FALAISE Fulbert

Abt 0978 - Abt 1022  (44 years)

• Name	FALAISE Fulbert
  Birth	Abt 0978	Falaise, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France
  Gender	Male
  Death	Abt 1022	Normandy, France
  Notes	Fulbert de Falaise, Chamberlain,[1] was the father of Arlette or Herleve, mistress of Robert of Normandy.[2] WikiTree | 26 Mar 2014 -- Recent scholarship discounts Fulbert as a tanner. This is based on examination of the original source, the context of Duke William's mockery and the Latin and French words later chroniclers had trouble translating.[3] Family The earliest accounts of Fulbert's daughter, Herleva, come from Orderic Vitalis. They were not written down until 80 years after she met Robert the Magnificent. It was only through Wace and Benoit in the 12th century, and later 17th-century writings, that she became known as a daughter of tanner.[3] Occupation In fact, Fulbert was probably a mortician. He is described as, "a person who laid out corpses," and "might have embalmed bodies." As Chamberlain of the ducal court, this was one of Fulbert's duties, and most likely the backdrop of the heckling which resulted in Duke William's bloody retribution.[3][4][5] Bio#2 Jack Day's Work in Progress "Cawley (2006), lists Fulbert de Falaise and Doda (Duwa) UNKNOWN, as the parents of Herlave (living 1049)."[1] "Note that Cawley (2006), terminates Herlave's pedigree with Fulbert, with nothing more known."[1] "Baldwin (2006), does not identify parents for Herleve."[1] Occupation: Mortician Wikipedia -- "tanner, based on translations of Orderic's additions to the Gesta Normannorum Ducum...."[6] One later poetic source interpreted the occupation to be that of tailor, but in part due to flawed transcripts of the origina..." [7] .... literal reading ... Herleva's family had been undertakers or embalmers."[8] Orderic ... added to the Gesta that Fulbert served as the Duke's chamberlain (cubicularii ducis)." [9] Issue Wikipedia -- "Fulbert of Falaise (fl. 11th century) ... father of Herleva ... Walter of Falaise named by Orderic Vitalis is likely a son."[6] Herlève de Mortain, born Calvados, Normandy, 1003 (unproven) Walter de Falaise (Wikipedia citing Oderic Vitalis) Tracking Notes WORK IN PROGRESS: UNSOURCED Children on Wikitree: Osborne de Criton, born Falaise 1012 [citation needed] Beatrice de Venoix, born Falaise 1022, needs merging with Beatrice de Falaise, born Falaise 1022 [citation needed] Sources ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Cawley (2006), lists Fulbert de Falaise and Doda (Duwa) UNKNOWN, as the parents of Herlave (living 1049). Baldwin (2006), at The Henry Project, does not name a wife for Fulbert. Also note that both sites terminate Herlave's pedigree with Fulbert, with nothing more known.[1][2] ↑ Richardson, D. Royal Ancestry, V, p. 487 ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Van Houts, 1986 ↑ also see Palgrave, 1831, p. 343.[3] ... The author notes the reports of Herlave's father - one as a courier from Falaise, and another as a duke's chamberlain. ↑ William had the body parts of his hecklers chopped off, (Van Houts, 1986) ↑ 6.0 6.1 Wikipedia: Fulbert of Falaise v. 22:58, 12 Nov 2016‎.[4] ↑ Wikipedia: Fulbert of Falaise v. 22:58, 12 Nov 2016. citing: Freeman (1870); Douglas, (1963); Bouard, (1984). [5] ↑ Wikipedia: Fulbert of Falaise v. 22:58, 12 Nov 2016, citing Van Houts, (1986).[6] ↑ Wikipedia: Fulbert of Falaise v. 22:58, 12 Nov 2016‎ citing Van Houts 1986, p. 403 and Crouch, 2002.[7] Cawley, C. (2006). Medieval Lands. fmg.ac.[8] Van Houts, E.M.C. (1986). "The origins of Herleva, mother of William the Conqueror." The English Historical Review, 101(399), pp. 399-404. Oxford University Press. JSTOR. Retrieved 26 Mar 2014. Wikipedia: Fulbert of Falaise "William "the Conqueror" (Guillaume 'le Conquérant')." Henry II Project.[9]
  Person ID	I59951	Freeman-Smith
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026

  
  

  Family	UNKNOWN Doda,   b. Abt 0980, Falaise, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France d. Abt 1034, Falaise, Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France (Age 54 years)
  Marriage	1002
  Children	1. FALAISE Herlève,   b. Abt 1003, Falaise, Normandie, France d. Abt 1055, Mortain, Normandie, France (Age 52 years)  [Father: natural]  [Mother: natural]
  Family ID	F26617	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	27 Jan 2026