Sons of The Conqueror: Medieval Kings, #2

By Richard Wood OBE

Mortally wounded storming the town of Mantes in August 1087, it was a further three weeks before King William "The Conqueror" died. During this time, knowing he was dying, he must have pondered on the succession of England and Normandy. In terms of Normandy, the succession was already granted by right and custom to his oldest son Robert Curthose. However, their relationship was poor with Robert being mostly in revolt against his father since 1078. Despite this, William could not withhold Normandy from him. Under more positive circumstances there is little doubt that Robert would also have been crowned King of England, but "The Conqueror" did not trust him to govern so he chose a younger son, William "Rufus" to be King of England.

This had a massive impact on the politics of both England and France. The "English" nobles (French!) with lands on both sides of the Channel, are content if their lord is both King of England and Duke of Normandy but now two brothers hold these roles, and they dislike each other enough to wage war. The dilemma for the nobles is who do they support at the risk of being dispossessed by the other brother. This sets the stage for chaos as Robert thinks he should be King and "Rufus," needs to possess Normandy to keep his kingdom united.

Add to the intrigue, the Conqueror's youngest son Henry. He was gifted his mother's lands in England when she died in 1083 but they have been withheld from him. Even worse, he is disposed and warred on by his brothers but eventually rises to be both King and Duke only to suffer a personal tragedy which drastically affects the future of the English monarchy, This is the timeline of their story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Medieval Timelines
• Release date: Apr 25, 2023
• ISBN: 9798223170129

Book preview

Key Events up to 1087

1060

Duke William of Normandy’s third son William Rufus (future King of England) is born by now. He has two older brothers, Robert (known as Curthose) born in 1052 and Richard, born in 1054.

1063 – 29th June – Sunday.

Duke William captures Le Mans and names his son Robert Duke of Normandy and Count of Maine.

1066 – 14th October – Saturday.

Battle of Hastings.

William The Conqueror defeats the English and with King Harold killed he claims the English throne.

1066

25th December – Tuesday.

Duke William of Normandy is crowned King of the English at Westminster Abbey.

1068 - September.

King William’s fourth son Henry, future Henry I of England, is born at Selby Castle in Yorkshire. He is the only Norman monarch to be born in England.

1070 - c.13th September – Monday.

The chronicler, Godfrey of Winchester, gives this date and year for the death of King William’s son Richard, killed in a riding accident in the New Forest.

1078

Duke William’s eldest son, Robert Curthose revolts against him and joined by his friend Robert of Bellême they raise a small army. Robert is already named heir to Normandy, and he expected to have some power which his father refuses to give him, so Robert is unhappy.

1078 - January.

Battle of Gerberoy.

The relationship between William and Robert worsens when Robert tries to capture Rouen Castle to stake his claim to the duchy. Williams sends forces to stop him, and Robert flees. Seizing the moment King Philip of France gives Curthose Gerberoy Castle trusting he will cause more havoc. William raises an army and eventually the two sides meet in battle where Robert wounds his father without realising who he is. William’s young son William (Rufus), supporting his father, is also wounded. William returns to Rouen and Robert goes to Flanders. William is furious to discover that his wife, Queen Matilda, is giving financial aid to Robert. This is now a family divided and the consequences will be felt long after the Conqueror’s death in 1087.

1083 - 2nd November – Thursday.

King William’s wife, Matilda, dies at Caen in Normandy. They were married for 33 years. She is buried in the Abbey of the Holy Trinity, her own foundation. Her youngest son Henry inherits her English lands worth about £350 per annum but it is doubtful whether he ever got them.

1084 - 9th January – Tuesday.

This is the last time that William and his son Robert Curthose are together. Robert possibly leaves for Italy and there is no record of him for the next three years. William Rufus replaces Robert as the first witness to the King’s charters.

1086 - 24th May – Whitsunday.

At Westminster, the King knights his eighteen-year-old son Henry.

1087 - 7th September – Tuesday.

Knowing he is dying William orders his son William Rufus to England with a letter instructing Archbishop Lanfranc of Canterbury to crown him.

1087 - 9th September – Thursday.

Around 6am, 59-year-old William The Conqueror dies at Saint-Gervais Monastery near Rouen. He is said to have stated on his death bed, I was bred to arms since my childhood and am stained with the rivers of blood I have shed.

1087 - September.

While the nobles rush off to protect their properties the servants strip everything including William. His body is taken for burial at Caen by a lesser knight, but many people leave the funeral procession to fight a fire in the city. With few present, Bishop Gilbert of Evreux conducts the service. When it comes to the burial, they cannot get the body into the sarcophagus as it is bloated. Forcing it in causes the guts to burst open and the stench is terrible.

William’s oldest son Robert is now Duke of Normandy. He is with King Philip of France when his father dies. Second son William Rufus is King of England and is gifted his father’s sword. The youngest son, future King Henry I, is given £5000 in silver which he insists on seeing counted out. He is the only son present when his father dies.

1087 - 10th September – Friday.

William Rufus is at Wissant ready to sail for England when messengers tell him his father has died.

1087 - c. 12th September – Sunday.

William Rufus arrives at Canterbury.

The Reign of King William II

1087 - 26th September– Sunday.

William is crowned at Westminster Abbey by Archbishop Lanfranc of Canterbury. It is not known what royal regalia was used as the originals were given to St Stephen’s Church in Caen by his father and it took ten years for Rufus to retrieve them. The succession is not wholly popular as many nobles think Robert Curthose, the Conqueror’s oldest son, should be King.

1087 -29th September – Wednesday.

William oversees an audit of the royal finances. William of Malmesbury says the treasury has £60,000 of silver plus numerous jewels and clothes. There are also smaller treasures at Gloucester, Colchester, Salisbury, Oxford, and Guilford for the monarch’s use when on progress.

1087 - 25th October – Monday.

Obeying his father’s wishes, Duke Robert releases The Conqueror’s hostages including Earl Morcar, Bishop Odo of Bayeux, Earl Godwine’s son Wulfnoth and Duncan of Scotland, son of King Malcolm. Duncan, a hostage since the Pact of Abernethy in 1072, is knighted and sent home. However, when Morcar