Raoul Tourte

Biography

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Tourte

Raoul Tourte [1,2] (also known as Ralph or Rodolf de Torta) was a seneschal of the Duchy of Normandy during the minority of Duke Richard Sans-Peur. Of obscure origin, father of Gauthier, bishop of Paris [3], Raoul Tourte was appointed by the Carolingian king Louis d'Outremer as governor or bailist of Normandy after the assassination of Duke Guillaume Longue-Épée (942).

Raoul Torta was apparently working in service for Duke Richard of Normandy as a financial administrator but was so harsh that he was sent in exile to Paris, where he stayed under the protection of his father [sic: son] Gautier, Bishop of Paris.

As Sir Francis Palgrave wrote in The history of Normandy and of England, Volume 2 (London, John Parker, 1857; pp. 506-509) < GoogleBooks >

But there was one personage about the Court virtually above them all, detested by all, from the scullion upwards to the sovereign, and venue. This was Raoul Torta.—" Be it better, be it worse, be ruled by him who rules the purse," is the expression of a social law, universal upon earth as the law of gravitation.—Possessed of the purse, and tying the purse-strings as tightly as tight could be, Raoul Torta kept every member of the State in subjection, for most eminently was the prepotent Seneschal supported by the all-commanding power of money. King Louis was expelled, but Raoul, through whom the French King had earned so much obloquy, remained at Rouen, firm as ever, in the position he had acquired during the foreign ascendancy. Since the death of Guillaume Longue-epee, Raoul had been Normandy's manager, nay, a species of independent governor; and young Richard, to use the legal phrase, could not obtain livery of his inheritance, for Raoul retained the whole usufruct in his own hands.

Raoul was tenant in possession of the ducal domains, Raoul received the Duke's rents, Raoul reaped the Duke's corn, mowed the Duke's meadows, milked the Duke's cows, rode the Duke's horses, sheared the Duke's flocks, stuck the Duke's pigs, and slaughtered the Duke's beeves. Sparing might have been excused, but Raoul's stinting was intolerable. The prisoners, deprived of their accustomed doles, starved in the gaol; the knights lost their pay; and, rote and rebeck silenced, the mournful minstrels wandered disconsolate, lacking their usual guerdon. Thus was the Court reduced to Tortus penury; and, if we accept the expressions employed by historians literally, the sum allowed by the Minister of Finance to the young Duke Richard out of his Ducal Treasury, for the support and maintenance of himself and his whole household, was ultimately reduced to eighteen sous per diem, or, as some authorities assert, twelve. If, during the French usurpation, Raoul Torta had rendered himself hateful to the villanage, he now incurred the peril of becoming infinitely more odious to the higher classes. All ranks and parties coalesced for the purpose of effecting his expulsion. It has been surmised, and not without some appearance of probability, that in the main, Raoul Torta sought to be a faithful administrator. His conduct, according to this view, was honest and conscientious:—Raoul earnestly desired to husband the Ducal revenues, particularly since, as his partizans might plead, he laboured under the apprehension that the resources of the State would be exhausted through the extravagancies of the youthful Richard's boon associates, and that the offence he gave resulted simply from his adherence to principle.

However, such was not the opinion entertained either by the monarch or the majority. Raoul Torta's fall was decreed. Normandy must cast off the incubus, yet not by violence, and proceedings were conducted in judicial form. Richard convened his Lieges, and made careful enquiry into the extent of his rights.The Treasurer, it was alleged, had juggled himself into the possession and exercise of all the property as well as the power which pertained to the Sovereign; not merely destroying the Duke's influence, but bringing him to shame. Raoul was solemnly summoned to appear before the Duke, and answer for his misdeeds. Whether trusting in his own rectitude or struck by terror, Raoul endeavoured to gain time by delay, and humbly implored the Duke's mercy. Richard did not peremptorily reject the supplication.

