In 1066, following the Battle of Hastings, William the Conqueror claimed the English throne. William had three sons, Robert Duke of Normandy, also called Curthose for his short legs, William, known as Rufus for his red hair and violent temper and Henry, called Beauclerc because he could read and write. Upon the death of William the Conqueror in 1087, his second son, now William II, became the new King of England. William II reigned for 13 years before dying under mysterious circumstances in the New Forest of Southern England.
William II, King of England
William inherited the English throne in 1087. This did not sit well with either his older brother, Robert Duke of Normandy or his younger brother, Prince Henry, who was landless. Robert attempted two rebellions in 1087 and 1088 in an effort to gain the English throne, but failed both times.
William II was a good military leader. However his open disdain for the Christian Church marred his reputation. The Church had heartily approved of William I, who held a pious court in England. William II on the other hand, rarely went to church. When he did he would gossip with his courtiers or doodle. It didn’t help that he was openly homosexual either. However, the biggest problem the Church had with William was the way he helped himself to Church monies. He often delayed appointing bishops so he could dip into Church coffers, in their absence. According to the Oxford History of Britain, William thought of the Church as “…a rich corporation which needed soaking.”
William II Regains Normandy
Robert Duke of Normandy, decided to go on a crusade to Jerusalem in 1099. In order to finance his expedition he sold his duchy to William for 10,000 marks. William immediately set about regaining the provinces of Maine and Vexin, restoring the orginal borders of his father’s kingdom. William had little time to enjoy his military conquests.
Who Really Killed William II
On the morning of August 2, 1100 William set out with a party of men to hunt in the New Forest of Southern England. His good friend, Walter Tirel, was with the king trying to flush a herd of deer into the open. What happen next remains a mystery. Witnesses claim to have heard the king shouting at Tirel “Draw, draw your bow for the devil’s sake or it will be the worse for you!” Tirel’s arrow ricocheted off a tree and struck William right in the chest. He died immediately. Tirel fled to France, where he remained the rest of his life, all the while declaring his innocence.
Was the death of William II an accident? It happens that Prince Henry, William’s younger, landless brother was also in the woods that morning hunting. He wasted no time in having his brother’s body carted off and hastily buried at Winchester Abbey. By August 5th, just three days following William’s death, Henry had seized England’s treasury and had himself declared Henry I, King of England.
Even though the accident happened in broad daylight with plenty of witnesses, the circumstances surrounding William II’s death remains a mystery.
Sources:
What Life Was Life in the Age of Chivlary. Alexandria: Time-Life Books, 1997.
Lewis, Brenda Ralph. Kings & Queens of England. New York: Barnes and Noble, 2005.
Morgan, Kenneth. The Oxford History of Britain. Oxford: University Press, 1993.
Lorri Brown - I am a published freelance writer living in the beautiful foothills of Western Maine. Mom to four wonderful children, my passion for ...
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