Harold Godwinson (c. 1022 – 14 October 1066), also called Harold II, was the last crowned Anglo-Saxon king of England.Harold reigned from 6 January 1066 until his death at the Battle of Hastings, fighting the Norman invaders led by William the Conqueror during the Norman conquest of England.His death marked the end of Anglo-Saxon rule over England. Media in category "William II of England". In what year was the Magna Carta first granted? What happened to William II of England? William III and II (4 November 1650 – 8 March 1702) was King of England and Ireland from 13 February 1689 (as William III) and he was king of Scotland from 11 April 1689 (as William II). Malcolm revolted in November 1093, but Rufus’ forces quickly killed him near Alnwick, Northumberland. Seven of these survived: William, Robert Curthose, Richard (killed in a hunting accident in about 1074), Cecily, Agatha, Henry Beauclerk and Adela. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so. He prevented the dissolution of political ties between England and Normandy, but his strong-armed rule earned him a reputation as a brutal, corrupt tyrant.  © By signing up for this email, you are agreeing to news, offers, and information from Encyclopaedia Britannica. Hampton Court Palace, Molesey, England. He did not have a wife or any children. Bodleian Libraries, Cards depicting monarchs- lacking title page 26.jpg 1,000 × 574; 58 KB. Bodleian Libraries, Cards depicting monarchs- lacking title page.jpg 1,000 × 863; 69 KB. William II (Rufus) was the King of England from 1087 to 1100 who ascended the throne upon the death of his father, William I the Conqueror. The incident was probably an assassination, and Rufus’ alleged slayer, Walter Tirel, lord of Poix in Ponthieu, may have been acting under orders from the king’s younger brother, Henry. King William II of England was killed by an arrow while out hunting on Thursday 2nd August 1100. Please refer to the appropriate style manual or other sources if you have any questions. Articles from Britannica Encyclopedias for elementary and high school students. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. But as a great soldier, William continued in his father’s footsteps to push the Norman occupation across England. He was King of England from 1087 until 1100. He did not have a wife or any children. His attempts to undermine the authority of the English church provoked resistance from St. Anselm, archbishop of Canterbury, who, defeated, left the country for Rome in 1097; Rufus immediately seized the lands of Canterbury. Henry promptly seized the English throne as King Henry I. Known as William Rufus because of his ruddy complexion, he was the third son of William the Conqueror (William I) and inherited the English throne from him. Read more. He remained king until his death on 8 March 1702. William was commonly called "Rufus", perhaps because of his red-faced appearance. presentation in oxford to william iii , king of england, ireland, and scotland from 1689 until his death. William is commonly known as William Rufus or William the Red perhaps because of his red-faced appearance. William II of England (c. 1056–2 August 1100) was the second son of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders. II the third son of William I of England was King of England from 1087 until 1100 with powers over Normandy and influence in Scotland. The earliest known king to be buried at Winchester is Cygnelis, d.643, but the most famous is William II, the son of William the Conqueror, who died in a hunting 'accident' in the New Forest in 1100 (he was probably murdered). William II was clearly a divisive ruler, but he successfully extended Norman control over England, Scotland and, slightly less successfully, along the Welsh border. Ms. Mason does a fantastic job using sources other than those that came out of monasteries to reveal an entirely different kind of man and king than history has revealed to us. Most historians say that this was an accident, and that the stray arrow was fired by Walter Tyrel, one of William’s companions. Select from premium William Ii Of England of the highest quality. He was a harsh ruler and was not very liked. William II was the second surviving son of William I and Matilda of Flanders. He effectively restored peace in Normandy and ensured there was reasonably orderly rule in England. But Robert failed to appear and the revolt soon collapsed. William II, byname William Rufus, French Guillaume Le Roux, (born c. 1056—died August 2, 1100, near Lyndhurst, Hampshire, England), son of William I the Conqueror and king of England from 1087 to 1100; he was also de facto duke of Normandy (as William III) from 1096 to 1100. He was less successful in extending control into Wales. Old Friend. By the end of the eleventh century, King William II reached the peak of his power, ruling both Normandy and England. William II He was crowned on Sept. 26, 1087. This page has been archived and is no longer updated. Ring in the new year with a Britannica Membership, This article was most recently revised and updated by, https://www.britannica.com/biography/William-II-king-of-England, Spartacus Educational - Biography of King William II, The Home of the Royal Family - Biography of Mary II and William III, Heritage History - Biography of William Rufus, English Monarchs - Biography of William II Rufus, William II - Student Encyclopedia (Ages 11 and up). Browse 1,350 king william ii of england stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. When Robert left for a crusade in 1096, he mortgaged his kingdom to Rufus, who quickly added Maine to his possessions. Henry’s son … Test your knowledge of the Middle Ages, with a particular focus on England, in this quiz. Omissions? As the author astutely points out, religious chroniclers had good reason to see Rufus in a negative light; he … He kept bishoprics vacant to make use of their revenues, and had numerous arguments with Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury from 1093. Rufus immediately won the native English to his side by pledging to cut taxes and institute efficient government. