[MR] Wikipedia: Death of King William II

[Garth Groff and Sally Sanford]

Noble Friends,

Today Wikipedia notes the anniversary of King William II's death in 1100.
Also known as William Rufus, he was the third son of William the Conqueror
(William I), and succeeded his father to the English throne in 1087.

When William I died, his holdings were divided between his first and third
sons. Robert (aka Robert Curthose), the eldest, got Normandy. William Rufus
got England. A second brother, Richard, had already died around 1075 after
a fatal appointment with a low-hanging branch while hunting in New Forest.

New Forest was also the bane of William II. While hunting there, he was
shot through the lung with an arrow. Upon learning of the death, all his
party fled the scene, leaving the King's body unwatched. An arrow maker
named Eli Pratt came upon the body, and with other commoners conveyed it to
Winchester Cathedral.

As soon as he learned of the accident, the youngest brother, Henry
Beauclerc, seized the treasury at Winchester, and within days had himself
proclaimed Henry I, King of England.

For years historians have speculated about whether William's death was an
accident or an assassination. Suspicion fell on a companion named Walter
Tirel, but there is no proof he made the shot. If it was murder, Henry I
had the most to gain, and certainly took quick advantage of the situation.
Rough game, kingship!

William was entombed in Winchester Cathedral. His remains were collected
later into random mortuary chests with other Anglo-Saxon kings and nobles.
He is commemorated by a plaque on the wall.

A Wikipedia bio is at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_II_of_England .

Walter Tirel also has a bio at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Walter_Tirel .

Yours Aye,


Lord Mungo Napier, Laird of Mallard Lodge  🦆