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Robert Curthose - Duke Of Normandy
Many of the earliest books, particularly those dating back to the 1900s and before, are now extremely scarce and increasingly expensive. We are republishing these classic works in affordable, high quality, modern editions, using the original text and artwork.
288 pages, Paperback
First published March 13, 2010
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June 27, 2014
Robert Curhose, Duke of Normandy
Charles David Wendell
Read it in crisp fresh hardcover at 288 pages.
Robert Curthose, the eldest son of William the Conqueror is a sorted fellow, promised extreme wealth and power but corrupted by bad advice and impatient for his hereditary rights, things got off to a rocky start prior to the death of his father. William had secured England by conquest and maintained ownership of his Ducal rights in Normandy. Impatient Robert wanted Normandy prior to his father's death and while William tried to appease his rebellious youth it led to civil war in the duchy. Things escalated so far as to draw father and son on the field of battle, facing across from one another, they joined the battle and entered a melee contest in which it is said that Robert gravely wounded his father (the stories differ) and who then sworn never to appease Robert. Robert continued being a nuisance to his father within the duchy and William spent the majority of his later years attempting to quell this rebellion until his death. Upon his death bed it said that he gave Robert his hereditary rights in Normandy reluctantly, his second oldest the Kingdom of England (since it was taken by conquer and therefore Robert had no hereditary claim), and to his youngest Henry a small fortune. Thus starts the rule of Robert as the Duke of Normandy realized.
Too bad Robert was corruptible and more attune to the pleasures of life than to administration, hard work, or of quality character that the ruler of any medieval kingdom should possess. Robert as Duke was huge problem for the duchy which was disintegrating into private warfare between the Barons and external influences. Robert possessed none of the qualities that made his father successful. Because of that, he ended up selling lands to his younger brother (which who would inevitably be his bane in the years to come) and attempted to take the English crown unsuccessfully via conquest against his brother William. William, the more pragmatic and farsighted brother, used the failed occupation to appease his brother in a hollow treaty and gain puppet control of the duchy. The two brothers are then seen fighting of the rebellious barons in Normandy and dislodging Henry from his purchased counties. Once again though the peace between Robert and William could not last and swayed by the Council of Clermont Robert decides to head off on the first Crusade. He essentially secures money and provisions for his journey by leasing the duchy to William. Off he goes to a rather successful journey on the first Crusade where he played a rather spectacular role in many occasions and brokered peace among the lords looking for future holdings in the Holy Land as well as playing his part in the taking and savage plundering of Jerusalem. With the spectacular success overseas he leisurely makes his way back to Normandy, taking a stop in Italy where he finds a beautiful bride. Upon his return to the Duchy William is tragically (depending on who you ask) killed in a hunting accident. While plans are made for Robert to take the crown, his youngest brother Henry is far quicker and is anointed King of England. Robert who is now enjoying a large amount of fame home in his duchy still exhibits favoritism and shallow judgment reinvigorating the anarchy in Normandy and allowing some dramatic acquisitions of power by rogue barons. Instead of meeting these challenges head on Robert instead unsuccessfully attempts another conquest of England against his brother Henry. This is all the fuel Henry needs to outmaneuver his brother militarily and diplomatically and Henry ends up in control of the duchy and imprisoned Robert. Too much of Henry's undoing he doesn't apprehend Robert young son William Clito (because at the time he was but a child) and Clito is used as a pawn for anarchy in the duchy for some time until his eventual death. Robert on the other hand spends the rest of his life in prison at a castle in England, mastering the Welsh language, before eventually out living Henry.
Thus is the story of Robert, eldest son of the conqueror.
There isn't a lot of major works on Robert despite his intense influence in the Duchy as well as on the first Crusade. I essentially had the pick of two books still in print. I chose the older one for no real reason. While not as detailed as I am used in the English Monarch series, this was mostly bonus reading to fill in some gaps and as such it was interesting to read about his exploits from his historic point in things. Most of the information I had previously acquired from Barlow's 'William Rufus', Hollister's 'Henry I', Douglas's 'William the Conqueror,' as well as Tyerman's vast tomb 'God's War', which covers all of the crusades. I actually read from William, to Henry, to Rufus, and then Robert. Revers of their birth, save the father and name stake first and this is the order I would have anyone who is interested read them.
Charles David Wendell, the author, born in 1885 started as a humble farm boy and rode scholarships to eventually receive his degree from Harvard. He is most notably known for his endeavors at pioneering the "Open Access" concept of the college library and his extensive work to capture copies of ancient manuscripts prior to the outbreak of war in the 1930's. This work was first published in 1920, and as noted, is primarily large sweeps of the historic brush and does not delve into the individual transaction history, but still largely worth it for someone delving deep.
