William RufusWilliam II, better known as William Rufus, was the third son of William the Conqueror and England's king for only 13 years (1087-1100) before he was mysteriously assassinated. In this vivid biography, here updated and reissued with a new preface, Frank Barlow reveals an unconventional, flamboyant William Rufus -- a far more attractive and interesting monarch than previously believed. Weaving an intimate account of the life of the king into the wider history of Anglo-Norman government, Barlow shows how William confirmed royal power in England, restored the ducal rights in France, and consolidated the Norman conquest. |
Contents
Background and Youth | 3 |
The Kingdom Obtained 10871088 | 53 |
The Bachelor King and his Domestic Servants | 99 |
The Nobility and Higher Clergy and the Royal | 156 |
The Sinews of War | 214 |
The Three Brothers 10881095 | 263 |
The Conquering Hero 10941100 | 337 |
Death in the Afternoon 1100 | 408 |
Epilogue | 433 |
APPENDICES | 439 |
B William IIs Sheriffs | 446 |
SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY | 453 |
GENEALOGICAL TABLES | 466 |
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Common terms and phrases
abbey abbot Anglo-Norman Anglo-Saxon Chronicle Anselm archbishop Barlow barons Bayeux bishop of Durham brother Canterbury castle chancellor charter Christmas church clerk Conqueror count court dapifer daughter death demesne Domesday Book duchy duke Eadmer earl England English estates father favour feudal Florence France Gaimar Geoffrey Gilbert grant Haimo held Helias Henry I's Hildebert honour household Hugh hunting ibid Injusta Vexatione king king's kingdom knights land Lanfranc lord magnates Maine Malcolm manor marriage Matilda Medieval Meulan military monks Montfort Montgomery nobility Norman Normandy Odo of Bayeux Orderic Orderic Vitalis Philip Pipe Roll pope possible probably Ralf Ranulf Flambard Regesta reign Richard Robert Bloet Robert Curthose Robert of Bellême Rouen royal Salisbury seems servants sheriff shire steward Torigny Urse vassals Vexin Vita Wales Walkelin Walter Welsh Westminster William II's William of Malmesbury William Rufus Winchester witnesses writ