Home > William VIII of Aquitaine

William was one of the leaders of the allied army, called to help Ramiro I of Aragon in the siege of Barbastro ( 1064). This expedition was the first campaign organized by the papacy, namely Pope Alexander II, against a Muslim city, and the precursor of the later Crusades movement. Aragon and its allies conquered the city, killed its inhabitants and collected an important booty. However, Aragon lost the city again in the following years. During William's rule, the alliance with the southern kingdoms of modern Spain was a political priority as shown by the marriage of all his daughters to Iberian kings.

William was the youngest son of William V of Aquitaine by his wife Agnes of Burgundy. He was the brother-in-law of Henry III, Holy Roman Emperor who had married his sister, Agnes de PoitouAgnes de Poitou or Empress Agnes ( 1020- 1077) was regent of the Holy Roman Empire from 1056 to 1068. She was born to William V, Duke of Aquitaine and Count of Poitou and his wife Agnes of Burgundy. Agnes was the second wife of Henry III, Holy Roman Emper. He married three times and had at least five children:

• First wife: Anne of Perigord (divorced 1058)
  • Agnes (1052-1078), married Alfonso VI of CastileAlfonso VI (before June 1040 July 1, 1109), nicknamed the Brave was king of Leon from 1065 to 1109 and king of Castile since 1072 after his brother's death. Much romance has gathered round his name. In the cantar de gesta of the Cid, he plays the part att
• Second wife: Matilda of La Merche (divorced 1068), no children
• Third wife: Hildegard of Burgundy (daughter of duke Robert I of Burgundy)
  • Beatrice (d.1110), married to Alfonso VI of Castile
  • Hugh (d.1126)
  • Agnes (d.1097), married Peter I of AragonPeter I of Aragon (circa 1068- 1104) was king of Aragon and Navarre from 1094 to 1104. He was the son of Sancho I of Aragon (a. a Sancho V of Navarre, a. a Sancho Ramirez) and Felicia of Urgell, and he succeeded his father Sancho in 1094. He conquered Hue
  • William IX of AquitaineWilliam IX of Aquitaine ( October 22 1071 February 10 1126, also Guillaume d'Aquitaine), nicknamed the Troubador was Duke of Aquitaine and Gascony and Count of Poitiers between 1086 and 1126. He was also one of the leaders of the First Crusade and one of, his heir

See also: Dukes of Aquitaine family treeThis is a family tree of the Dukes of Aquitaine between 898 and 1204. See also Aquitaine Duke of Aquitaine List of family trees External link family tree Family trees.