The death of William II ‘Rufus’ and the succession of Henry to 1107

Question 1

What specific place did WR want to restore into Norman hands that had been lost after WoN’s death?

Answer 1

Maine

Question 2

what objective did the objective of restoring Maine become intertwined with?

Answer 2

Taking Vexin

Question 3

Why did nobles in Normandy descend into a state of anarchy?

Answer 3

• perception that Robert would be a weak leader of the region
• they attempted to grab land to improve their status and independence

Question 4

What treaty was signed between Robert Curthose and William Rufus?

Answer 4

Treaty of Rouen

Question 5

why did William return to Normandy in 1094?

Answer 5

Robert struggled to maintain a grip on affairs in Normandy and failed to control all of Maine
Rufus wanted to discuss how the situation could be resolved

Question 6

what prompted William into taking military action in 1095?

Answer 6

a group of warrantors claimed that he had broken the terms of the treaty

Question 7

why was WR in charge of Normandy in 1095?

Answer 7

Robert went on a crusade

Question 8

who was a claimant to the principality of Maine?

Answer 8

Helias of La Fleche

Question 9

why did Helias of La Fleche and WR disagree over Maine?

Answer 9

• WR wanted whatever territory his father had
• Helias argued that his claim was legal and backed by unnamed counts, kings and bishops

Question 10

2 aims of WR when returning to Normandy in 1097?

Answer 10

• Consolidate claim over Maine
• take Vexin

Question 11

who was already in control of Vexin?

Answer 11

Philip I of France

Question 12

why did William want Vexin?

Answer 12

• WoN had been injured whilst raiding it - WR seeking revenge
• might lead to him becoming king
• King Philip of France left his brother, Hugh the Great, in charge but he went on the crusade - window of opportunity

Question 13

when was the first Vexin war?

Answer 13

1097-98

Question 14

events of Vexin War 1097-1098?

Answer 14

• support from Robert of Meulan and Guy of La Roche-Guyon
• army of 10,000
• entered area around Gisors + built castle there
• suddenly left with Robert of Belleme to deal with Helias and Maine

Question 15

why did Rufus suddenly leave Vexin in 1098 and who with?

Answer 15

deal with Helias in Maine
Robert of Belleme

Question 16

how did Helias threaten Robert of Belleme’s properties and power in Maine?

Answer 16

built a castle at Danguel

Question 17

why did Rufus feel obliged to help Robert of Belleme?

Answer 17

he had consistently been an ally after the 1088 rebellion

Question 18

describe William’s campaign in Maine?

Answer 18

• used siege warfare to defeat Helias of la Fleche and Fulk of Anjou at Le Mans
• agreed that Le Mans and after towns in Maine that had previously belonged to WoN should be returned to Rufus

Question 19

when was the 2nd Vexin war? was it successful?

Answer 19

1098-1099 / no

Question 20

3 reasons why William returned to England in 1099?

Answer 20

• gained authority in Maine
• taking Vexin was too difficult
• felt he had neglected affairs in England

Question 21

what happened regarding Maine in the summer of 1099

Answer 21

Rufus had to return to Normandy to defend the agreement which was being challenged by Helias. Helias retreated as soon as Rufus reached Le Mans

Question 22

who was Duke William of Aquitaine?

Answer 22

• reputation as a poet and a troubadour
• tentatively linked to Rufus by marriage

Question 23

what campaign did WofA support WR in?

Answer 23

Normandy 1098-99

Question 24

2 similarities between WR and WofA?

Answer 24

• Saw Fulk of Anjou as an enemy
• neither had an allegiance to the king of France

Question 25

what agreement did WR make with WofA? conclusion of this?

Answer 25

Rufus would finance him to go on a crusade while Rufus took over the Duchy of Aquitaine Duke also made a similar agreement with Bertrand, Count of St Gilles arrangement not formalised by the time Rufus died

Question 26

3 reasons why Robert's return from the crusade was potentially worrying for WR

Answer 26

- Robert's reputation was enhanced and would be welcomed back to his principality so WR thought his best bet was to resell it - rufus could strike a deal with Robert so he could retain some influence - Robert may have had 10,000 marks to pay back but he also likely wanted to keep some acquired wealth in reserve after getting married - may spark rebellion in england - unlikely as nobility still supported William despite his iron fist

Question 27

who was Robert's return a greater concern for? Henry or Rufus?

Answer 27

Henry

Question 28

why was robert's return a critical moment for Henry?

Answer 28

it may be his only chance to making any gains

Question 29

when was WR killed? how?

Answer 29

02/08/1100 killed by Walter Tirel's arrow during a hunting trip

Question 30

3 issues with WR's death?

