius Doda sive Duwa", specifying that the family was from Chaumont in the diocese of Li�ge but moved to Falaise although others said that they were from Huy, and specifies her marriage to "Herlewino de Vado comitis"(2). Orderic Vitalis calls her "Duke Robert's concubine", and specifies her marriage, referring to her husband as stepfather to Duke Guillaume(3). Guillaume de Jumi�ges names "Herl�ve fille le Fulbert valet de chamber du duc" as mother of Duke Guillaume II, recording that "un certain Herluin, brave chevalier, prit Herl�ve pour femme" after the death of Duke Robert. It is assumed that this marriage took place after Duke Robert's death as no record has been found of the Duke having a subsequent relationship. She presumably died before her husband founded the abbey of Grestain as she is not referred to in the abbey's confirmation charter dated 14 Nov 1189(4). Robert of Torigny's De Immutatione Ordinis Monachorum records that "Herluinus de Contevilla�et Herleve uxor eius" were buried in "mon. Sanct� Mari� Gresteni"(5). Herluin married secondly, Fredesendis who is named as the wife of Herluin in the confirmation charter to the abbey of Grestain, 14 Nov. 1189.(6)

A manuscript relating to St Werburgh�s Chester records that �Hugo Lupus filius ducis Britanni� et nepos Gulielmi magni ex sorore� transformed the foundation into a monastery(1). This suggests that Hugues�s mother may have been a uterine sister of King William, and therefore daughter of Herluin de Conteville. However, no indication has been in other primary sources which supports the contention that Hugues was the son of a duke of Brittany. It is assumed therefore that both lines of his parentage have been romanticised in this document to improve his status and reputation.