Raoul was the head of a formidable faction; it suited Richard's purpose to temporize: and, for this reason, the defendant was peremptorily ordered to quit Rouen, repair to a hamlet about a league off, and there abide his judgment. Richard declared, that, should any show of resistance be manifested on the part of the fallen Minister or his adherents, he would invoke the aid of all his subjects and allies. Raoul Torta dared not stand his trial; he fled from Normandy, and, taking refuge at Paris, placed himself under the protection of his father the Bishop, nor did he ever return to plague the Normans again.

Office

The position of senechal existed in most medieval royal or princely courts in Western Europe. Depending on the region or country, the role of the seneschal was different. In France, some large principalities (duchies and suzerain counties) had senechals, heads of justice in these large feudal complexes. Their functions were also reduced as the French royal power increased its authority in the provinces united to the royal domain.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seneschal

A second meaning is more specific, and concerns the late medieval and early modern nation of France, wherein the seneschal (French:sénéchal) was also a royal officer in charge of justice and control of the administration of certain southern provinces called seneschalties, holding a role equivalent to a northern French bailiff (bailli).

Governor of Normandy

https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gouverneur_der_Normandie#Liste_der_Go...

The governor of Normandy had two lieutenants-généraux under his command, who commanded Haute Normandy or Basse-Normandie in his absence.

Duchy of Normandy

• Date Name Comments
• 942 Bernard le Danois Norman nobleman
• 943 Raoul Tourte[1] Norman nobleman, Seneschal of the Duchy of Normandy during the minority of Richard Sans-Peur.
• 943 - 945 Herluin de Montreuil († 945) Comte de Montreuil, abbot of Saint-Riquier from 926 to 945; he was the son of Helgaud de Montreuil, Count of Montreuil and bailiff of Saint-Riquier.

1. Lucien Musset, Aspects du monachisme en Normandie, Librairie philosophique J. Vrin, Paris, 1982. Page 75. < GoogleBooks >

Sources

https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORMANDY.htm

RICHARD, son of GUILLAUME Comte [ de Normandie] & his first [wife] Sprota —- (Fécamp [932]-Fécamp 20 Nov 996, bur Fécamp[76]). … succeeded his father as RICHARD I "Sans Peur" Comte [de Normandie]. Comte Richard defeated French forces after King Lothaire of France captured Evreux. Dudo de Saint-Quentin records that, soon after succeeding, Richard suppressed the rebellion of Rodulf "Torta", who was banished and fled to Paris[85]. These events are not dated, but are recounted with the betrothal of Richard to the daughter of Hugues Duc des Francs, which is dated to 956.

85. Dudo of Saint-Quentin, Chapter 43.

Viking Normandy: Dudo of St. Quentin's Gesta Normannorum. An English Translation Editor: Felice Lifshitz. < link >

[43] Richard flourishes and allies with Hugh the Great, while Arnulf and Louis enlist king Otto of the Saxons to their cause [Folios 64r - 68r = File(s) 43(L)-< Challenge >

… At that time there was a certain Rodulf (surnamed Torta) who, after the death of William, would claim for himself, above and beyond his peers, the honor of all Normandy and, unbecomingly, would unlawfully appropriate for himself goods which were his lord's by right. Each day he would apportion to the graceful boy Richard a daily pay approaching twice thrice three denarii just as he paid his own young recruits. The residents of [Richard's] household would be vilely reduced, fettered by want and hunger. Wherefore does the youth Richard (so knowledgeably diligent!), having gathered together the leaders of the Norman region, ask them what to do about the scarcity resulting from this scanty apportionment. And the leaders have then reported the wrath of their angry lord to Rodulf, surnamed Torta, for they are bound to serve him by the true promise of their oath of allegiance and are even endowed with his beneficia. He, however, has sent his own comrades back to the boy Richard (so sagaciously upright!), begging to be permitted to come before him and to purify himself of whatever he had done to displease him.

