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William I, Count of Burgundy

d. 1087

Count of Burgundy

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About William I, Count of Burgundy

William I, Count of Burgundy was an aristocrat.

William I (1020 – 12 November 1087), called the Great (le Grand or Tête Hardie, "the Stubborn"), was Count of Burgundy from 1057 to 1087 and Mâcon from 1078 to 1087. He was a son of Reginald I, Count of Burgundy and Alice of Normandy, daughter of Richard II, Duke of Normandy. William was the father of several notable children including Pope Callixtus II.

In 1057, William succeeded his father and reigned over a territory larger than that of the Franche-Comté itself. In 1087, he died in Besançon, Prince-Archbishopric of Besançon, Holy Roman Empire—an independent city within the County of Burgundy. He was buried in Besançon's Cathedral of St John.

William married a woman named (a.k.a. Etiennette).

William and Stephanie had: Renaud II, William's successor; died on First Crusade Stephen I, successor to Renaud II; died on the Crusade of 1101 Raymond of Burgundy, who married Urraca of León and Castile and thus was given the government of Galicia (Spain) Sibylla of Burgundy, Duchess of Burgundy Gisela of Burgundy, Marchioness of Montferrat Clementia married Robert II, Count of Flanders and was regent during his absence. She married, secondly, Godfrey I, Count of Leuven Guy of Vienne, elected pope, in 1119 at the Abbey of Cluny, as Callixtus II William Eudes , Archbishop of Besançon Stephanie married Lambert, lord of Peyrins (brother of Adhemar of Le Puy) Ermentrude, married (in 1065) Theodoric I, Count of Montbéliard

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Important facts

Occupation
Nationality
County of Burgundy

Frequently asked questions

Who was William I, Count of Burgundy?

Count of Burgundy

When did William I, Count of Burgundy die?

William I, Count of Burgundy died on 12 November 1087 in Besançon.

What was William I, Count of Burgundy's occupation?

William I, Count of Burgundy was an aristocrat.

What nationality was William I, Count of Burgundy?

William I, Count of Burgundy's recorded nationality: County of Burgundy.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William I, Count of Burgundy

· Wikidata: Q519641

· DBpedia: William I of Burgundy

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William I, Count of Burgundy. https://biography.guide/william-i-count-of-burgundy/

MLA: "William I, Count of Burgundy." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-i-count-of-burgundy/.

Chicago: "William I, Count of Burgundy." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-i-count-of-burgundy/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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