Richard, Duke of Bernay

Infobox British Royalty
prince
name = Richard of Bernay
royal house = House of Normandy
father = William I
mother = Matilda of Flanders
date of birth = c.1054
place of birth = Normandy, France
date of death = c.1081
place of death = New Forest, England
place of burial = Winchester Cathedral|Richard was born in 1054 in Normandy, France, the second legitimate son of William the Conqueror, King of England and Duke of Normandy. He was installed as Duke of Bernay, part of his father's continental possessions. His older brother, Robert Curthose, was effectively exiled after rebellion, leaving the young Duke as leading claimant to the English throne.

However, Richard was never to be King. In 1081, on a trip over the channel to his father's Kingdom, the young Duke went hunting in the New Forest. The exact nature of the accident is unknown, but Richard was mauled and killed by a stag, leaving his younger brother William as claimant. He was taken from the forest and buried at Winchester Cathedral.

Coincidentally, Richard's younger brother, the new King William, was killed on a hunting trip to the New Forest less than 20 years later, making it rather unlucky for the Norman Royal family.

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References

* [http://www.thepeerage.com/p10203.htm#i102025| Online Peerage]