Then, having considered this request, the boy (so memorable!) is said to have replied: "You do understand that my grandfather claimed this town for himself through very many battles." They have replied: "We do understand that." And he: "Did my father hold this town by hereditary lot? Ought I not to hold this town by hereditary right after the death of my grandfather and father? Have you ever seen his father, or grandfather, or greatgrandfather hold this town as he is now holding it? Let us explore who is the grieved party here, I or he." Moreover, while the messengers stood silent, astounded by these words, it is said that he cautiously added: "If he wishes to deserve our grace in any respect whatsoever, let him and all his household withdraw from the city as quickly as possible and, having moved at least one mile from the town, let him stay in a villa until he sends ambassadors to me and hears what I shall reply to him. But if he should take lightly our judicious injunction, we will reject him in every way and send for the Franks to give us advantageous counsel concerning this matter."

Then the messengers have reported what they heard to Rodulf Torta. He, in fact, reckoning that his lord would be appeased by his own withdrawal and that of his followers, nay rather, fearing that an army of the Frankish nation was about to arrive, has departed from the city with all his household, staying instead in the meadows of some rustics. Meanwhile the boy Richard (so diligent!) confirms any inconstant warriors to himself by the true promise of an oath of allegiance, ratifying as well the tie of fidelity binding citizens of the whole town to himself. And indeed the following day, Rodulf Torta has sent many of his comrades to the boy (so moderate!) asking that Richard, by accepting the token due to an offended party permit him to come before him to be judged and forgiven.

On his guard then, the boy has said, moved by the spirit of an acute mind: "Do you understand that he at one time did unheard-of damage to me?" They have replied: "We do understand that." "Does he not still act with foolhardy rashness? He crops the meadows of my rustics with his scythes, consumes them with his horses, wears them down with his heels, he kills and eats their cows and rams, bulls and pigs. If he does not go away, banished from our territory, he will speedily incur his due destruction. You have spoken on his behalf in the past, and you are still speaking in his favor now, but in no way will it benefit him." They however, marvelling at such words, have fallen on their faces, saying: "Lord, we pray that your fury neither rage nor rave furiously against us, for we are your fideles in all things, nor will we ever cleave to him."

Moreover, going away, they report what they have heard to Rodulf Torta. Despairing, he has in fact swiftly foresaken those meadows and come quickly to Paris with all his household. However his son, the bishop of the Parisian town, seeing his unexpected arrival, has stiffened and, yes indeed drawing sighs from his breast, said "Why, father, have you hastened here with all your household of both sexes?" Truly, he has recounted his misfortunes for the bishop, both his defeat and his disastrous destruction. The bishop and his father have again and again sent ambassadors to the boy (so courageous!), but it has done them no good. Moreover the lords of Normandy, seeing that he had so judiciously banished a military leader, greatly feared him. …

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The Gesta Normannorum Ducum of William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni: Introduction and books I-IV, Volumes 1-2. Page 111. < GoogleBooks >

HISTORY… THE INTERESTING BITS! The Origins of the Warenne Family.” (22/05/2021) Sharon Bennett Connolly < link >

In 1782 Rev John Watson wrote a two-volume biography of the Warenne earls of Surrey for Sir George Warren, to demonstrate the knight’s descent from the Warenne earls. Watson tried to establish the origins of the Warennes, but his family trees are confusing, and his sources are not cited. He claimed that the Warennes were descended from Herfastus through a daughter who married Walter de Saint Martin. This daughter supposedly gave birth to William de Warenne, Earl of Varenne in Normandy, who in turn married a daughter of Rafe de Torta, a Danish nobleman who was protector of Normandy in the time of Duke Richard I. This William de Warenne was, supposedly, the father of William I de Warenne. Although there are no sources mentioned, it seems likely that Rev Watson got his information from the chronicler Robert de Torigny. There was no mention of Rodulf, who is clearly identified in the cartulary of the Holy Trinity of Rouen as being the father of William de Warenne and his older brother: ‘ filii eorum Rodulfus et Willelmus’.

