THE DEATH OF WILLIAM AND THE SUCCESSION OF HENRY I

Question 1

Rufus and Normandy

Answer 1

William went to Normandy on several occasions in his reign to keep the duchy intact, and had a keen interest in restoring Maine as a Norman territory as well as claiming the French Vexin.

Question 2

1091 invasion of Normandy

Answer 2

Rufus invaded in February 1091 after unrest involving Robert Curthose saw the region fall into anarchy.
This led to the Treaty of Rouen being 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.

Question 3

1094 invasion of Normandy

Answer 3

Rufus broke the terms of the Treaty in 1094 after Robert failed to take hold of affairs effectively in Normandy and also failed to take control of Maine.
He sent an army and used mercenaries to raid Robert’s strongholds
After a relatively unsuccessful campaign but a financially rewarding one, William returned home with his army.

Question 4

1097 return to Normandy

Answer 4

Rufus decided to fund Robert’s crusade leaving him in charge of Normandy
Rufus returned with two aims in 1097 after briefly leaving to fight the Welsh: consolidate Maine; take the French Vexin from King Phillip I of France.
Reasons:
Conqueror was injured when raiding the French Vexin, so Rufus may have been seeking revenge.
Taking the land may have helped him become King of France.
Phillip left younger brother Hugh the Great in charge of the French Vexin but Hugh decided to go on the First Crusade. This was an opportunity to gain more land.

Question 5

Vexin War of 1097-98

Answer 5

Very little fighting. Rufus had 10,000 knights.
Left Gisors to deal with Helias who was fortifying Maine.

Robert of Belleme had estates and castles, Helias threatened Robert’s properties.
People of Maine despised the Normans.
Fighting between Helias and Robert. Helias was captured and imprisoned
A siege into Le Mans led to negotiations between Rufus, Helias and Fulk of Anjou who agreed that Maine be given to Rufus. Le Mans was garrisoned.

Question 6

Vexin War of 1098-99

Answer 6

Sept 1098, Rufus had reassembled armies at Conches (outside the Vexin).
William launched an invasion on the north and at the south of the Seine, suggesting that Rufus was aiming to take the whole of the Vexin
Rufus experienced little success and the centre of the Vexin in Paris remained intact.

Question 7

Why did Rufus return to England in Easter 1099

Answer 7

Gained authority of Maine with little opposition
Taking French Vexin was too difficult and he had made a truce with the King of France: would’ve required long sieges rather than a fast battle
Rufus had neglected affairs in England, although it remained stable. Helped monks at Christ Church Canterbury upon return. Met with Edgar King of the Scots to discuss northern affairs

Question 8

1099 return to Normandy

Answer 8

Summer 1099: Helias broke agreement and sought to retake Le Mans. William forced him to retreat but couldn’t capture him
Reinforced Le Mans and punished those in the city, eg Bishop Hildebert who was exiled

Returned to England in September

Question 9

How did Rufus and Duke William IX meet?

Answer 9

Rufus made an alliance with Duke William while he was at Maine.

Question 10

Why did Rufus and Duke William enter negotiations?

Answer 10

Duke William married Phillipia in 1094, widow of the King of Navarre and Aragon, and heiress of the Count of Toulouse.
Phillipia’s mother Emma was one of the daughters of Robert of Mortain (Rufus’ half cousin).
In July 1098 the Duke pushed his wife’s claim to Toulouse.
Combined forces in winter of 1098-99, Duke was motivated financially by the prospect of his wife inheriting Mortain’s wealth
Common enemy: Fulk of Anjou. William broke off marriage with Fulk’s daughter and Fulk threatened Rufus’ position to Maine
No allegiance to King Phillip of France

Question 11

Consequences of negotiations

Answer 11

Helped Rufus’ effort to gain Maine
Rufus agreed to finance the Duke’s crusade of 300,000
Rufus given control of duchy of Aquitaine

Question 12

Aftermath of the deal

Answer 12

The deal would not be finalised as there was a similar agreement in place with Bertrand, Count of St Gilles. William did not fund the crusade as he believed it would be too hard to administer Aquitaine from England
Duke William died in August 1100 with no deal being formalised

Question 13

When did Robert return from the Crusade?

Answer 13

Robert’s crusade ended in August 1099: took him 12 months to return home

Question 14

What was Rufus’ reaction to Robert’s return?

Answer 14

Made no effort to gain support in Normandy due to the likely popularity of Robert upon his return
Could’ve resold Normandy to Robert: Robert gained booty from crusade and wealth from marriage to Sybil
Strike a deal where Rufus retains influence in Normandy
Rebellion in England was possible due to Rufus’ unpopularity and Robert’s military experience. This was unlikely due to support for Rufus from nobility

Question 15

What was the impact of this on Henry?

Answer 15

Robert’s marriage made Henry’s chances of becoming King less likely
Henry acted quickly upon Rufus’ death to claim the Crown. After advice to Robert from Ranulf the relationship deteriorated and England and Normandy were separated under two governments

Question 16

Events of Rufus’ death

Answer 16

William killed in hunting trip in New Forest hunting trip on 2 August 1100 by an arrow allegedly from Walter Tirel.

Tirel supported Rufus in second Vexin campaign in 1098.

Body carried away by peasants a day later to Winchester and buried.

On 5 August, Henry was crowned King

Question 17

Theory of superstition

Answer 17

Some believed that it was common for mediaeval Kings to be murdered by the devil.
One portent of the kings death was the appearance of blood in unusual circumstances.

Rufus supposedly had a dream of spurting blood the night before his death.
The killing of the king was also dreamed by a Monk who told Robert fitz Haimo, a close friend of Rufus.

Anselm also had visions of death, from an angel who told him.

Devil cults exclusive to Germany

Question 18

Theory that Rufus was murdered

Answer 18

Henry was next in line because Robert was on the Crusade.
Robert had got married on the crusade creating further lineage.
Henry was also very quick in being crowned. However, this is understandable as he wanted to secure the throne and prevent unrest.
Granted privileges to those close to him including Claeand Gifford families, related to Tirel through marriage

Could’ve been engineered by the French King and Duke of Anjou as Rufus posed a threat to the Vexin.

Hunting accidents were common at the time, including Robert’s son Richard

Question 19

Henry’s actions to consolidate kingship

Answer 19

Gifted bishopric of Winchetser to William Giffard to widen circle
Recalled Anselm
Captured and imprisoned Ranulf Flambard in Tower of London
Married Edith, daughter of Malcolm and niece of Edgar Aetheling

Question 20

Robert’s invasion of England 1101

Answer 20

Robert Curthose launched invasion with help of Flambard and the earls of Surrey and Buckingham in 1101:
Gained support of earls of Surrey and Buckingham
Gained support of Count of Flanders

Question 21

Consequences of Robert’s invasion

Answer 21

Talks held at Alton where armies met:
Both agreed to abandon plans in the others kingdom, Henry would pay annual stipend of £2000
Inheritance agreement
Enemies would be pardoned and allowed to keep property

Question 22

Henry and Normandy

Answer 22

Henry violated the terms and exiled Robert of Belleme in 1102 and gained support through bribery and marriage of the counts of Flanders, Anjou and Maine

Henry launched military expedition into Normandy in 1105 and secured control of western sector before returning to England

Launched second larger invasion in summer 1106 with support of counts of Maine and Brittany
Robert and William of Mortain surrendered at castle Tinchebrai and were imprisoned for life