Biographies
Biographies
Please note that the TimeRef website is currently being redesigned.

Biographies of lesser people starting with W

The people listed on this page currently have less information so do not warrant a page of their own. As this website evolves and more information is added these people will be promoted to individual pages.

Please note: Portraits on this page are not intented to be accurate depictions of the individuals.

Wareham, William (Archbishop of Canterbury)

William Wareham became Archbishop of Canterbury in 1503. He later performed the marriage ceremony for King Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon.

See Also

People

Places

Timeline

1503

William Wareham was elected to the post of Archbishop of Canterbury by Pope Julius II.

Welles, John (Viscount Welles)

Born: circa 1450 Died: 1498

A Lancastrian supporter, John Welles took part in Buckingham's rebellion in October of 1483, a plot to remove King Richard III from the English throne and replace him with Henry Tudor, the future Henry VII and John's nephew. When the plot failed he fled to Brittany and Henry's side. When Henry became king of England, John was rewarded with a marriage to Cecily of York, the daughter of King Edward IV. Together they had two daughters who died before their tenth birthdays. John died in 1498 (or 1499) and id buried in Westminster Abbey.

See Also

People

Timeline

1483(Age: 33yrs)

Henry, the second Duke of Buckingham, took part in a rebellion called Buckingham's rebellion against King Richard III. Involved also in the plot was John Morton, the Bishop of Ely at the time. Morton was an enemy of the King and was held captive in Buckingham's castle at Brecknock. The plan was to remove Richard and place Henry Tudor on the throne. An army was raised in Wales but due to bad weather the plot ended in failure. Buckingham was captured and executed on November 2nd. Many of the other rebels were later pardoned. [1]

 

Family Tree Details

 Welles, John (Viscount Welles) (b.1450? - d.1498)
    +Cecily (of York) (b.1469 - d.1507)
 Welles, John (Viscount Welles) (b.1450? - d.1498)
    +Cecily (of York) (b.1469 - d.1507)

William (II, King of Sicily)

Born: 1153 Died: November 1189

After the troubled reign of his father, William I, known as William 'the Bad', William II was given the nickname 'the Good'. William was too young to rule when his father died in 1166, and so his mother, Margaret of Navarre, ruled as regent until around 1171 when William became of age and took control of his kingdom. He was skilled in European politics and made peace with Genoa and Venice and married Joan, the daughter of King Henry II of England.

See Also

People

Timeline

1175(Age: 22yrs)

Joan, the daughter of Henry II, King of England, travelled to Sicily to marry William II the King of Sicily. [2]

1177(Age: 24yrs)

In the city of Palermo, on the island of Sicily, Joan, the daughter of King Henry II married William II, the king of Sicily. [2]

 

Family Tree Details

 William (II, King of Sicily) (b.1153 - d.1189)
    +Joan (of England, Queen of Sicily) (b.1165 - d.1199)
 William (II, King of Sicily) (b.1153 - d.1189)
    +Joan (of England, Queen of Sicily) (b.1165 - d.1199)

William (Longsword, Duke of Normandy)

Died: 942

illiam was the eldest son of Rollo, the founder of the duchy of Normandy. William was murdered on the orders of Arnulf of Flanders because he posed a threat to Arnulf's ambitions. William was invited to a meeting on the River Somme and when he was cut off from his supporters was attacked and killed. William was succeeded by Richard, his illegitimate son.

Timeline

942

William, the duke of Normandy was murdered on the order by Arnulf of Flanders. he was succeededby his illegitimate son Richard. [3]

Parents

Fantasy image of Rollo (Rolf or HRolf)
Rollo (Rolf or HRolf)
Fantasy image of Poppa (of Bayeux)
Poppa (of Bayeux)

 

Family Tree Details

Father:Rollo (Rolf or HRolf)
Mother:Poppa (of Bayeux)
 William (Longsword, Duke of Normandy) ( - d.942)
 William (Longsword, Duke of Normandy) ( - d.942)

William (of Warenne, Earl of Surrey)

Died: 1088

At the time of the Conquest, William of Warenne accompanied William the Conqueror across from Normandy, fighting at the Battle of Hastings. William of Warenne was rewarded with huge amounts of land and helped his Lord, William the Conqueror put down revolts. He was responsible for putting up many castles in the quest to dominate the areas under his control. After the Conqueror's death, William supported William Rufus' claim to the throne and as a reward was granted the title of Earl of Surrey. He died in 1088 leaving a massive dynasty that would be powerful for several centuries.

See Also

People

Places

Other

Wulfstan (I, Archbishop of York 931 - 952)

Died: circa 955

Wulfstan became Archbishop of York in 931 with support of king Athelstan. During his time as archbishop Wulfstan's allegiance changed several times between supporting the kings or Wessex and supporting Viking leaders that were invading the country. When Olaf Guthfrithson invaded Northumbria in 939 and 940, Wulfstan helped arranged a treaty that brought peace and divided the country in two leaving king Edmund ruling the south and Olaf ruling the north. In 947 Wulfstan supported Eric Bloodaxe who became ruler of the Northumbria and in response king Eadred took an army north. In 952 Wulfstan was arrested by Eadred for supporting the Viking invaders. He is known as Wulfstan I to differentiate him from other bishops and archbishops of the same name around the same period.

See Also

People

Timeline

931

Wulfstan I becomes Archbishop of York after being appointed by king Athelstan. [3]

939

Olaf Guthfrithson, who had been defeated at the Battle of Brunanburh and who had fled to Ireland, returned to England and invaded Northumberlan taking the city of York. King Edmund took an army north but after a brief battle neither side had gained any advantage. The Archbishops of Canterbury and York negotiated a peace treaty that effectively divided the country in two leaving Edmund ruling the south and Olaf ruling the north.

Wulfstan, (II, Archbishop of York 1002-23)

Died: 1023

Wulfstan became Bishop of London in 996 and in 1002 became the Archbishop of York. Until 1016 he held the see of Worcester as well as that of York. Wulfstan was an important writer of his time and worked both on religious works and works of law for King Canute. He is known as Wulfstan II to differentiate him from other bishops and archbishops of the same name around the same period.

See Also

People

Places

Other

Wulfthryth

ife of Aethelred I, King of Wessex 866-871.

 

Family Tree Details

 Wulfthryth
    +Aethelred (King of Wessex 866-871) (b.840? - d.871)
        = Aethelwold (b.868? - d.902)
 Wulfthryth
    +Aethelred (King of Wessex 866-871) (b.840? - d.871)
        = Aethelwold (b.868? - d.902)

Selection of references used:

  • 1: Anthony Cheetham, Life and times of Richard III, ISBN:0-297-83167-4, Weidenfield and Nicolson
  • 2: The Plantagenet Chronicles, ISBN:1-85501-685-0
  • 3: John Haywood, Encyclopaedia of the Viking Age

    Explore the White Tower

    Explore all four floors of the White Tower at the Tower of London using the Unity 3d game engine.

    3D/VR

    Virtual Buildings

    Transport yourself back up to a thousand years and explore historical buildings as they may have appeared in the past.

    A Medieval Mystery

    There appear to be some strange connections between the fourteenth century Old Wardour Castle and ancient stone circle Stonehenge.

    1: Location

    Old Wardour Castle appears to be aligned to ancient sites in the Stonehenge landscape.

    2: Alignment

    Stonehenge is aligned to the Summer Solstice. Old Wardour has a very similar alignment.

    3: Size

    Could the builders of Old Wardour used mesaurements from Stonehenge to layout the geometrical keep?

    Learn More