William II

1087 - 1100

aka Rufus

William I named his third and favourite son as his successor. This was an unusual act since it meant that William’s eldest son, Robert, missed out on becoming King of England. Instead Robert was bequeathed the duchy of Normandy. On becoming King, William gave money to the church to distribute to the poor. This helped to secure the loyalty of his subjects which was soon needed. William II, also known as Rufus, was crowned at Westminster Abbey in 1087. A year later, his brother Robert, heavily supported by his uncle, Odo of Bayeaux, led a rebellion against him. The Normans wanted both France and England to have the same King. They feared that the intense rivalry between the two brothers meant that the peace would be hard to keep. The brothers had always had a turbulent relationship. As a child William, with his brother Henry, emptied a full chamberpot over Robert’s head. The Norman barons believed that if Robert ruled both Normandy and England, their lands and position of favour with the court would be secured. However, William defeated Robert and invaded Normandy in turn two years later.

In 1096 Robert joined the First Crusade after a call to arms by the Pope. William agreed to rule Normandy in Robert’s absence, paying him for the privilege. The money to cover this huge expense was raised by placing heavy taxes on his English subjects. This raising of taxes made him unpopular with the English people who were still recovering from the effects of his father’s reign. During William’s reign, the people also had to pay for the building of Durham Cathedral and Westminster Hall which proved to be expensive.

William was a strong leader and a warrior, like his father before him. He did not stand for disobedience among his noblemen. When Robert de Mowbray refused to attend a meeting with him, William took his lands and imprisoned him. This was harsh considering Robert’s role in the defeat of Malcolm III, King of Scotland, three years earlier. Following this victory, Scotland remained wary of this strong English king. As did Wales, since an agreement William the Conqueror had brokered with the Welsh was broken by Norman lords. This heralded the start of a 300 year feud between Wales and England.

William was short, perhaps a little round, but strong. He had long blonde hair, piercing eyes and a stutter. He was named Rufus because of his ruddy complexion, and some say because of his quick temper. Court life under his rule was flamboyant, he enjoyed art and wearing the latest fashions. He was said to be infatuated with Ranulf Flambard, his servant and clerk, who is accused of raising taxes and taking control of church funds. Unllike his father, William was not at all religious. In fact he was openly blasphemous in his crude humour. His refusal to replace Lanfranc, the Archbishop of Canterbury on his death, made him unpopular with the church. After a few years of reportedly plundering the church coffers, William became so ill he almost died. During this time he appointed Anselm as Archbishop. Anselm disapproved of the King’s lifestyle, calling him sinful and effeminate. When William recovered, he regretted his momentary weakness in appointing him.

William died in a hunting accident. He was shot through the lung with an arrow fired by Walter Tirel, one of his own men. Tirel claimed to have been aiming for a stag at the time. Suspicion falls on William’s younger brother Henry for arranging his death, partly because he immediately rode off to claim the crown leaving his brother where he fell. William’s body was discovered by a local tradesman. It was placed on a cart and taken to Winchester Cathedral still dripping blood. This was an ignoble end for a king. The spot where William died is marked by the ‘Rufus stone’.

William II Factfile