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While every effort has been made to follow citation style rules, there may be some discrepancies. William II (c. 1056 – 2 August 1100), the third son of William the Conqueror, was King of England from September 26, 1087 until August 2, 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. His mother gave birth to nine children. William was commonly called " Rufus ", perhaps because of his red-faced appearance. Let us know if you have suggestions to improve this article (requires login). As the third son of William the Conqueror, William II had already made his mark before he even became king. Then, as king, he gained the third title William II of England. William II, byname William Rufus, French Guillaume Le Roux, (born c. 1056—died August 2, 1100, near Lyndhurst, Hampshire, England), son of William I the Conqueror and king of England from 1087 to 1100; he was also de facto duke of Normandy (as William III) from 1096 to 1100. England. He was less successful in extending his control in Wales . Get a Britannica Premium subscription and gain access to exclusive content. Our editors will review what you’ve submitted and determine whether to revise the article. Nevertheless, many Norman barons in England wanted England and Normandy to remain under one ruler, and shortly after Rufus succeeded to the throne, they conspired to overthrow him in favour of Robert. William II of England, sometimes called William 'Rufus' for his red hair and complexion, reigned as the king of England from 1087 to 1100 CE.The son of William the Conqueror (r. 1066-1087 CE), the younger William was loyal to his father, unlike his elder brother Robert Curthose, and so it was he who inherited the crown of England. (1) Be on the lookout for your Britannica newsletter to get trusted stories delivered right to your inbox. He was less successful in extending his control in Wales. In 1096, Robert went on Crusade, mortgaging Normandy to William (for 10,000 marks), who raised the money by levying a heavy and much-resented tax in England. King William Rufus was an unpopular king, especially with the church, as he showed little piety or morality. Rufus (“the Red”—so named for his ruddy complexion) was William’s third (second surviving) and favourite son. However, there is the intriguing possibility that it was not an accident after all. Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree.... What was a ceorl in medieval England? On 2 August 1100, William died when he was shot by an arrow while out hunting. His mother was Mary Stuart. William II and his reign as King of England King William I, The Conqueror, died in Normandy in 1087. It was accepted as an accident, but could have been an assassination. Rufus (“the Red”—so named for his ruddy complexion) was William’s third (second surviving) and favourite son. He William is commonly known as William Rufus (Rufus being Latin for 'the Red'), probably due to having red hair as a child. Updates? William faced opposition from Scotland and in 1091 he compelled Malcolm III, King of the Scots to acknowledge his overlordship. Lanfranc proved to be one of William’s staunchest allies. Corrections? The insurgency was suppressed, but the king failed to keep his promises. After the death of King William I … At the time of his invasion of England, William was a very experienced and ruthless military commander, ruler and administrator who had unified Normandy and inspired fear and respect outside his duchy. William Rufus’ chief interest, however, lay in the recovery of Normandy from the incompetent Robert. Find the perfect William Ii Of England stock photos and editorial news pictures from Getty Images. William II (c. 1056 — 2 August 1100), the second surviving son of William I the Conqueror, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers also over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. Malcolm revolted in November 1093, but William's forces crushed his army near Alnwick and Malcolm was killed. Henry I of England is crowned in Westminster Abbey. It has been suggested that his alleged slayer, Walter Tirel, was acting under orders from William's younger brother, Henry, who promptly seized the throne as Henry I. BBC © 2014 The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. He was a harsh ruler and was not very liked. In 1100 Rufus was shot in the back with an arrow and killed while hunting in the New Forest in Hampshire. William II © Known as William Rufus because of his ruddy complexion, he was the third son of William the Conqueror (William I) and inherited the English throne from him. He had almost at once to face a rebellion in favor of Robert, led by their uncle Odo, Earl of Kent and Bishop of Bayeux. Consequently, a second baronial revolt, led by Robert de Mowbray, Earl of Northumberland, broke out in 1095. All in all, William has been portrayed as a brutal and malicious ruler, who gave into his vices more frequently than not. He was King of England from 1087 until 1100. In 1091 he compelled King Malcolm III of Scotland to acknowledge his overlordship. William III (r. 1689-1702) and Mary II (r. 1689-1694) In 1689 Parliament declared that James had abdicated by deserting his kingdom. William became England's king as a result of his father's death-bed bequest. Read more. Meanwhile, Rufus was engaged in military operations in Scotland, Wales, and particularly in Normandy. William II of England (c. 1056–2 August 1100) was the second son of William the Conqueror and Matilda of Flanders. Find out more about how the BBC is covering the. He gave England to William, his third and favourite son, who was crowned in September 1087. William II (Old Norman: Williame II; c. 1056 – 2 August 1100), the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. The future William II was born in the late 1050s the third son of William the Conqueror. – 16 September 1701) was King of England and Ireland as James II, and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685 until he was deposed in the Glorious Revolution of 1688. Thereafter, William maintained the Scottish kings as vassals. 21st. The younger William, - nicknamed Rufus because of his ruddy cheeks - at first had no great expectations of succeeding to the throne. This time William punished the ringleaders with such brutality that no barons dared to challenge his authority thereafter. 12 Oct 1537 – 6 Jul 1553. Death in the Forest . In 1089, he laid claim to Normandy and waged war against Robert, who he defeated and reduced to a subordinate role. Led by the Conqueror’s half brother, Odo of Bayeux, Earl of Kent, they raised rebellions in eastern England in 1088. Whether his succession should be … William (II), also known as William Rufus, has always suffered in comparison with other kings of England. In accordance with feudal custom, William I bequeathed his inheritance, the Duchy of Normandy, to his eldest son, Robert II Curthose; England, William’s kingdom by conquest, was given to Rufus. Born in Normandy around 1056, William II or William Rufus, so named after his ruddy complexion, was the second surviving and the favorite son of William I. At his death in 1087, William I bequeathed his original inheritance, the Duchy of Normandy, to his eldest son, Robert Curthose. He was less successful in extending control into Wales. License. William also had difficult relations with the church. William II (c. 1056 — 2 August 1100), the second surviving son of William I the Conqueror, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers also over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. 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