WILLIAM II AND THE CONSOLIDATION OF POWER AND GOVERNMENT

Question 1

How was William’s inheritance split?

Answer 1

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.

Question 2

Why was this inheritance strange?

Answer 2

Norm for eldest son to inherit territory
Deteriorating relationship between William and Robert

Question 3

Fights between brother

Answer 3

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)

Question 4

How did Robert respond to this decision?

Answer 4

Rebellion in England in 1088
Increased animosity between William Rufus and Robert

Question 5

Treaty of Rouen

Answer 5

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 6

Course of 1088 rebellion

Answer 6

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.

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.

Question 7

Rufus’ response to rebellion

Answer 7

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.

Question 8

Odo’s role

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Consequences of 1088 rebellion

Answer 9

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.

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

Question 10

Course of 1095 rebellion

Answer 10

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.

Question 11

Consequences of 1095 rebellion

Answer 11

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

Question 12

Malcolm’s previous invasions of England

Answer 12

During Conqueror’s reign, Malcolm raided north of England 2 times:
First attack countered by William with Scottish invasion, forced to submit to William and gave hostages.
After a fight in 1080 with Robert Curthose, had to swear homage again, this time to Robert, Newcastle fortified.

Question 13

1091 Scottish invasion

Answer 13

Invaded England again in 1091 while Rufus was dealing with affairs in Normandy.
Rufus sent large army to deal with Malcolm
Fleet, carrying grain for land army, reached the Tyne before being wrecked

When Rufus and Robert met Malcolm at Lothian there was no fighting, and Malcolm swore fealty to them.

Question 14

Treaty of 1091 with Scotland

Answer 14

Obligations were the same as those of the oath he swore to the Conqueror
Malcolm would retain 12 villages given to him by William I
Would be paid yearly sum of £72 worth of silver to help maintain his household
Edgar Aetheling to return to England with Malcolm

Question 15

1093 Scottish invasion

Answer 15

Invaded England again in 1093 after £72 sum wasn’t being paid.
He and his son were trapped by Robert of Mowbray and Arkil Morel and killed on 13 November.

Resulting power struggle led to Donald Bane (his brother) becoming king.

Question 16

1092 Northumbrian campaign

Answer 16

William Rufus took large army to the northwest and drove out Dolfin, the leader, and established a base of his own.

Source K: Describes William driving Dolfin out and filling the land with peasants to till the land.

William appointed the Bishop of Durham and the sheriff to take care of administration.

Populated Cumbria and Northumbria with supporters such as Ranulf le Meschin of Briquessart, Robert of Trevers and Ivo Taillebois.

Question 17

1094 Northumbrian campaign

Answer 17

Instructed newly appointed Norman leaders to monitor activities of new Scottish king Donald Bane.
Never recognised Donald as king, recognised his brother Edgar.

Question 18

Rufus and Wales: background

Answer 18

String of castles built on the Welsh border. Used for defence against Welsh and base for incursions into Wales.

After the death of the leader of Pembrokeshire, Rhys ap Tewdwr.
Son of Roger of Montgomery Arnulf became leader, other barons tried to follow suit
Brecon region fell to Bernard of Neufmarche and south Glamorgan to Robert fitz Haimo.
The north, Gwynedd, was under control of Robert of Rhuddlan and Earl Hugh of Chester

In July 1093, Robert of Rhuddlan (Norman baron in the north of Wales) was attacked and killed by claimant Gruffudd ap Cynan; Welsh morale further boosted after the death of Robert og Montgomery in 1094.

Question 19

1095 invasion of Wales

Answer 19

Did not immediately react due to the Council of Rockingham and unrest from Norman barons in 1095.
Problems were solved by October and he began to march against the Welsh.

William was unsuccessful in tackling rebellion due to guerrilla tactics, but planned a larger invasion.

Question 20

1097 invasion of Wales

Answer 20

Invaded after assuming control of Normandy from Robert. Not his main priority.
Marched to South Wales through St David’s to consolidate Pembroke.
Considerable resources were lost and the outcome was again inconclusive
Unsuccessful mission again and left Wales in control of Gruffudd. After securing Pembroke, William went no further.

In 1098 Earl High of Chester and Earl Hugh of Shrewsbury tried to retake Gwynedd. They pushed Gruffudd and Cadwgan ap Bleddyn towards Anglesey and the two men fled to Ireland.
Magnus of Norway capitalised on the instability and attacked Anglesey, killing Earl Hugh and leaving. Gruffudd and Cadwgan returned and were allowed to settle by the Normans.
Hugh’s land was passed to Robert of Belleme due to the his reliability in dealing with the north welsh.

Question 21

Ranulf Flambard

Answer 21

Worked as Government minister focused on the raising of revenue, including raising of the geld, exploitation of feudal dues, collection of revenue from vacant abbeys and bishoprics, and inheritance fines.
Was also involved in execution of justice and issuing of writs.
Had authority to act as regent if William went overseas.

In 1099, Ranulf was granted the right to purchase the bishopric of Durham and managed to find £1000 to pay for the privilege.
After William’s death in 1100, Ranulf was arrested and imprisoned in Tower of London for extortion, but managed to escape a year later and took refuge with Robert Curthose.