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The History of the Crusades, by, Joseph Fr. Michaud, William Robson, and Hamilton W Mabie
"The men of the Vermandois marched with the subjects of Philip under the colours of their count Hugh, a young prince whose brilliant qualities had been much admired by the court."
"Robert, surnamed Courte-heuse, duke of Normandy, who led his vassals to the holy war, was the eldest son of William the Conqueror. He joined to noble qualities some of the faults the most reprehensible in a prince. He could not, even in his early youth, endure paternal authority; but, drawn away more by a desire for independence than by a real ambition, after having made war against his father for the sake of reigning in Normandy, he neglected the opportunity of ascending the throne of England on the death of William. His levity, his inconstancy, and his weakness, caused him to be despised both by his subjects and his enemies. His profusion ruined his people, and reduced him, if we may credit the monk Oderic Vital, to a condition bordering upon absolute poverty. The historian I have just quoted relates a trait, which, although difficult to be believed, at the same time describes both Robert and the age he lived in. " He was often compelled to remain in bed for want of clothes, and frequently was absent from mass because his nudity prevented him from assisting at it." his was not an ambition for conquering kingdoms in Asia, but his inconstant, chivalric disposition, that made him assume the cross, and take up arms. The Normans, a wandering and warlike people, who had made themselves remarkable among all the nations of Europe for their devotion to pilgrimages, hastened in crowds to his banner. As Duke Robert had not the means of providing for the expenses of an army, he pledged Normandy with his brother William Rufus. William, whom his ego accused of impiety, and who laughed at the knight errantry of the Crusaders, seized with joy the opportunity of governing a province which he hoped one day to unite to his kingdom. He levied taxes upon the clergy, whom he did not like, and caused the silver plate of the churches to be melted to pay the sum of ten thousand silver marks to Robert, who set out for the Holy Land, followed by almost all the nobility of his duchy."
"Another Robert, count of Flanders, placed himself at the head of the Frisons and the Flemings."
"Stephen, count of Blois and Chartres, had also taken up the cross."
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The Four Leaders of the First Crusade |
"These four chiefs were accompanied by a crowd of knights and nobles, among whom history names Robert of Paris, Evrard of Prusaiè, Achard de Montmerle, Isouard de Muson, Stephen, count d'Albermarle, Walter de St. Valery, Roger de Barneville, Fergant and Conan, two illustrious Bretons, Guis de Trusselle, Miles de Braiës, Raoul de Baugency, Rotrou, son of the count de Perche; Odo, bishop of Bayeux, uncle of the duke of Normandy; Raoul de Gader, Yve and Albéric, sons of Hugh de Grandménil. The greater part of the counts and barons took with them their wives and children, and all their war equipages. They crossed the Alps, and directed their march towards the cities of Italy, with the intention of embarking for Greece. They found in the neighbourhood of Lucca Pope Urban, who gave them his benediction, praised their zeal, and offered up prayers for the success of their enterprize. The count de Vermandois, after having received the standard of the Church from the hands of the sovereign pontiff, repaired to Rome, with the other princes, to visit the tombs of St. Peter and St. Paul."
"The passage of the French Crusaders, however, had awakened the zeal of the Italians. Bohemond, prince of Tarentum, was the first who resolved to associate himself with their fortunes, and to partake of the glory of the holy expedition."
"When this message was heard, the Christians, cleansed by confession, and stoutly armed by partaking of the body and blood of Christ, went out from the gate ready for battle. The first to go forth was Hugh the Great, with his Franks; next the Count of the Normans and the Count of Flanders; after them, the venerable Bishop of Puy and the battle line of the Count of St. Gilles; after him, Tancred; and last of all, unconquered Bohemund. When, accordingly, the lines had been formed, with the Lance of the Lord and the Cross before them, they began battle with the greatest confidence. God helping, they turned in flight the Turkish princes, who were confused and utterly beaten, and killed countless numbers of them. Returning, therefore, with victory, we gave thanks to the Lord and celebrated the festival of the apostles with the greatest rejoicing. On that day the citadel was surrendered to us, the son of the King of Antioch having fled with Corbara. The King himself had been killed by peasants while fleeing in the mountains on the day that the city was surrendered.*"
1063: Count of Maine
1077: insurrection against father
Jan 1079: Robert wounds dad in battle.
Easter 1080: Queen Matilda reunites father and son. Truce lasts 'til her death. After, Robert travels France, Germany Flanders and Italy. He winds up having several illegitimate children. His illegitimate son Richard, probably spent most his life living with William Rufus.
1087: Conqueror dies. But before he does, he wants to disown Robert. He's talked into splitting Norman territory. Robert gets Normandy. England goes to William Rufus. Henry gets cash and told to buy his own land.
