WILLIAM II AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF
POWER AND GOVERNMENT
Why, and with what consequences, was there a dispute over the
Conqueror’s inheritance?
William spent the majority of the last 15 years of his life in Normandy.
9 Sept 1087, William died from injuries sustained at the Siege of Mantes.
Empire divided among three sons.
Robert Curthose was bequeathed Normandy.
William Rufus was given jurisdiction over England.
Henry gained treasure too great to be counted.
Why?
- Norm for eldest son to inherit territory
- Deteriorating relationship between William and Robert
Between 1077-79 Robert became impatient and demanded he should take control of
Normandy and Maine, Robert fled to England.
According to Orderic Vitalis in 1078 the three brothers were playing a game of dice which
ended by Rufus and Henry pouring water over Robert's head, which turned into a fight. (Henry
was probably only 10 years old)
Consequences:
- Rebellion in England in 1088
- Increased animosity between William Rufus and Robert
Treaty of Rouen agreed:
- William had authority over the countries of Eu, Fecamp and Cherbourg.
- Rufus supported Roberts in obligation to take back Maine
- Robert was to receive land in England
- If Robert died without an heir, Rufus would gain Normandy and vice versa in England.
Why was there a rebellion from the Norman barons 1088-1095?
1088
,Consisted of ‘the most powerful Frenchman who were in this land’
Source C:
- Rebel action was mostly setting fire to land and property of the King and his followers,
as well as ransacking food and other valuables.
- Rebels used their own castles as bases to launch campaigns from, eg: Bigod, Odo.
Course of rebellion:
- During Lent of 1088, rebel leaders launched a recruitment drive to swell their ranks.
- Easter onwards: rebel court held at Winchester where strategy to plunder on a wide
scale was decided on.
- Rufus gathered his forces to target Odo. Rufus forced Odo to surrender in his base in
Rochester and the rebellion was over by the end of summer.
William’s response:
- Caused division amongst rebels through promises and reminder of how they reached
their position (Source D William Malmesbury)
- Made promises to Englishmen about hunting spaces, taxes and fairer laws.
- Used contact with Bishop Wulfstan of Worcester to appeal to religious beliefs of rebels
- Directly in conflict with ringleader, Odo. He also tightened sea borders to prevent
Robert from invading.
Odo
- Made Earl of Kent after Conquest
- Acted as regent when the Conqueror was in Normandy
- Put on trial in 1076 for defrauding the Crown and the diocese of Canterbury. He was
found guilty and had to hand over property as recompense.
- Odo was sheltering Pevensey castle in Surrey
- Odo was taken to Rochester castle where his followers were forced to surrender
- Rochester castle was strengthened
- Imprisoned after launching unofficial military campaign in 1082
Source E: describes Odo and his allies relinquishing land and honour after rebellion was
defeated in Rochester
Consequences:
- Showed William was a formidable military and political leader
- Odo banished to and stripped of his possession
- Robert of Mortain was allowed to stay in England and keep his estates.
- Robert de Mowbray was imprisoned for life.
- Roger of Montgomery had left the rebels and joined with the king after promises of
land and money.
- Indicated that William’s position was not secure
, 1095
Source F: describes Earl of Northumbria (Robert Mowbray) not obeying a summons to attend
Royal Court in Winchester in 1095.
Robert Mowbray had plundered Scandinavian trading vessels in 1094/95 and was reprimanded
by Rufus who made him pay for what was illegally taken.
Mowbray refused and then refused to go to Royal Court to answer charges; he was labelled a
traitor and had his estates taken away from him.
1095 he once again betrayed his King and joined a rebellion with the goal of usurping the
throne in favour of a man named Stephen, Count of Aumale. Stephen was a cousin of William
Rufus and Robert Curthose.
The rebellion was lukewarm and most of the baronial support evaporated leaving Robert and
his co-conspirator William of Eu exposed. Matters came to a head when Robert confiscated a
number of Norwegian vessels which were lying at anchor in the River Tyne. Following
complaints made to William Rufus by the Norwegian merchants, Robert was summoned by the
King. He refused to attend, and Rufus mustered an army to march north and confront him.
Mowbray retreated to his stronghold of Bamburgh Castle.
Rufus laid siege to the castle. The fortress at Bamburgh had a reputation for its strength and
taking it by force was no easy task. William invested heavily in the attack and even built a
temporary siege castle alongside the fortress calling it “Malvoisin” (Bad Neighbour). At some
point during the siege, Robert managed to escape and fled south leaving his wife Matilda to
continue to resist. He was pursued to Tynemouth, where, after being wounded in the leg, he
was captured by the King’s men. Robert was brought back to Bamburgh in chains. Matilda still
continued to hold out, only ending the siege when Rufus threatened to blind her husband.
Following his capture, Robert had his lands and title forfeited and he was taken to Windsor
Castle as a prisoner.
The rebels who survived were tried at the royal court.
Mowbray was imprisoned for life in 1096.
