William Rufus

Description

William 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. A boisterous man, William had many friends and none of the cold cruelty of most medieval monarchs. He was famous for his generosity and courage and generally known to be homosexual. Licentious, eccentric, and outrageous, his court was attacked at the time by Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, and later by censorious historians. This highly readable account of William Rufus and his brief but important reign is an essential volume for readers with an interest in Anglo-Saxon and medieval history or in the lives of extraordinary monarchs. Contents Illustrations Foreword to the Yale Edition Preface to the First Edition Preface to the First Paperback Edition Abbreviated References Chapter 1. Background and Youth Chapter 2. The Kingdom Obtained (1087–1088) Chapter 3. The Bachelor King and His Domestic Servants Chapter 4. The Nobility and Higher Clergy and the Royal Government Chapter 5. The Sinews of War Chapter 6. The Three Brothers (1088–1095) Chapter 7. The Conquering Hero (1094–1100) Chapter 8. Death in the Afternoon (1100) Epilogue Appendices The Royal Itinerary Select Bibliography Genealogical Tables Index