Robert II of Normandy
See also: Robert II
Robert II of Normandy known as Robert Courteheuse (towards 1054 - February 10th 1134, castle of Cardiff), was count of Maine of 1063 with 1069, then Duc of Normandy of 1087 with 1106. He was also an unhappy applicant with the throne of England. He was called Courteheuse because of his râblée size.
He was the oldest son of William the Conqueror and Mathilde of Flanders. He took part in the First crusade in 1095. Its reign as duke is notable for the discord with his/her brothers in England, which ends finally in the re-establishment of the union between the Normandy and England.
In his youth one announced that it was courageous and skilful in the military exercises. It had however also tendencies to the idleness and the weakness of character which dissatisfied the noble ones. The king of France exploited his weaknesses to assemble it against his Guillaume father.
In 1056, the count of Maine Herbert II escapes from Mans occupied by the count d' Anjou and takes refuge in Rouen. Without child it bequeaths to Guillaume the county of Maine and promises in marriage his sister to Robert. After the death of Herbert, Guillaume occupies Maine and establishes there his son, who will be maintained until in 1069.
In 1077, it fomented its first insurrection against his/her father like result of a hoax played by his/her younger brothers William Rufus and Henri. The latter had poured water through the floor in the room of Robert. Like revenge with the insult, Robert tried to take the castle of Rouen and after spent several years to rove in fights without goal before reconciling itself with his/her father.
In 1087, his/her father died following an internal wound with the liver or the peritoneum (falls of horse during the plundering and the fire of Mantes). Having divided the possessions Normans between its two oldest sons, it allotted to Robert the Duché of Normandy and bequeathed to William Rufus the Royaume of England. Of two wire, Robert was regarded as being weakest and he was generally preferred by the noble ones which had grounds on each side of the Manche; thus, they could more easily circumvent its authority. As of 1088, a rebellion against the King d' Angleterre is organized to reverse it and join together the kingdom and the duchy under the command of Robert. The rebellion fails, and the relationship between the two brothers remains very tended.
In 1091, by the Treated of Caen, the two brothers reflect fine with their territorial quarrels, and designated heirs one to the other.
Robert took as close adviser Rainulf Flambard, who had been before the secretary of his father.
In September 1096 Robert left for the Holy Land in the First crusade. It is mentioned that at the time of its departure, it was so poor that it was to remain in its bed for lack of clothing. In order to raise money for the crusade, he mortgaged his duchy with his Guillaume brother for the sum of 10.000 money marcs. After the reconquest of Jerusalem in July 1099, it returned at once to Normandy, recovered its duchy without opposition and married Sybille de Conversano, girl of the Norman count Godefroi of Conversano and small-niece of Robert Guiscard. From this union was born a son, Guillaume Cliton, heir to the duchy of Normandy.
It was during its return of Holy Land that the death of his/her William Rufus brother had allowed Henri, his/her younger brother, to seize crown of England with the support of the people. Feeling frustrated, Robert, pushed by Rainulf Flambard, then considered a forwarding to take the crown of England to his Henri brother.
In 1101, it unloaded with Portsmouth with its army but the lack of popular support among the English made it possible Henri to resist the invasion. Robert was forced by the diplomacy to give up his claim on the English throne in the Traité of Alton.
However, Robert, constantly disputes some with his brother, pushed Henri to invade Normandy in 1105. In September 1106, Henri inflicted a decisive defeat with the army of Robert to the Bataille of Tinchebray and claimed Normandy like possession of the English crown, a situation which was going to last during more than one century. Captured after the battle, Robert was imprisoned with the castle of Cardiff where there remained imprisoned until his death in February 1134.
He is buried in the church Abbatiale Saint-Pierre with Gloucester, where a mausoleum was built later.
See too
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