England undER THE REIGN OF WILLIAM RUFUS
William Rufus let his cruel soldiers do just as they pleased in England, and spoil what they did not want. He cared only for being powerful, for feasting, and for hunting. William developed a reputation for being cruel, selfish, self-indulgent and unjust
In 1091 William Rufus invaded Normandy and had such a huge army that Robert Curthose agreed a peace settlement in fear. This gave William Rufus control over large areas of Normandy. The two men also agreed on a joint campaign to take Maine and Cotentin, an area that Curthose had sold to his brother Henry Beauclerk (the future third king of England). In the summer of 1091 Henry was forced to surrender Cotentin after a siege of fifteen days.
William Rufus returned to England in August 1091 and soon afterwards marched against King Malcolm III, whose Scotish army had invaded the country in his absence. The campaign was a success and Malcolm was forced to surrender.
In March 1094 William Rufus went on another expedition to Normandy. To pay for the campaign he imposed heavy taxes on the people of England. Some of this money was used to bribe Philip of France not to support Robert Curthose. After paying his Norman soldiers to continue the war, he returned to England.
In 1096 William Rufus imposed a new tax on his barons. When they complained they did not have this money, William Rufus suggested that they should rob the shrines of the saints. Later that year William Rufus seized the property of Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, while he was in Rome.
1096 was also the year that 3000 Christians were killed in Jerusalem by the Islamic Turks. Thousands of Christians in Europe decided to journey to Jerusalem and defeat the Turks, which became known as the First Crusade. William Rufus mocked the Crusaders and thought they were wasting their time, trouble and lives.
William Rufus was very unpopular with the Church. Unlike his father, William the Conqueror, Rufus was not a committed Christian. His father's policy of spending considerable sums of money on the Church was reversed. When Rufus needed to raise money, he raided monasteries.
Robert Curthose was a firm believer in Christianity and wanted to join them but had wasted all the money given to him by William the Conqueror and could not pay for an army. Robert gave Normandy to his brother William Rufus in return for money, to which William Rufus happily agreed.
Over the next few months William Rufus was involved in military campaigns in Wales, Scotland and Normandy. In January 1098 his forces captured Maine and besieged Le Mans. He also fought a war against Philip of France but after facing stubborn resistance he agreed a truce in April 1099.
In 1091 William Rufus invaded Normandy and had such a huge army that Robert Curthose agreed a peace settlement in fear. This gave William Rufus control over large areas of Normandy. The two men also agreed on a joint campaign to take Maine and Cotentin, an area that Curthose had sold to his brother Henry Beauclerk (the future third king of England). In the summer of 1091 Henry was forced to surrender Cotentin after a siege of fifteen days.
William Rufus returned to England in August 1091 and soon afterwards marched against King Malcolm III, whose Scotish army had invaded the country in his absence. The campaign was a success and Malcolm was forced to surrender.
In March 1094 William Rufus went on another expedition to Normandy. To pay for the campaign he imposed heavy taxes on the people of England. Some of this money was used to bribe Philip of France not to support Robert Curthose. After paying his Norman soldiers to continue the war, he returned to England.
In 1096 William Rufus imposed a new tax on his barons. When they complained they did not have this money, William Rufus suggested that they should rob the shrines of the saints. Later that year William Rufus seized the property of Anselm, the Archbishop of Canterbury, while he was in Rome.
1096 was also the year that 3000 Christians were killed in Jerusalem by the Islamic Turks. Thousands of Christians in Europe decided to journey to Jerusalem and defeat the Turks, which became known as the First Crusade. William Rufus mocked the Crusaders and thought they were wasting their time, trouble and lives.
William Rufus was very unpopular with the Church. Unlike his father, William the Conqueror, Rufus was not a committed Christian. His father's policy of spending considerable sums of money on the Church was reversed. When Rufus needed to raise money, he raided monasteries.
Robert Curthose was a firm believer in Christianity and wanted to join them but had wasted all the money given to him by William the Conqueror and could not pay for an army. Robert gave Normandy to his brother William Rufus in return for money, to which William Rufus happily agreed.
Over the next few months William Rufus was involved in military campaigns in Wales, Scotland and Normandy. In January 1098 his forces captured Maine and besieged Le Mans. He also fought a war against Philip of France but after facing stubborn resistance he agreed a truce in April 1099.