Medieval Heirs: Robert Curthose

Last month, I introduced my new series Inspiring Events to you. Today’s new series which I am excited to present to you, Medieval Heirs (Who Never Ruled), is similar to that series, except that it is going to be focusing on medieval British heirs to the throne who never ruled, whether from a premature death, usurpation, or another matter entirely. And today’s post deals with one of the major figures in last month’s event, William the Conqueror’s eldest son, Robert Curthose.

Robert Curthose, also known as Robert II of Normandy

If anyone told the young teenager looking at his baby brother that this brother would someday capture him and imprison him for the rest of his life–twenty-seven long years–he’d probably have laughed.

At this point, Robert Curthose (as he was known due to his short stature and stocky build) was fifteen and the accepted heir to his father, William the Conqueror, being the eldest son. Even in childhood, he excelled in military practices, yet another, more concerning factor also emerged. Robert could be lazy, with a weak character and a hot temper. This revealed itself when, nine years later, after his brothers played a nasty prank with a chamberpot, he rebelled against his father. His military skill also revealed itself as he caused such trouble, his father joined forces with the king of France to stop him.

Perhaps then, Robert couldn’t be too surprised when his father gave England to his second son, William Rufus, and settled on him the duchy of Normandy. Neither had heirs, though, so William Rufus and Robert agreed to be each others’s heirs.

But as seen before, these brothers were not on good terms. In 1088, some of the English barons supported his claim to the throne over William Rufus’s. Whether overconfident or pressured to steal the throne (as the rebellion failed because Robert never showed up to help the rebels) didn’t matter to William Rufus–in his eyes, Robert had attempted unsuccessfully to steal the throne from him.

William Rufus decided since his older brother wanted to play games, he would humor him. He invaded Normandy, compelling Robert to hand over two counties, but was stopped from seizing the capital of Rouen by that pesky third, youngest brother, Henry, who sided with Robert. Eventually, the brothers made tentative peace, as Robert mortgaged off Normandy to William to finance his trip on the First Crusade.

Robert may not have been a decent son, brother, or, frankly, ruler, but he knew how to fight. And on the Crusades is where he accomplished his most successful deeds. Some of the battles he fought in were the Siege of Antioch, the Battle at Ascalon, and the Capture of Jerusalem.

On the way home, in 1100, Robert married Sybilla of Conversano. He also received the news that his brother, William Rufus, had been killed in a hunting accident. As William Rufus still had been sonless, perhaps now, Robert must’ve thought, he could be a king.

Except nobody counted on that last pesky brother, Henry. Some historians even theorize that Henry may have arranged for William Rufus’s death so he could seize the crown while his oldest brother was away on crusade. Whether guilty or not, one thing remained certain. Henry was now crowned king, and Robert had another annoying brother to deal with.

Robert leaped into action, but unlike with the prior rebellion, in this rebellion of 1101, he didn’t have the support of the English barons. Henry defeated him, forcing him to sign the Treaty of Alton, renouncing his rights to England, but Robert, probably annoyed at all the trouble his little brothers put him through over the years, kept poking at Henry, stirring the discord among them. Maybe he thought since the treaty was signed, Henry could do nothing else to bother him. Maybe his wounded pride emerged in a wave of overconfidence. Whatever the case, it seems he thought his little brother was done messing with him–or couldn’t mess with him.

But Henry wasn’t going to let Robert get away with his actions, finally launching an attack on Normandy in 1105. In 1106, Henry defeated Robert and his forces at the Battle of Tinchebray, capturing Robert and claiming Normandy as a part of English lands.

And from there, Henry kept Robert imprisoned, first in Devizes Castle in Wiltshire, then to Cardiff Castle in Wales. It was here, after writing a poem containing the line, “Woe to him that is not old enough to die,” that Robert finally perished in February of 1134.

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Robert Curthose is an interesting heir to look at, because unlike some of the others with clear-cut reasons for why they didn’t rule (premature death or usurpation, for example), Robert’s case is more complex. Did his father give him Normandy over England because he disfavored him? Or was Normandy still the preferred ancestral, “more developed” land, even if it came with a lesser title than king? And after William Rufus died, was Robert really his rightful heir? Or was Henry truly the rightful king, whom Robert was trying to usurp?

We may never know–but looking at Robert’s track record, perhaps it was good thing he only remained a duke rather than a king. After all, while a good soldier, he didn’t seem very successful in the actual ruling department, unlike his father or brothers.

What do you think? Would he have made a good (or better) king? Do you think he was unfairly treated by his family, or do you think William the Conquerer was thinking Normandy was the better land when he split up his inheritance amongst his three surviving sons? Let me know in the comments below. ~ Kay Adelin