The Battle of Val-es-Dunes, Normandy, France 1047

In the late fall of 1046 the rebellion focused on the assassination of the young Duke, himself and replacing him with Guy of Burgundy. A group of lords from the district of Singlis, situated between Caen and Falaise added their support. We find among this group Haimo dentatus (the teeth) the son of Maugar who was the son of Richard I. Haimo was the older brother of the Walderne/Walter, apparent ancestor to the St. Clair/Sinclair line to Scotland and England.

An attempt to capture and murder William at Valgnes failed when he was warned of the danger mading a hurried escape by night and crossed the estuary of the Vire at low tide. By morning he was at Ryes, where he received assistance from Hubert Earl of Rye s/o Mauger, and brother of our Walderne.

William then hurried to Poissy where King Henry was and threw himself before him and claimed as a faithful vassal the help of his liege lord. Henry felt that he was involved in this threat to his over-lordship of this fief and that this rebellion was also directed toward himself. So early in 1047 he arrived in Normandy at the head of an army to rescue Duke William from the rebels.

The army met the rebels on the featureless plain of Val-es-Dunes. There are few details about the battle that consisted of isolated cavalry encounters. There was no use of supporting arms, archers or long-range weapons. Infantry was negligible. The King and Duke appear to have been confident from the beginning because of their superior number of knights. The insurgents were poorly organized and defections began. Early in the combat, King Henry was unhorsed by Haimo dentatus. But before he could press for the kill, he was killed. It is also believed that Walderne of St. Clair was also killed at this battle. As the great slaughter began, the enemies were seized with panic and fled, trampling to death their comrade, only to drown in the Orne River as they tried frantically to cross it.

The Battle of Val-es-Dunes was a decisive event which forced William's seditious uncles, Archbishop Maugar the Younger (the nephew of our Mauger), and William Count of Arques to decrease their attacks for awhile. William had proved a valiant fighter and more were drawn to his support. The significance of this battle for the St. Clairs/Sinclairs is that it ended any hope that a St. Clair would become the 8th Duke of Normandy. And if he were inclined to conquer England also, henceforth all their monarchs would have claimed descent from either Haimo or Walderne St. Clair instead of their cousin, Duke William the Conqueror.