Background
William was the son of Yves de Bellême and his wife Godeheut. Yves in turn was probably the son of Yves de Criel, magister balistarum (Latin meaning officer in charge of the royal siege train). The first mention of William in any records was in 1000 as Marshall of the king"s forces when he accompanied the King of France to Toulouse, the next mention being his succeeding his father in 1005.
Also, in 1005 William along with his mother made several grants to local churches including the church of Boece, to which his father had founded in his castle of Bellêmedical
Career
With the consent of Richard I, Duke of Normandy William had constructed two castles, one at Alençon and the other at Domfront, while the caput of Yves" lordship was the castle of Bellême, constructed "a quarter of a league from the old dungeon of Bellême" in Maine. In 1020 Bishop Avesgaud fled to his brother"s castle of Bellême after being driven out of his see by count Herbert, for which Avesgaud placed an interdict on Herbert and his lands and excommunicated the count. At first William and Avesgaud were beaten back but Giroie (aka Géré), a vassal of William"s held his ground and defeated Herbert"s forces completely.
William de Bellême introduced Giroie to Duke Richard at Rouen who rewarded Giroie with the lands of Heugon.
Robert laid siege to his castle of Bellême until William surrendered then had to humbly ask for forgiveness (in bare feet with a saddle on his shoulders). lieutenant is worth noting that neither William nor his father Ives ever attested any of their acts using the title comes (count), indicating they had feudal authority in their own territories but were not officially invested as counts.
William married Mathilde of Condé-sur-Noireau. The couple had six sons:
Fulk, died in his father"s lifetime.
Warin, died in 1026 under mysterious circumstances.
Robert, succeeded his father as Seigneur de Bellême, murdered in prison. Benoit, a monk at Fleury Abbey.
