1. William's return to England in 1099 (I)
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 14-06-17 17:18
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- 1. William's return to England in 1099 (I)
- Background to events of 1099
- Rufus returned to England from Normandy in Easter 1099
- William had gone back and forth to Normandy on numerous occasions with aims of:
- Ensuring duchy remained intact
- Taking over control of it for himself
- Restoring lands that had been lost soon after the Conqueror's death
- Specific target was Maine (returning to Norman hands)
- By late 1090s, objective of regaining Maine had become entwined with aim to take French Vexin
- Claim to French Vexin was more tenuous than on the Maine and became very difficult to fulfill
- Robert Curthose
- Initially showed intent to keep Normandy intact and gaining lost territory
- Secured Le Mans in Maine
- Support he gained from other nobles in principality was short-lived
- By 1089, there was 'the onset of anarchy which many [such as Rufus] had hoped for'
- Anarchy seemed to be prompted by perception among nobles in Normandy (and in neighbouring principalities) that Robert would prove weak leader of region
- They attempted to grab land with view of improving their status and independence
- Initially showed intent to keep Normandy intact and gaining lost territory
- William II's invasion
- Due to unrest emerging in conjunction with Robert's role in 1088 rebellion
- Feb 1091
- Led to truce between two brothers and Treaty of Rouen
- Robert struggled to maintain grip on affairs in Normandy
- Mainly due to lack of skill and determination
- Failed to gain control over all of Maine
- By 1094, Rufus felt compelled to return to France to discuss with Robert how situation could be resolved.
- Initial meeting came to nothing
- Group of warrantors of Rouen treaty (and supporters of Robert Curthose) announced Rufus had broken terms
- Led to Rufus taking military action
- Rufus sent army from England to support him, and even before they arrived he used mercenaries in Normandy to raid some of Robert's strongholds.
- Plundering proved fruitful with respect to booty that was seized
- Rufus struggled to win enough support from local nobles to gain strong foothold in region as a whole.
- Coupled with renewed hostilities at end of 1094 to his rule in England, resulted in Rufus returning home.
- After 1095
- Rufus agreed to finance Robert Curthose's crusade to Holy Land
- Left Rufus in charge of Normandy
- Rufus's authority did not appear to be challenged by those living in or close to region
- Except Helias of La Feche
- Claimant to principality of Maine
- Rufus had old him he had to 'hand over Le Mans and the whole country, for I'm going to have whatever my father held'
- Helias complained
- Argued his claim was legal and was supported by other (unnamed) kings, counts and bishops
- Rufus replied his claim would be backed by swords and lances
- Except Helias of La Feche
- Rufus remained in Normandy until Easter 1097 to monitor how Le Mans situation unfolded
- By mid-1097 Rufus back in England dealiing with Welsh insurgents
- Returned to Normandy later in year with view to dealing with unfinished business
- Why did Rufus return to Normandy in 1097
- Seemed when William Rufus set sail for Normandy in Nov 1097 he had two aims in mind:
- Consolidate his claim over Maine
- Take French Vexin from Philip I of France
- Why Rufus may have desired Vexin:
- Conqueror had been injured when raiding there
- Rufus desired revenge on behalf of father
- Saw taking land would lead to him becoming King of France
- Reinforced by fact Philip ha only one legitimate son who could have taken over throne from him
- Rufus had some links to Fr throne through mother's family.
- King Philip of France had left his younger brother High the Great in charge of French Vexin but Hugh decided in 1096 to go on First Crusade.
- Rufus probably saw window of opportunity to gain more land
- Conqueror had been injured when raiding there
- Seemed when William Rufus set sail for Normandy in Nov 1097 he had two aims in mind:
- Background to events of 1099
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