Sybilla of Conversano

Sibylla of Conversano (d. 18 March 1103) was a wealthy Norman heiress, Duchess of Normandy by marriage to Robert Curthose. She was regent of Normandy during the absence of her spouse.

Life Devotion of the Princess Sibylla (Félix Auvray, 1832), based on a legend: Curthose is wounded in the Crusades by a poisoned arrow, and Sibylla sucks the poison from the wound, giving her life to save his. She was the daughter of Geoffrey of Brindisi, Count of Conversano, and his wife Sichelgaita of Moulins, and a grandniece of Robert Guiscard.

During the winter of 1096-97 while Robert Curthose was in Apulia awaiting transport on the First Crusade, he probably began negotiations to marry the heiress, Sibyl of Conversano. Orderic Vitalis claims Robert 'fell in love' with Sibyl and further the chronicler called her 'truly good in character' and also wrote she was 'endowed with many virtues and lovable to all who knew her'. in 1100.

It is clear that writers of the time were quite taken with Sibylla, praising both her beauty and intelligence.

During Curthose's absence, Robert of Torigni noted that the new duchess administered Normandy better than the duke did. He was named William for William, Archbishop of Rouen who presided over his baptism, this according to Orderic. less than six months after the birth of her only child, she died at Rouen, Caux, and was buried, amid universal sorrow, in the cathedral church, Archbishop William Bonne-Ame performing the funeral rites. Sibylla was admired and often praised by chroniclers of the time; William of Malmesbury claims she died as a result of binding her breasts too tightly while both Robert of Torigny and Orderic Vitalis suggest she was murdered by a group of noblewomen led by her husband's mistress, Agnes de Ribemont.

Issue Robert and Sibylla had one son:

William Clito (1102—27 July 1128), Count of Flanders.