Drowned when the ship carrying him back to England was wrecked, largely through the drunkenness of the crew.284

The only legitimate son of Henry I. In 1115 and 1116 Henry made the barons of England and Normansy swear fealty to William to ensure the succession. This unprecedented formal ceremony shows Henry’s vulnerability on the throne. In 1118-1119 William acted as regent in England before joining Henry in Normandy to marry Matilda.205

“...on the evening of 25 November, the White Ship, carrying William back to England, foundered off Barfleur....In the ensuing panic, William was put into a lifeboat, but, seeing his half-sister still on board the strcken vessel, he ordered the boat to return to her rescue, only for it to be capsized by others desperate for rescue. Few if any on board that or any other Norman boat could swim. William, his sister, another illegitimate brother and many prominent courtiers and barons were drowned. Only Berold, a butcher from Rouen, survived to tell the tale—which he did, frequently....The White Ship disaster changed the course of English history.”205

Matilda was the daughter of the “Count of Anjou” -- placing her as the daughter of this particular count is conjecture.1