The barons supported Azo of Liguria, the lawful successor of Herbert II.; the citizens of Le Mans set up a commune, expelled Azo's representatives and made war on the barons.
William had therefore no difficulty in reducing the country, even though Le Mans was assisted by Fulk of Anjou (1073).
Husband and wife met again in 1195, and the queen long survived the king, residing chiefly at Le Mans.
During his father's life-time he had been beaten by Gervais, bishop of Le Mans (1038), but now (10 4 7 or 1048) succeeded in taking the latter prisoner, for which he was excommunicated by Pope Leo IX.
In the case of the latter, the survival of the syllable "man" in Le Mans is due to the stress laid on the vowel; had the vowel been short and unaccented, it would have disappeared.