3.5 on goodreads terrible 5 point scale.
Charles David Wendell
Read it in crisp fresh hardcover at 288 pages.
Robert Curthose, the eldest son of William the Conqueror is a sorted fellow, promised extreme wealth and power but corrupted by bad advice and impatient for his hereditary rights, things got off to a rocky start prior to the death of his father. William had secured England by conquest and maintained ownership of his Ducal rights in Normandy. Impatient Robert wanted Normandy prior to his father's death and while William tried to appease his rebellious youth it led to civil war in the duchy. Things escalated so far as to draw father and son on the field of battle, facing across from one another, they joined the battle and entered a melee contest in which it is said that Robert gravely wounded his father (the stories differ) and who then sworn never to appease Robert. Robert continued being a nuisance to his father within the duchy and William spent the majority of his later years attempting to quell this rebellion until his death. Upon his death bed it said that he gave Robert his hereditary rights in Normandy reluctantly, his second oldest the Kingdom of England (since it was taken by conquer and therefore Robert had no hereditary claim), and to his youngest Henry a small fortune. Thus starts the rule of Robert as the Duke of Normandy realized.
Too bad Robert was corruptible and more attune to the pleasures of life than to administration, hard work, or of quality character that the ruler of any medieval kingdom should possess. Robert as Duke was huge problem for the duchy which was disintegrating into private warfare between the Barons and external influences. Robert possessed none of the qualities that made his father successful. Because of that, he ended up selling lands to his younger brother (which who would inevitably be his bane in the years to come) and attempted to take the English crown unsuccessfully via conquest against his brother William. William, the more pragmatic and farsighted brother, used the failed occupation to appease his brother in a hollow treaty and gain puppet control of the duchy. The two brothers are then seen fighting of the rebellious barons in Normandy and dislodging Henry from his purchased counties. Once again though the peace between Robert and William could not last and swayed by the Council of Clermont Robert decides to head off on the first Crusade. He essentially secures money and provisions for his journey by leasing the duchy to William. Off he goes to a rather successful journey on the first Crusade where he played a rather spectacular role in many occasions and brokered peace among the lords looking for future holdings in the Holy Land as well as playing his part in the taking and savage plundering of Jerusalem. With the spectacular success overseas he leisurely makes his way back to Normandy, taking a stop in Italy where he finds a beautiful bride. Upon his return to the Duchy William is tragically (depending on who you ask) killed in a hunting accident. While plans are made for Robert to take the crown, his youngest brother Henry is far quicker and is anointed King of England. Robert who is now enjoying a large amount of fame home in his duchy still exhibits favoritism and shallow judgment reinvigorating the anarchy in Normandy and allowing some dramatic acquisitions of power by rogue barons. Instead of meeting these challenges head on Robert instead unsuccessfully attempts another conquest of England against his brother Henry. This is all the fuel Henry needs to outmaneuver his brother militarily and diplomatically and Henry ends up in control of the duchy and imprisoned Robert. Too much of Henry's undoing he doesn't apprehend Robert young son William Clito (because at the time he was but a child) and Clito is used as a pawn for anarchy in the duchy for some time until his eventual death. Robert on the other hand spends the rest of his life in prison at a castle in England, mastering the Welsh language, before eventually out living Henry.
Thus is the story of Robert, eldest son of the conqueror.
There isn't a lot of major works on Robert despite his intense influence in the Duchy as well as on the first Crusade. I essentially had the pick of two books still in print. I chose the older one for no real reason. While not as detailed as I am used in the English Monarch series, this was mostly bonus reading to fill in some gaps and as such it was interesting to read about his exploits from his historic point in things. Most of the information I had previously acquired from Barlow's 'William Rufus', Hollister's 'Henry I', Douglas's 'William the Conqueror,' as well as Tyerman's vast tomb 'God's War', which covers all of the crusades. I actually read from William, to Henry, to Rufus, and then Robert. Revers of their birth, save the father and name stake first and this is the order I would have anyone who is interested read them.
Charles David Wendell, the author, born in 1885 started as a humble farm boy and rode scholarships to eventually receive his degree from Harvard. He is most notably known for his endeavors at pioneering the "Open Access" concept of the college library and his extensive work to capture copies of ancient manuscripts prior to the outbreak of war in the 1930's. This work was first published in 1920, and as noted, is primarily large sweeps of the historic brush and does not delve into the individual transaction history, but still largely worth it for someone delving deep.
3.5 on goodreads terrible 5 point scale.
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