Robert was not slow in assisting both the French King Henry I, and the English monarchy in times of trouble. He gave refuge to Edward and Albert two brothers. Edward was to become 'The Confessor', and was to promise the English throne to Robert's son William. In 1035, Robert travelled to the Holy lands on pilgrimage but before he left, he made sure that William would become Duke of Normandy if he didn't return. He needed to have this confirmed, as William was illegitimate. As it was, Robert was killed returning from Jerusalem, and so the eight year old William became Duke. William's first years were in a duchy transformed by civil war after the death of Robert. Robert married Estrid, the half-sister of King Canute.