William Rufus
Odo of Bayeux Earl of Kent - William I - de Mandeville - Ranulf Flambard - Robert Curthose - William Rufus - Henry I - William FitzOsbern - Henry II
Archbishop Anselm succeeded Lanfranc and both were in conflict with Rufus and Henry I
Investiture Controversy
Henry I commissioned the Archbishop of York to collect and present all the relevant traditions of anointed kingship. On this topic, the historian Norman Cantor would note: "The resulting 'Anonymous of York' treatises are a delight to students of early-medieval political theory, but they in no way typify the outlook of the Anglo-Norman monarchy, which had substituted the secure foundation of administrative and legal bureaucracy for outmoded religious ideology."
York Cantebury Dispute"
When Anselm was appointed to Canterbury, after a long vacancy that lasted from 1089 to 1093, the only flareup of the dispute was a dispute at Anselm's consecration on 4 December 1093 over the exact title that would be employed in the ceremony.[14] The dispute centered on the title that would be confirmed on Anselm, and although it was settled quickly, the exact title used is unknown, as the two main sources of information differ. Eadmer, Anselm's biographer and a Canterbury partisan, proclaims that the title agreed upon was "Primate of all Britain". Hugh the Chanter, a chronicler from York and a partisan of York, claims the title used was "Metropolitan of Canterbury".[15] Until the ascension of King Henry I in 1100, Anselm was much more occupied with other disputes with King William II.
William II
As the successor to William I, William Rufus' story is relevant to the local history as the
division of land post conquest had land-owners on both sides of the channel.
William Rufus' death in the New Forest is seen as suspicious as it could have been an accident or possibly
murder. The later could be explained in that he was "at odds" with many of Norman Lords with possesions
in Normandy and England including his uncle Odo of Bayeux.
The Wikipedia page says:
William II (Anglo-Norman: Williame; c.1057 – 2 August 1100) was King of England from 26 September 1087 until
his death in 1100, with powers over Normandy and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending
control into Wales. The third son of William the Conqueror, he is commonly referred to as William Rufus
(Rufus being Latin for "the Red"), perhaps because of his ruddy appearance or, more likely, due to having
red hair.
William was a figure of complex temperament, capable of both bellicosity and flamboyance. He did not marry nor
have children, which – along with contemporary accounts – has led some historians to speculate on homosexuality
or bisexuality.[4] He died after being hit by an arrow while hunting. Circumstantial evidence in the behaviour of
those around him – including his younger brother Henry I – raises strong, but unproven, suspicions of murder.[5][6]
Henry I hurriedly succeeded him as king.
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Anselm of Canterbury
William Rufus appointed Anslem, then a saint, to archbishop of Canterbury.
A monk and abbot of Bec Abbey (in the Bec valley midway between the cities of Rouen and Bernay).
Investiture Controversy
Lanfranc
Lanfranc, OSB (b.1005 to 1010 – d.24 May 1089) was a celebrated Italian jurist who renounced his career to become
a Benedictine monk at Bec in Normandy. He served successively as prior of Bec Abbey and abbot of St Stephen's Abbey
in Caen, Normandy and then as Archbishop of Canterbury in
England, following its conquest by William the Conqueror.
Archbishop Lanfranc opposed the non-canonical marriage of Duke William with Matilda of Flanders (in 1053).
St Stephen's Abbey is also known as Abbaye aux Hommes (Caen).
John Gillingham - The lives of the Kings and Queens of England - edited by Antonia Fraser
John Gillingham is the author of the sections of "Kings and Queens" on the lives of William I, William II, Henry I and King Stephen.
Robert de Mowbray
Robert de Mowbray (died 1125), a Norman, was Earl of Northumbria from 1086 until 1095. Robert joined the 1088 rebellion against King William II on behalf of Robert Curthose, but was pardoned and later led the army that killed Malcolm III of Scotland at Alnwick. In 1095, he conspired to put Stephen of Aumale on the throne, was besieged by the king, and captured. As punishment, his marriage was dissolved and his lands confiscated, given to the new husband of his former wife, while Mowbray was imprisoned for life and later became a monk.
Split Loyalties
Many of the "new English lords" were also Norman Lords and had property on both sides of the English Channel.
As William I was not actually in the country and he was not only having problems with his eldest son.
