| 1087 |
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William Rufus gives Manor of Tewkesbury
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William Rufus gave the Manor of Tewkesbury to his cousin, Robert FitzHamon. Together with the patronage of the Priory of Tewkesbury. |
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Sep 26 |
William II (Rufus) crowned at Westminster
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William II (Rufus) was crowned at Westminster by Archbishop Lanfranc after the death of his father William the Conqueror. |
| 1088 |
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Earldom of Warwick created
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The earldom of Warwick was created by William II and given to Henry de Beaumont. Henry de Beaumont changed his name to Newburgh. |
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Feb |
Revolt against William Rufus
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Many Norman barons held land both in England and Normandy. With two opposing lords, William in England and Robert in Normandy, the barons were finding it difficult to know who to support. A revolt led by Odo sprung up in England with the aim of removing William from the throne. Odo's revolt in Kent and Sussex was supported by barons across the country. Roger Bigod from Norwich and Geoffrey of Coutances and Robert Mowbray from Bristol supported Odo. In Worcestershire Roger de Lacy captured Hereford and attacked Worcester. In the south-east Roger Montgomery at Arundel Robert Mortain at Pevensey and Gilbert de Clare at Tonbridge also prepared to fight the King. Robert of Belleme, a Norman baron, who was able to bring support from Normandy. Robert also controlled castles in the Welsh Marches where the revolt also took place. |
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Spring |
Worcestershire Rebellion put down
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The Worcestershire rebellion led by Robert of Lacy was dealt with quickly by Wulfstan, the Bishop of Worcester, who called on those knights and local landowners still loyal to the King to defend Worcester. Many of the rebels were captured or killed.1 |
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Spring |
William Rufus calls for support
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William Rufus had insufficient men at his disposal to deal with the rebellion in the south-east as there were too many ports to guard. The King called the representatives of the fyrd (the ordinary people of the country organised into an army) to a meeting in London where, with the support Lanfranc, he promised the people better laws and the removal of unfair taxes if they supported him against the rebels. The people agreed and together with the King they captured the castle at Tonbridge after a two day siege.1 |
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Apr |
Pevensey Castle siege
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William Rufus lay siege to Pevensey Castle where Odo had taken shelter with Robert of Mortain. The siege lasted for six weeks. Robert, the Duke of Normandy, sent a force to support the rebels at Pevensey but they were unable to land because the King had made sure the ports were well guarded. Robert admitted defeat and withdrew his support for the rebels. Odo had little choice, other than that to starve, and surrendered to the King. Odo agreed to go to Rochester where he would convince the rebels to accept William Rufus as the rightful King of England. |
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May |
William puts down the revolt
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Odo was accompanied to Rochester Castle by an escort but When they reached the castle the rebels captured the escort and refused to accept William Rufus as their King. Again William called for the people of England to support him against the rebels and together they lay siege to the castle. Odo surrendered when it was agreed that those in the castle would have their lives spared if the they came out. Odo and the rebels were allowed to leave but their lands in England were taken from them. Odo went into exiled in Normandy. |
| 1089 |
May 24 |
Lanfranc dies
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After the death of Archbishop Lanfranc William Rufus held open the post of Archbishop of Canterbury for four years taking the revenues for his own purposes. |
| 1091 |
Nov |
William Rufus renews agreement with Scots
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William Rufus renewed the arrangement that his father had with Malcolm III, King of the Scots. This may have included letting Malcolm have some areas of northern England. Even so this did not prevent further attacks on England in the north by the Scots.2 |
| 1092 |
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Tewkesbury Abbey Founded
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Robert FitzHamon, the cousin of William Rufus, together with Abbot Giraldus, founded the present Abbey at Tewkesbury. |
| 1093 |
Spring |
William Rufus seriously ill
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William fell ill early in this year and the illness was so serious that reports went out saying that he had died. William granted land to many religious houses in preparation for his death but when he recovered he claimed the land back.3 |
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Nov 13 |
Battle of Alnwick
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Malcolm III, the king of Scotland, and his son Edward were both killed at the battle of Alnwick in Northumberland. Malcolm had invaded England after William II had made moves to take more control over Cumbria and had fortified Carlisle. |
| 1095 |
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Robert Mowbray's Rebellion
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After attacking four merchant ships Robert Mowbray was called for by William Rufus to explain his actions. Instead Mowbray rose up in rebellion against the king along with other powerful Norman Barons. |
| 1096 |
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William buys Normandy
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Robert of Normandy became under pressure from William who laid claim to Normandy. William was gaining support from some Norman barons and Robert took the opportunity to leave Normandy to answer Pope Urban II's call for a Crusade. Robert agreed that William could lease Normandy for three years for a sum of 10,000 marks. This money would help him fund the expedition. |
| 1097 |
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Anselm goes into exile
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Conflicts between Archbishop Anselm and William Rufus resulted in the Archbishop leaving England and heading for Rome. William confiscated Anselm's land. |
| 1099 |
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Flambard is made Bishop of Durham
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Ranulf Flambard is made the Bishop of Durham by William Rufus. |
| 1100 |
Aug |
William buried at Winchester
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William Rufus was buried under the tower of Winchester Cathedral. The tower fell down (either in 1101 or 1107 ?). The cause was blamed on the wickedness of the King's bones but was probably due to poor construction or uncertain foundations. |
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Aug 2 |
William II (Rufus) is killed while hunting
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William II (Rufus) was (accidentally ?) killed while hunting in the New Forest. He was succeeded by Prince Henry, who became Henry I.4 |
illiam Rufus was the third son of William the Conqueror and Matilda. William's two elder brothers were Robert and Richard. Robert was the eldest and the chief heir of William the Conqueror. Richard died in an accident while on a hunting trip. William Rufus was loyal to his father, much more than his elder brother Robert, and when William the Conqueror died it was William Rufus who was at his father's side while Robert attended the court of the Conqueror's enemy Philippe the King of France. In the Conqueror's will the title of Duke of Normandy was bestowed upon Robert and the crown of England was bestowed upon William Rufus. On September 26 1087, William Rufus was crowned at Westminster as William II by Lanfranc, the Archbishop of Canterbury.
WILLIAM (II, Rufus, King of England 1087-1100) (b.1057 - d.1100)
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