Answer 30

supernatural occurrences murder conflicting accounts

Question 31

explain the theory of supernatural occurrences for WR's death

Answer 31

- devil worship - common for medieval kings to be murdered as a sacrifice to the devil if they had ruled in evil ways - blood in unusual circumstances - Berkshire - blood was seen to well up from the earth - Rufus had a dream about it the night before - foreseen his demise and was shaken - Anslem had visions about his death

Question 32

criticisms of Murray's supernatural occurrences explanation

Answer 32

- devil worship cults only existed in Germany - chroniclers like to embellish their accounts to emphasise how Rufus had a lack of piety and deserved to die

Question 33

theory that WR was murdered?

Answer 33

- dreams of monks and rufus suggests a knowledge of a lot to kill WR amongst the nobility - Henry had a motive - next in line + return of Robert and his wife meant Henry had to act quickly / he became king within several days / Henry granted special privileges to the Clare and Gifford families - both connected to Walter Tirel - engineered by French king + Duke of Anjou - Rufus increasingly provided a threat to the principalities near Normandy (Vexin, Maine and Aquitaine)

Question 34

arguments against the theory that WR was murdered?

Answer 34

- not clear who was on the hunting expedition at the time - Tirel might not have been there - not unsual for those with a vested interest in gaining power to act quickly when the right circumstances arose e.g Rufus was already on his way to England when WoN died, Stephen of Blois acted quickly when Henry died - need to act quick - multiple claims to the throne led to delay which led to unrest, rebellion and civil war - Clare and Gifford families were already prominent before the death + would have gained more status without Henry being in power - Robert might not have demanded Normandy back - could have been an accident - accidents were common e.g WoN's son Richard, Curthose's son Richard

Question 35

what was the most obvious challenge Henry faced upon seizing the crown?

Answer 35

consolidating his position in the face of opposition from Robert and his allies

Question 36

how was Robert's support gained?

Answer 36

acts of fealty - established through agreements between the eldest son and WR

Question 37

Henry's initial acts to gain support?

Answer 37

- gave supporters gifts - more supportive of the Church - imprisoned Ranulf Flambard - marrying Edith

Question 38

which nobles did Henry give gifts to to widen hi support?

Answer 38

- William Giffard - bishopric of Winchester - Count of Meulan - Earl Henry of Warwick

Question 39

consequences of Henry recalling the exiled Anselm

Answer 39

- showed that he was more supportive of the Church - prompted Maurice, Bishop of London, to crown Henry - must have been reassured of Henry's credentials to be a good king

Question 40

what was significant about Henry capturing and imprisoning Ranulf Flambard?

Answer 40

he was a symbol of all that had been bad about the reign of William II

Question 41

who did Henry marry?

Answer 41

Edith - daughter of Malcom, King of Scotland + niece of Edgar Aetheling - link to old English royalty -> reinforced support from those with Anglo-Saxon origins / changed her name to Matilda (Norman)

Question 42

why did things change for Henry in 1101?

Answer 42

- Ranulf Flambard escaped - Robert returns from crusade

Question 43

what did Curthose do in July 1101?

Answer 43

landed at Portsmouth with an army + support of some English nobles (earls of Surrey + Hampshire + 3 Montgomery brothers - Robert, Arnulf and Roger) / 2 met at Alton but didnt battle

Question 44

what agreement was made at Alton in 1101?

Answer 44

- Henry would not pursue any interests in Normandy - Robert abandoned claims to English throne - Henry pays £2000 a year - if one brother passes away before the other, the other would inherit all their land and properties - each other's enemies should be pardoned and reassured

Question 45

how did Henry break the terms of the agreementmade in Alton in 1101?

Answer 45

1102-1106 - pursued a campaign to gain jurisdiction over the duchy of Normandy

Question 46

how did Henry gain support for his attempts to gain jurisdiction over Normandy?

Answer 46

- 1102 - confiscated proprty of and deported Robert of Belleme - tried to gain allies in Normandy through bribes of money or marriage - counts of Flanders, Anjou and Maine

Question 47

when did Henry launch his first military expedition to Normandy?

Answer 47

1105

Question 48

when di Henry begin to gain control of Normandy?

Answer 48

1105

Question 49

what castle was put under seige by Henry's army in 1106?

Answer 49

Tinchebrai

Question 50

what happened at Tinchebrai in 1106?

Answer 50

- supported by counts of Maine and Brittany - put William of Mortain's castle under seige - William and Robert surrendered, taken away then imprisoned for life

Question 51

significance of Henry's victory at Tinchebrai?

Answer 51

achieved his aim of having authority over the whole of England and Normandy