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Disputed origins

• Ralph de Torta was born circa 949.1 Some say as early as 935. A few give his father as Herfastus The Knight, with out any supporting evidence.
• “Raoul Torta dared not stand his trial; he fled from Normandy [in 946] and, taking refuge at Paris, placed himself under the protection of his father the Bishop.”
• Raoul Tourte is of unknown origin, he is also known as the father of Gauthier/Walter, Bishop of Paris (term of office 937–941). 2
• from Palgrave, Sir Francis. The History of Normandy and of England, Volume II .. Page 312. < GoogleBooks >. (936-943) The ungain character of Raoul Torta (afterwards the unpopular minister of the young Duke) has been clearly chronicled, but we do not know much concerning his personal history. Possibly he may have been connected with Hugh-le-Grand, inasmuch as his son Gautier, Bishop of Paris, had previously been one of the Duke-abbot's flocka Monk in his Monastery of Saint Denis. Raoul Torta was opulent and influential, enjoying large possessions, and supported by numerous friends and retainers in the vicinity of Rouen. …

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Updates 26 June 2024:

• removed dates seen as circa 935 Saint-Lô, Manche, Lower Normandy, France and Death: 1010 (70-80) Dammartin-en-Goële, Seine-et-Marne, Île-de-France, France
  • Rouen was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy during the Middle Ages.
  • The Duchy of Normandy grew out of the 911 Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte between King Charles III of West Francia and the Viking leader Rollo. The duchy was named for its inhabitants, the Normans. … The territory ceded to Rollo comprised the pagi of the Caux, Évrecin, Roumois and Talou. This was territory formerly known as the county of Rouen, and which would become Upper Normandy. … Within a few generations of the founding of Normandy in 911, however, the Scandinavian settlers had intermarried with the natives and adopted much of their culture. But in 911, Normandy was not a political nor monetary unit. Frankish culture remained dominant and according to some scholars, 10th century Normandy was characterized by a diverse Scandinavian population interacting with the "local Frankish matrix" that existed in the region. In the end, the Normans stressed assimilation with the local population.[5]
  • West Francia In medieval historiography, West Francia (Medieval Latin: Francia occidentalis) or the Kingdom of the West Franks (Latin: regnum Francorum occidentalium) constitutes the initial stage of the Kingdom of France and extends from the year 843, from the Treaty of Verdun, to 987, the beginning of the Capetian dynasty. It was created from the division of the Carolingian Empire following the death of Louis the Pious, with its neighbor East Francia eventually evolving into the Kingdom of Germany.
• removed as son of Gautier, Bishop of Paris (his son, not father)
• removed as son of Herfastus "The Knight" (a warped duplicate of Herbastus de Crépon (hypothetical person), perhaps)

