2. William II's negotiations with Duke William IX of Aquitaine
- Created by: Alasdair
- Created on: 15-06-17 18:01
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- 2. William II's negotiations with Duke William IX of Aquitaine
- Background
- William's negotiations with Duke William IX of Aquitaine were significant due to Duke's status, interests, family connections and what he could offer Rufus
- Who was Duke William IX of Aquitaine
- Seems Rufus forced alliance with him when he was in Maine
- Nobleman of some standing
- By time Duke formed alliance with Rufus, already gained reputation as poet and troubadour (better known in these fields than for military prowess)
- Why did Rufus enter negoitations with Duke?
- In many ways Rufus was antithesis of Duke
- Partnership made sense as they were linked by marriage
- 1094, Duke William married Phillipia, widow of Sancho Ramirez, King of Navarre and Aragon, and heiress of Count of Toulouse who died in 1093 in Holy Land
- Phillipia's mother was Emma, one of daughters of Robert, Count of Mortain (William II's half-cousin)
- July 1098, Duke William pushed forward his wife's claim to Toulouse despite protests and opposition from her cousin Betrand
- In winter of 1098-99, Duke of Aquitaine had combined forces with King William in Normandy
- Duke was possibly compelled to do so by prospect of his wife gaining Mortain's wealth
- Duke may have thought Rufus would look more favourably on this, given King's link to Mortain, if he supported him
- Also possible Duke William of Aquitaine simply wished to show allegiance to very important member of extended family
- Both Duke of Aquitaine and William 'Rufus' had common enemy in form of Fulk of Anjou
- Duke had broken off first marriage to Fulk's daughter, Ermengarde
- Fulk wa foe of Rufus as result of threat he posed towards Maine
- Both had no allegiance to King Philip of France (Philip was seen as enemy and one who sought to impinge on authority of both Duke and King whenever opportunity arose
- Consequences of negotiations
- Help given to Rufus at Maine
- Main consequence
- Duke persuaded King to finance him to go crusading
- Duke claimed he needed to take army of 300,000 (surprisingly high figure for time)
- In return for money to pay and equip force, Duke prepared to agree for Rufus to take over duchy of Aquitaine
- William had produced money by June 1100 and ready to depart to complete transaction
- Unnecessary as Duke had made similar agreement with Bertrand, Count of St. Gilles and temporary Count of Toulouse (holding principality for father, Raymond, who was on First Crusade)
- Duke persuaded King to finance him to go crusading
- No indication how Rufus reacted to deal collapsing
- As Duke probably wanted to mortgage off whole of Aquitaine, Rufus might have seen it as difficult to administer to both England and Normandy so possibly had already declined
- By time of William II's death in August 1100, agreement between Duke and interested parties had not be finalised
- Impossible to tell after 1099 value King placed on relationship with Duke
- Background
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