The Revolt of the Norman Earls Flashcards
When were the Norman Earl revolts?
1075
Who led the revolts?
Ralph de Gael and Roger de Breteuil- Earl of Hereford and son of William’s cousin William Fitz Osbern
Who supported the rebels?
Waltheof- English Earl of Northamptonshire
King Philip of France
Why did Philip support them?
He wanted to distract William from Normandy in order to increase his own influence there
Why was Ralph against William?
He had stopped his marriage and had the king’s sheriff hear legal cases in Roger’s lands rather than Roger himself (humiliating)
What were Ralph and Roger promised by Philip?
Support from the French and the Danes
Why were these rebellions a major threat to William?
Roger and Ralph promised support from French and Danes
Who did William leave to deal with the rebellions?
His half brother Odo and the new Archbishop of Canterbury Lanfrac
When was Lanfrac Archbishop from?
1070
Why could Lanfrac foil the conspiracy?
Waltheof confessed to him after losing heart
What happened to Ralph?
Prevented from leaving Herefordshire by the army or Bishop Wulfstan of Worcester- William had the rebels involved blinded and murdered
He retreated to Brittany
What happened to Waltheof?
Executed in 1075
Why was Roger spared serious punishment?
William was friends with his father