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References

• https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Tourte
  • 1. Ou Raoul Torte, Raoul Torta, Raoul La Tourte; en latin: Radulfus Torta, Radulphus Torta, …Rodulfus, cujus agnomen Torta vocabatur…, De moribus et actis primorum Normanniæ ducum
  • 2. Son nom si « expressif » indiquerait un Normand d'origine selon Ferdinand Lot
  • 3. Jacques Choffel, [1] [archive] Richard Sans-Peur, duc de Normandie (932-996), Fernand Lanore, Paris, 1999 (ISBN 978-2-85157-177-9)
  • 4. Guillaume de Jumièges, IV, 6
  • 5. Dudon de Saint-Quentin, éd. Jules Lair, p. 248-249.
• Palgrave, Sir Francis. The History of Normandy and of England, Volume II: The three first dukes of Normandy: Rollo, Guillaume-Longue-Epée, and Richard-Sans-Peur. Richard Le-Bon. Richard III. Robert Le-Diable. William the Conqueror. (1857). < search inside GoogleBooks >
• https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raoul_Tourte cites
  • Dudo of Saint-Quentin, De moribus et actis primorum Normanniae ducum, around 990/1026
  • William of Jumièges, Gesta Normannorum Ducum, around 1071/1072
  • Wace, Roman de Rou, around 1160/1175
• “Early Normandy in the 10th century: New research opens up for a whole new understanding of the history of early Normandy in the 10th century.” (14/02/2014) < link >
• Richard I of Normandy
• Rouen … From their first incursion into the lower valley of the Seine in 841, the Normans overran Rouen. From 912, Rouen was the capital of the Duchy of Normandy and residence of the local dukes, until William the Conqueror moved his residence to Caen.[7]
• “Raoul Tourte” in Aspects du monachisme en Normandie: actes du Colloque scientifique de l ... By Maylis Baylé. Page 75. < GoogleBooks >
  • Abbey of St Peter at Jumièges was a Benedictine monastery. Its ruins are situated in the commune of Jumièges in the Seine-Maritime Departement of Normandy, France. … In the ninth century it was pillaged and burnt to the ground by the Vikings, but was rebuilt on a grander scale by William Longespee, Duke of Normandy (d. 942).[8] … Enjoying the patronage of the dukes of Normandy, the abbey became a great centre of religion and learning, its schools producing, amongst many other scholars, the national historian …
  • William of Jumièges was the original compiler of the history known as the Gesta Normannorum Ducum ("Deeds of the Dukes of the Normans"), written in about 1070. This was built upon the framework of an earlier history compiled by Dudo of Saint-Quentin, De moribus et actis primorum Normannorum ducum, between c. 996 and c. 1015. This work was commissioned by Duke Richard I, and "was renewed by his half-brother, Count Rodulf of Ivry, and his son Duke Richard II (996-1026)... Dudo's work was taken up by William of Jumièges in the 1050s, who revised, abbreviated and updated his De moribus and added an account of the reigns of Dukes Richard II, Richard III (1026-7), Robert I (1027-35), and William II [William the Conqueror]." He finished this by 1060 but added to it later when William the Conqueror had become king of England, bringing events up to 1070. The Gesta Normannorum Ducum was later expanded by the 12th-century monkish chroniclers Orderic Vitalis and Robert of Torigni.
• The Henry Project: The Ancestors of King Henry II of England MALE Richard I "Sans Peur" ("the Fearless") Leader of the Normans of Rouen [anachronistically, "duke of Normandy"], 942-996. < link >
• https://fmg.ac/Projects/MedLands/NORMANDY.htm
• Viking Normandy: Dudo of St. Quentin's Gesta Normannorum. An English Translation Editor: Felice Lifshitz. < link >
• The Gesta Normannorum Ducum ("Deeds of the Norman Dukes") was written by William of Jumièges, a monk of that abbey, shortly before 1060 and then, at the request of King William, extended early in 1070 to include in Book VII an account of the conquest. < link >
• Bernard the Dane is described by the tenth century ecclesiastical writer Dudo of Saint-Quentin as a 'warrior' of Rouen from 'Dacia',[note 1] an ally and confidant of the first leaders of Normandy, political counsellor to Rollo's son William Longsword, and co-regent of the territory during the minority of his son and heir, Richard I of Normandy. In particular, Bernard is seen as being at the centre of events in the aftermath of the assassination of William Longsword. … The historian Leah Shopkow regards Bernard the Dane, specifically, as an invention of Dudo.
  • There is no extant contemporary source for Bernard the Dane,[note 4] despite there being two writers who were both maintaining chronicles at the time: Flodoard and Richer, both of Reims.
• https://sites.rootsweb.com/~havens5/p6747.htm Ralph de was born circa 949.1 Some say as early as 935. A few give his father as Herfastus The Knight, with out any supporting evidence. Child 1. a daughter of Torta+ b. c 977 (1) married Roger de Warenne, son of Gautier de St. Martin and Niece of Dutchess of Gonnor. Cites
  • 1. http://wc.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=jweber&id=I00359 (Dead link)
• Todd A. Farmerie: Robert de Torigny and the family of Gunnora, Duchess of Normandy . < link >
• https://familytrees.genopro.com/azrael/skaggs/deTorta-Rodolphe-ind2...
• https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Torta-2 Comment: Did this person even exist ?