Richard le Goz, Viscount of Avranches

Richard le Goz (d. 1082 or after), son of Thorstein le Goz, Viscount of Avranches. Viscount of Avranches. Richard’s grandfather was Ansfred the Dane. Note that a woman identified as a possible daughter of Richard I of Normandy, Guimara (b. 986), is reputed to have married Ansfred II the Dane. According to Hughes, Ansfred was the great-grandson of Rognvald Eysteinsson, Earl of the Orkneys.

William the Conqueror, as Duke of Normandy, bestowed on him the title of Viscount of Avranches sometime before 1046. Richard may also have been Lord of Creully and entrusted with the castle of Saint-James-de-Beuvron, built by William in 1067 shortly after the war against the Bretons of 1064-66.

Richard supported William at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 but is not among the proven Companions of William despite some claims. He provided 60 ships to support the invasion but it is not true that his son Hugh was in command of this fleet.

Between 1070 and 1079, Richard was involved in a ruling between Raoul Tesson and the Abbey of Fontenay. Around 1076 he was one of the judges who pronounced an award against Robert Bertram.

Richard married Emma, who is believed to be the daughter of Herluin de Conteville and Herleva (mistress of Robert I of Normandy and mother of William the Conqueror), and so sister of Robert, Count of Mortain (Companion of William) and Odo, Bishop of Bayeux. Richard and Emma had five known children and probably more:

Ranulf became Earl of Chester after his cousin Richard d’Avranches died in the White Ship disaster of 1120. Also, Judith and Richer lost their son Gilbert and two of their grandsons in this tragedy.

...
Wikipedia