The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 11 : $b France, 843-1715
History
The historians' history of the world in twenty-five volumes, volume 11 : $b France, 843-1715
World history
None of his three sons paid him his last duties, but waged fierce war for
his heritage.[d] William Rufus succeeded to the throne in England, and
his brother Robert Courte-Heuse (Court-Hose or Short-Hose) in Normandy.
But William was not content with his portion. He invaded Normandy in
1090, and also disturbed the peace of the French monarchy by a vigorous
claim on the French Vexin and a war on the count of Maine. When Robert
joined the First Crusade he mortgaged his duchy to his brother, who
occupied it. But William’s tenure was short. An arrow in the New Forest
ended his life (1100). Robert Courte-Heuse hastened home and resumed his
rule, but Henry I, the Conqueror’s youngest son who succeeded William
Rufus in England, thirsted likewise for the paternal dominions. In 1104
he appeared in Normandy and two years later the struggle was over. At
the battle of Tinchebray Robert lost his lands and his liberty. Normandy
passed to the English crown.[a]
The death of the Conqueror was a great cause of joy to Philip and enabled
him to continue his indolent and scandalous career. He had married
Bertha, daughter of Count Florent of Holland, but tired of her and shut
her up while he eloped with Bertrade, wife of Fulk le Réchin, count
of Anjou, and married her. Pope Urban ordered the dissolution of this
marriage, and on the refusal to obey a council assembled at Autun in 1094
excommunicated the king. Philip no longer wished to wear the external
marks of royalty; he was afflicted with grievous infirmities, which he
recognised as the chastisement of God; so in 1100 he associated his son
Louis with the crown, and thenceforth reigned only in name. A terrible
fear of hell seized upon him. In humility he renounced burial in the
sepulchre of the kings at St. Denis, and died in 1108 in the habit of a
Benedictine monk.[d]
LOUIS THE FAT AND LOUIS THE YOUNG (1108-1180 A.D.)
Feebleness and inertness mark the reign of the first four Capetians. In
the successor of Philip the race began to partake in the general activity
of the age.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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