The Bayuex Tapestry depicts the life of William the Conqueror.
He was the illegitimate son of Robert the Magnificent, Duke of Normandy. He succeeded his father in 1035, when he was only 8 years old. Photo via wikimedia commons.
The Journey Begins…
“Lords you say, I have neither child nor heir, but this son whom you see...If you will accept him I will give him to you...Yes, he is young but he will grow with God’s help and he will become strong.” [Written by the historian Wace of the presentation of Robert I, Duke of Normandy of his son, William]
William's father died in Italy on his return and the boy had only the memories of their short life together. He is especially reminded of the words spoken by the duke to the nobility of Normandy while he stood bravely by his side. He did not fear the men he faced as he knew them to be family. [The nobles of Normandy as descendants of Rollo, the Viking were all related either by blood or marriage.]
He was young only, eight years old, was not able to perceive the threatening mood in the great hall. The nobles had quite literally been at each other's throats in a civil strife that swept the land over an inheritance issue created by Robert.
The revelation after his father’s death that his brother Richard III was chosen so angered him that he besieged the castle at Falaise and barred the new duke’s entry but was captured and imprisoned. Robert pleaded for forgiveness which was granted.
Richard III married Adela, the lovely sister of Henry I, King of England and the two brothers attended a celebration together at Rouen. Richard was suddenly taken ill and died as he was carried from the hall. Robert was made the heir and his enemies voiced their suspicions that he had poisoned his brother. [The young widow, Adela, was then married to Baldwin,V, Count of Flanders; their daughter, Mathilda would marry William, Duke of Normandy 24 years later.]
The duke went on a rampage to assault any and all who condemned him. His angry assault included his uncle, Robert the Archbishop of Normandy and senior adviser of the ducal clan who had commented that Robert was not reliable enough to rule. As a result of the duke’s impetuous behavior the Archbishop placed an interdict against the Normans. The people excommunicated from the Church were frightened and angry which caused a threat of rebellion against the duke.
The duke pleaded for forgiveness for his behavior again. The Archbishop ordered him to go to the Holy Land to ask for repentance from a Higher Court. Robert's death caused a threat of anarchy. [Anarchical situations allow for takeovers of powers by individuals, essentially it's’ every man for himself.’]
The reticence of the nobles to speak against the choice of his son was their fear of his terrible temper which had been exhibited after the earlier inheritance issue was removed at his death. Many made it known that William was not an acceptable ruler for two reasons:
First, it was considered an insult to their family pride to ignore more qualified claimants from among his relatives. The older nobility who held on to their Norse culture that designated a ruler was to be chosen from worthy claimants disagreed with the French tradition of inherited leadership.
Secondly, William was a minor and the fact that his mother was of a low born status disqualified him as a choice to rule them. His illegitimate birth as a cause for his unacceptance stated by chroniclers writing later was not a factor at that time.
The family that the little boy faced without trepidation in the great hall of their ancestor, Rollo became his most formidable enemies. His relatives seized the opportunity to remove him either by death or at least to wrest him from his guardian’s protection. On a quiet night at Falaise. William, awakened, discovered that his tutor and companion, a gentle monk, was being stabbed to death at the door of his chamber. The assassin escaped when the guards arrived but the conspiracies were made real for both the boy and guardians.
The guardians appointed by his father as he left on his fateful journey were trusted family members, Alan, Count of Brittany, Geoffrey of Boulogne, and Roger I, Fitz Osbern all cousins of Robert I. They were in grave danger just by association with the boy but each honored his oath and steadfastly guarded their charge. Each man came to a violent end within five years of his accession.
Alan of Brittany-poisoned.
The Assassin- Roger de Montgomery, one of Robert’s closest companions, rebelled against the choice of heir, exiled to France by Fitz Osbern managed to have Alan poisoned. The younger brother Roger, raised with Duke William remained loyal and became William’s most trusted counselors and a magnate in both Normandy and England.
Fitz Osbern- Murdered at his castle while protecting William.
The Assassin- William De Montgomery to avenge his father. Osbern’s men killed him in his castle for revenge.
Gilbert of Brionne- Killed in ambush after he successfully foiled a plot to kill the duke. His two young sons were sent to the Count of Flanders for their protection.These sons accompanied the Duke on the invasion of England. Gilbert’s descendants through his son Richard de Clare became one of the most powerful families of the British Isles.
William’s counselors made an appeal to the king to honor his oath given to Robert I to be his son’s protector. The king recognized the dominance of the Normans and fearful that those in rebellion might look in his direction accepted the boy as his ward.He also saw the opportunity to cultivate the young duke rather than incite the Norman power he might someday achieve.
Duke William II arrived at the court of the King in Paris when he was about fifteen years old, freed of the burden of fear and eager to learn. He studied Latin, astronomy, mathematics and logic, the subjects for the education of the younger nobles at the court. The martial arts were diligently pursued to prepare them for warfare, the natural order of the Age.
He was not a scholar but the Commentaries by the great Roman general and Emperor, Julius Caesar piqued his interest and he was known to recite them later in his life. “An ignorant king is no better than a crowned ass!” was a favorite.
At first, William was treated as a’ foreigner’ among the French born youth at the court but he proved himself to be a leader among his boyhood peers and often acted as a mediator to settle their petty disputes.
His greatest attribute was his athleticism admired by his trainers and fellow novices. He quickly mastered the sword, mace and the lance but it was his skill in archery that became legendary. It was reported that no one but William was able to ride at a full gallop, shoot a bow that he alone could draw and hit the target with perfect aim.
His physical stature gave him the advantage in competitive sports and while he was the much praised champion of the Court it was his regal bearing and charismatic aura that attracted the most attention, not overlooked by the king.
In 1044, had William reached the age of his majority an envoy of his loyal nobles to Paris requested his return to rule his duchy in turmoil without leadership. The king granted their wishes with understandable reluctance. The grateful people of Normandy rejoiced with the hope that he would restore prosperity and peace.
William realized that the private feuds would continue and there were those still openly against his reign but most recognized the ducal government. He would prove to them all that the boy did “with the help of God...grow strong” and was an even wiser man.
His counselors advised him to summon all the nobility of the land to a Great Counsel at Rouen to renew their oath of allegiance. He stood in his robes of state before the nobles to receive their acknowledgement of him as their liege lord and was crowned once again with the golden coronet of a duke which now fitted him perfectly in every way!!
Many of the celebrated ‘champions’ of today’s society have admittedly suffered through childhood and youthful adversity to reach their goals.
Whether the enemy was of a physical or mental challenge each persevered and with courage had the strength to “grow” into the winners they deserved to be.
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