William Count of Eu had his eyes gouged out and was castrated
Arkil Morel was exiled
POWER AND GOVERNMENT
Why, and with what consequences, was there a dispute over the
Conqueror’s inheritance?
William spent the majority of the last 15 years of his life in Normandy.
9 Sept 1087, William died from injuries sustained at the Siege of Mantes.
Empire divided among three sons.
Robert Curthose was bequeathed Normandy.
William Rufus was given jurisdiction over England.
Henry gained treasure too great to be counted.
Why?
- Norm for eldest son to inherit territory
- Deteriorating relationship between William and Robert
Between 1077-79 Robert became impatient and demanded he should take control of
Normandy and Maine, Robert fled to England.
According to Orderic Vitalis in 1078 the three brothers were playing a game of dice which
ended by Rufus and Henry pouring water over Robert's head, which turned into a fight. (Henry
was probably only 10 years old)
Consequences:
- Rebellion in England in 1088
- Increased animosity between William Rufus and Robert
Treaty of Rouen agreed:
- William had authority over the countries of Eu, Fecamp and Cherbourg.
- Rufus supported Roberts in obligation to take back Maine
- Robert was to receive land in England
- If Robert died without an heir, Rufus would gain Normandy and vice versa in England.
Why was there a rebellion from the Norman barons 1088-1095?
1088
,Consisted of ‘the most powerful Frenchman who were in this land’
Source C:
- Rebel action was mostly setting fire to land and property of the King and his followers,
as well as ransacking food and other valuables.
- Rebels used their own castles as bases to launch campaigns from, eg: Bigod, Odo.
Course of rebellion:
- During Lent of 1088, rebel leaders launched a recruitment drive to swell their ranks.
- Easter onwards: rebel court held at Winchester where strategy to plunder on a wide
scale was decided on.
- Rufus gathered his forces to target Odo. Rufus forced Odo to surrender in his base in
Rochester and the rebellion was over by the end of summer.
William’s response:
- Caused division amongst rebels through promises and reminder of how they reached
their position (Source D William Malmesbury)
- Made promises to Englishmen about hunting spaces, taxes and fairer laws.
- Used contact with Bishop Wulfstan of Worcester to appeal to religious beliefs of rebels
- Directly in conflict with ringleader, Odo. He also tightened sea borders to prevent
Robert from invading.
Odo
- Made Earl of Kent after Conquest
- Acted as regent when the Conqueror was in Normandy
- Put on trial in 1076 for defrauding the Crown and the diocese of Canterbury. He was
found guilty and had to hand over property as recompense.
- Odo was sheltering Pevensey castle in Surrey
- Odo was taken to Rochester castle where his followers were forced to surrender
- Rochester castle was strengthened
- Imprisoned after launching unofficial military campaign in 1082
Source E: describes Odo and his allies relinquishing land and honour after rebellion was
defeated in Rochester
Consequences:
- Showed William was a formidable military and political leader
- Odo banished to and stripped of his possession
- Robert of Mortain was allowed to stay in England and keep his estates.
- Robert de Mowbray was imprisoned for life.
- Roger of Montgomery had left the rebels and joined with the king after promises of
land and money.
- Indicated that William’s position was not secure
, 1095
Source F: describes Earl of Northumbria (Robert Mowbray) not obeying a summons to attend
Royal Court in Winchester in 1095.
Robert Mowbray had plundered Scandinavian trading vessels in 1094/95 and was reprimanded
by Rufus who made him pay for what was illegally taken.
Mowbray refused and then refused to go to Royal Court to answer charges; he was labelled a
traitor and had his estates taken away from him.
1095 he once again betrayed his King and joined a rebellion with the goal of usurping the
throne in favour of a man named Stephen, Count of Aumale. Stephen was a cousin of William
Rufus and Robert Curthose.
The rebellion was lukewarm and most of the baronial support evaporated leaving Robert and
his co-conspirator William of Eu exposed. Matters came to a head when Robert confiscated a
number of Norwegian vessels which were lying at anchor in the River Tyne. Following
complaints made to William Rufus by the Norwegian merchants, Robert was summoned by the
King. He refused to attend, and Rufus mustered an army to march north and confront him.
Mowbray retreated to his stronghold of Bamburgh Castle.
Rufus laid siege to the castle. The fortress at Bamburgh had a reputation for its strength and
taking it by force was no easy task. William invested heavily in the attack and even built a
temporary siege castle alongside the fortress calling it “Malvoisin” (Bad Neighbour). At some
point during the siege, Robert managed to escape and fled south leaving his wife Matilda to
continue to resist. He was pursued to Tynemouth, where, after being wounded in the leg, he
was captured by the King’s men. Robert was brought back to Bamburgh in chains. Matilda still
continued to hold out, only ending the siege when Rufus threatened to blind her husband.
Following his capture, Robert had his lands and title forfeited and he was taken to Windsor
Castle as a prisoner.
The rebels who survived were tried at the royal court.
Mowbray was imprisoned for life in 1096.
William Count of Eu had his eyes gouged out and was castrated
Arkil Morel was exiled
