William's Death & the Succession

William II

After William I died, he chose his son William Rufus as his successor. There were a number of obstacles during the transition.

William Rufus

'Rufus' means red.
- William was given this name because of his red skin and hair.
As king, William Rufus was called William II.

William Rufus becomes king

William Rufus travelled to England on 7/8 September 1087.
He brought a letter to Archbishop Lanfranc. The letter stated that Lanfranc was to assist Rufus.
The next day William I died.
26 September 1087: William Rufus's coronation took place in Canterbury Cathedral.

William II's Inheritance

William II inherited a number of tricky issues when he became king.

Poor family relations

William I had a bad relationship with Robert Curthose, his eldest son.
William I did not want Robert to become king. King William I supposedly said 'But I know for certain that the country which is subject to his dominion will be truly wretched.'
When William Rufus became king instead of him, Robert Curthose was angry.

The oath

The Norman barons had already sworn an oath to Robert, and believed that Normandy and England should now be united.
Tradition in Normandy said that lands and estates should be given to the eldest son.

Odo's rebellion

Bishop Odo was let out of prison in 1087.
Bishop Odo, King William I's half brother, decided to support Robert Curthose as king instead of William Rufus.
The people and nobles of England supported William Rufus.
Odo failed to gain enough support and was exiled after his rebellion failed.

William II's response

William II acted decisively and was able to split the rebels apart. Odo and William Rufus' brother (Robert Curthose) had failed in their revolution.
William Rufus became King William II and would rule England until 1100.

1Anglo-Saxon England & The Norman Conquest, 1060-66

1.1Anglo-Saxon Society

1.1.1The Monarchy & Government

1.1.2Edward the Confessor (1003-1066)

1.1.3The Legal System

1.1.4Local Government

1.1.5The Economy & Social Structure

1.1.6Towns

1.1.7The Church

1.1.8End of Topic Test - Anglo-Saxon England

1.1.9Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon Society

1.2Edward the Confessor & The Succession Crisis

1.2.1The House of Godwin

1.2.2Harold Godwinson's Succession

1.2.3The Rebellion Against Tostig

1.2.4Edward the Confessor's Death

1.2.5End of Topic Test - Edward the Confessor

1.3The Rival Claimants for the Throne

1.3.1William of Normandy, Harald Hardrada & Edgar

1.3.2The Witan & the Reign of Harold Godwinson

1.3.3The Battles of Gate Fulford & Stamford Bridge

1.3.4Grade 9 - Anglo-Saxon & Norman England

1.4The Norman Invasion

1.4.1The Battle of Hastings

1.4.2Reasons for William's Victory

1.4.3End of Topic Test - Rival Claimants for the Throne

2William I in Power: Securing the Kingdom, 1066-87

2.1Establishing Control

2.1.1The Submission of the Earls

2.1.2Getting Control of England

2.1.3Reasons for Building Castles

2.2Causes & Outcomes of Anglo-Saxon Resistance

2.2.1The Revolts against William

2.2.2End of Topic Test - William I in Power

2.3The Legacy of Resistance to 1087

2.3.1Harrying of the North, 1069-70

2.3.2Changes in Land Ownership 1066-1087

2.3.3William I Maintains Royal Power

2.4Revolt of the Earls, 1075

2.4.1The Revolt - 1075

2.4.2End of Topic Test - Legacy of Resistance

2.4.3Grade 9 - Legacy of Resistance

3Norman England, 1066-88

3.1The Feudal System & the Church

3.1.1The Norman Feudal Hierarchy

3.1.2The Nature of Feudalism & Forfeiture

3.1.3The Role of the Church in England

3.1.4The Extent of Change to Anglo-Saxon Society

3.1.5End of Topic Test - The Feudal System

3.2Norman Government

3.2.1Norman Government - Regents

3.2.2The Sheriff & the Forest

3.2.3The Domesday Book

3.3The Norman Aristocracy

3.3.1Aristocratic Culture & Language

3.3.2Bishop Odo

3.4William I & His Sons

3.4.1William I

3.4.2William's Death & the Succession

3.4.3End of Topic Test - Norman Government

3.4.4Grade 9 - Norman Government

Jump to other topics