• Born: Rouen, Seine-Maritime, Haute-Normandie, France
• Married (1): Between 1000 and 1008, Fécamp, Seine Inferieure, France
• Died: 23 Aug 1026, Nicea, Bithynia, Turkey
• Buried: Fécamp, Haute-Normandie, France

  Research Notes:

Ademar names Richard as son of "Richardus Rotomagensis". Guillaume of Jumièges names “Richardum...et Robertum atque Malgerium aliosque duos” as the sons of Richard and his wife “Gunnor ex nobilissima Danorum prosapia ortam”. Robert of Torigny names "Ricardum…qui ei successit et Robertum postea archiepiscopum Rothomagensium et Malgerium comitem Curbuliensem, aliosque duos" as the sons of "Ricardi primi ducis Normanniæ" and Gunnora.

He succeeded his father in 996 as RICHARD II "le Bon/l'Irascible" Comte de Normandie. Orderic Vitalis records the death in 996 of "Ricardo seniore" and the succession of “Ricardus Gunnorides filius eius” who held “ducatum Normanniæ” for 30 years. An agreement between the abbots of Jumièges and Bougeuil concerning an exchange of land in Poitou, by charter dated [13 Apr/4 Apr] 1012, is subscribed by "Richardus…filius Ricardi principi magni, filius eius Richardus et…mater Richardi comitis Gunnor, uxor comitis Richardi…".

Duke of Normandy [1015]. “Ricardus princeps et dux Normannorum, filius Ricardi seniroris” donated “villam...Fontes in Braio...Brendelcurt cum ecclesia...æcclesiam de Nouobosco, æcclesiam de Bosmesnil...” to Saint-Wandrille, at the request of “Yvonis...militis”, by charter dated to [1024], subscribed by “Riccardi principis Normannorum, Papie comitisse, Roberti archipresulis fratris eiusdem principis, Yvonis militis...Hugonis Baiocensis episcopi, Girardi Flagitelli...”. He intervened on behalf of his son-in-law Renaud Comte Palatin de Bourgogne, who had been imprisoned by Hugues de Chalon, by sending troops to devastate Chalon in 1026 and procure his release. According to Adam of Bremen, after repudiating his betrothal to the sister of Knud King of Denmark, Duke Richard left for Jerusalem to escape the Danish king's wrath and died there, but this is inconsistent with the duke's third marriage. "Secundus nominis mei Normannorum dux Ricardus" confirmed donations to Fécamp abbey, for the soul of "conjugis mee…Judith", by charter dated 1027 (misdated), signed by "Ricardi filii Gulberti, Nigelli vicecomitis…Storstingi vicecomitis".

The necrology of Saint-Père-en-Vallée records the death "X Kal Sep" of "Ricardus comes". The necrology of the abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés records the death "X Kal Sep" of "[Ricar]dus Normannorum secundus". The necrology of the abbey of Saint-Denis records the death "X Kal Sep" of "Ricardus Rothomagensium comes". The necrology of Verdun Saint-Vanne records the death "X Kal Sep" of "Richardus comes", although the connection between Duke Richard and Verdun has not been established. The Brevis Relatio de Origine Willelmi Conquestoris records that "Ricardus…filius Willelmi et alius Ricardus" were buried "Fiscanni". ¹