1096: First Crusade
1100: William II died on 2 August 1100, when Robert was returning from Crusade and about to marry a wealthy bride to buy back his duchy. As a result, Henry was able to seize the crown.
1101: renounces claim in Treaty of Alton
1105: Robert's discord with brother in England and civil disorder in Normandy prompt Henry to invade Normandy.[9]
1106: Henry defeats Robert's army at Battle of Tinchebray. Claims Normandy for English crown.
ROBERT de Normandie (Normandy [1052/54]-Cardiff Castle [3] Feb 1134, bur Gloucester Cathedral[27]). Guillaume of Jumièges records that Duke Guillaume and his wife “Balduinum Flandriæ comitem...filiam regali ex genere descendente...Mathilde” had “filios quatuor Robertum...Willelmum...Richardum...et Henricum”, adding that Robert succeeded to “ducatum Normanniæ”[28]. Orderic Vitalis names “Rotbertum...et Ricardum, Willermum et Henricum” as the sons of “Willermus Normanniæ dux” and his wife “Mathildem Balduini ducis Flandrensium filiam, neptem...ex sorore Henrici regis Francorum”[29]. William of Malmesbury names Robert as eldest son of King William I[30]. "Roberti filii sui Normannorum comitis, Richardi filii sui…" subscribed the charter dated Apr 1067 under which "Willelmus…dux Normannorum…Anglorum rex" confirmed rights to the abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire[31]. After unsuccessfully aspiring to govern Normandy and Maine during the lifetime of his father, Robert rebelled in 1079 and went into exile in Flanders: Orderic Vitalis records the rebellion of Robert, son of King William I, and his departure from Normandy accompanied by “Rodbertus de Bellismo et Guillelmus de Britolio, Rogerius Ricardi de Benefacta filius, Rodbertus de Molbraio et Guillelmus de Molinis, Guillelmus de Ruperia”, dated to [1077/78], and their journeys during five years of exile[32]. William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis both state that he was assisted in his rebellion by Philippe I King of France and that he wounded his father in battle at Gerberoy[33]. He succeeded his father in 1087 as ROBERT “Curthose” Duke of Normandy, his nickname due, according to William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis, to his short stature which he presumably inherited from his mother who was also reputed to have been very short[34]. Orderic Vitalis records, that after the death of his father, “Rodbertus...filius eius” succeeded as “Normannorum dux et Cennomannorum princeps” but that he was “torpori et ignaviæ subjectus” and never governed as he should[35]. He joined the contingent of Robert II Count of Flanders on the First Crusade in Sep 1096, together with Etienne Comte de Blois, after pledging the duchy of Normandy to his brother King William for 10,000 marks of silver in order to fund the expedition[36]. Albert of Aix records the arrival in Constantinople of "Robertus Normannorum comes, Stephanus Blesensis, Eustachius frater prædicti Ducis", dated to early 1097 from the context[37]. Following the capture of Jerusalem, Robert left Palestine to return to Europe in Sep 1099[38]. On returning to Normandy in Autumn 1100, he recovered his duchy without opposition[39]. He landed at Portsmouth in 1102 aiming to displace his brother King Henry I as king of England, but was persuaded to return to Normandy on payment of 3,000 marks[40]. His brother King Henry invaded Normandy and defeated Robert at the battle of Tinchebrai[41], declaring himself duke of Normandy 28 Sep 1106. King Henry took Robert in captivity back to England, where Robert remained in prison for the rest of his life. Robert of Torigny records the death in 1134 of "Robertus dux Normannorum filius Willermi regis…primogenitus" and his burial at Gloucester[42]. The Continuator of Florence of Worcester records the death at Cardiff in [1134] of "Rotbertus frater regis Heinrici quondam comes Normanniæ" and his burial in Gloucester[43]. [10]
This week's featured connections are Redheads: Robert II Curthose is 13 degrees from Catherine of Aragón, 26 degrees from Clara Bow, 35 degrees from Julia Gillard, 24 degrees from Nancy Hart, 24 degrees from Rutherford Hayes, 27 degrees from Rita Hayworth, 29 degrees from Leonard Kelly, 25 degrees from Rose Leslie, 29 degrees from Damian Lewis, 29 degrees from Maureen O'Hara, 32 degrees from Jopie Schaft and 12 degrees from Eirik Thorvaldsson on our single family tree. Login to see how you relate to 33 million family members.
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Categories: First Crusade | Battle of Tinchebray | Prisoners of the Tower of London | This Day In History February 03
edited by Emma (McBeth) MacBeath M.Ed MSM
I would leave them just as they are. The relationships are well spelled out in the biography.