William I and the succession

William I's character

William was a brave and skilled soldier, a determined and ruthless ruler, and very religious. He founded abbeys, including on the site of the Battle of Hastings. He could also be harsh and greedy for money.

Source: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle's entry for 1087, written by an English monk who says he had lived at William's court.

This King William then that we speak about was a very wise man, and very rich; more splendid and powerful than any of his predecessors were. He was mild to the good men that loved God, and beyond all measure severe to the men that gainsayed his will.

Translated by James Ingram, 1823

('Gainsayed his will' means 'went against what he wanted'.)

Key terms

William and Robert: Robert's revolt, 1077–80

William's eldest son, Robert, nicknamed ('short stockings'), had been promised Normandy. As he grew up, he wanted real power there, but his father refused to give it to him.

What happened: Robert left his father's court and rebelled, with help from King Philip of France. In 1079, at Gerberoy, Robert fought his father's army. According to the Chronicle, William was wounded in the hand and his horse was killed under him. Robert's brother William was wounded too.

Consequence: William's wife, Matilda, helped make peace, and father and son were reconciled in 1080. But the quarrel showed the tension in the family over who would inherit what.

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William's death and the disputed succession, 1087

In 1087, William attacked the French town of Mantes and burned it. He fell ill, and died in Normandy on 9 September 1087. He was buried in St Stephen's, Caen.

He divided his lands between his three sons:

Son	Inherited
Robert	Normandy
	England
Henry	Money, but no land

William Rufus hurried to England and was crowned by Lanfranc. Consequence: many barons held land in both England and Normandy, so now they had two different lords. Many preferred Robert, who they thought would be an easier lord, as king of both.

Remember

Robert got Normandy, William Rufus got England, Henry got money.

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The rebellion of 1088

In 1088, leading barons, headed by , rebelled to make Robert king of England. They attacked the king's lands and held their castles against him.

Source: the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

From the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle's entry for 1088, written by an English monk.

He then sent after Englishmen, described to them his need, earnestly requested their support, and promised them the best laws that ever before were in this land; each unright guild he forbade, and restored to the men their woods and chaces. But it stood no while. The Englishmen however went to the assistance of the king their lord.

Translated by James Ingram, 1823

('Unright guild' means 'unfair tax'; 'chaces' are hunting grounds; 'it stood no while' means 'it did not last'.)

Why the rebellion failed: Rufus won English support, Robert never arrived with an army, and Rufus captured Odo's castles at Pevensey and Rochester. Odo left England for good.

Key terms

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