William the Conqueror to go on pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Although some of his supporters tried to dissuade him from undertaking the journey, Robert convened a council in January 1035 and had the assembled Norman magnates swear fealty to William as his heir before leaving for Jerusalem. He died in early July at Nicea, on his way back to Normandy. William faced several challenges on becoming duke, including his illegitimate birth and his youth: the evidence indicates that he was either seven or eight years old at the time. He enjoyed the support of his great-uncle, Archbishop Robert, as well as the king of
Conrad II, Duke of Carinthia Conrad II, Duke of Carinthia Conrad II ( – 20 July 1039), called the Younger (), a member of the Salian dynasty, was Duke of Carinthia and Margrave of Verona from 1035 until his death. Named after his great-grandfather, Conrad was probably born on 12 July 990. At the time, his family had not yet started calling themselves the "Salians". Conrad's parents were Duke Conrad I of Carinthia and his consort Matilda, a daughter of the Conradine duke Herman II of Swabia. His father died in 1011, when Conrad the Younger was still a minor, and King Henry II vested