Guillaume, Mathilde and their relatives (1027-1135)

This exhibition highlights an exceptional collection of charters written during the reign of William the Conqueror, preserved by the Archives of Calvados.

These major documents of Norman heritage, often shown to the public for the first time, delve into the heart of ducal and royal power in the 11th and early 12th centuries.

Thanks to various mediation devices, the exhibition offers a clear and accessible reading, engaging with today’s questions.

Presented in their context of production, these charters are compared with archaeological and architectural remains, while giving life to the women and men who wielded power, in both secular and spiritual spheres, and who have durably shaped the Norman territory, its identity, and representations.

The exhibition follows William through his family and political entourage: from his birth in Falaise in 1027 to the death of his last legitimate son, Henry I Beauclerc, in 1135. It highlights the role of major figures such as Odo of Bayeux and Robert of Mortain, while placing a central focus on powerful women: Matilda of Flanders, Emma, Arlette, and Matilda the Empress, the founders of the Plantagenet dynasty.

Rooted in the territory of Calvados, the exhibition finally offers a geographical journey through the major centers of power — Caen, Bayeux, Falaise — but also less-known monastic sites today, such as the abbeys of Troarn or Saint-André-en-Gouffern, revealing the richness and diversity of the Norman political and spiritual landscape.

Practical information:
Free
From Tuesday to Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
Exceptional openings will be scheduled.

Scientific partnership involving the five Normandy departmental archives.