28 September 1066. Henry the Young King’s great-great-grandfather, William I (c1028-1087), better known as William the Conqueror, landed in Pevensey Bay, England. In sixteen days he would be celebrating the victory that would change the course of British history forever. Forty years later, in 1106, the Conqueror’s sons, the eldest and the youngest met on the battlefield at Tinchebrai, Normandy. The youngest [future great-grandfather of Henry the Young King] won a decisive victory and captured the eldest. Henry I, king of England and Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, for these were the men, had been fighting over their inheritance for twenty years. Henry’s victory ended the strife and reunited England and Normandy under a single ruler. As for the battle itself, let me quote Roger of Hoveden: ‘Before the month of August, Henry, king of the English, crossed the sea and went to Normandy, on which nearly all the chief men of the Normans made submission to him, with the exception of Robert de Belesme and William de Mortaigne, and a few others, who adhered to duke Robert…. After this, the king assembled his army, and proceeding to a certain castle of earl of Mortaigne, which is called Tenchebrai, laid siege to it. In the meantime, while the king was thus engaged, his brother Robert came upon him with his army, on the vigil of Saint Michael, and with him Robert de Belesme and William, earl of Montaigne. A battle then taking place, king Henry gained the victory. On this occasion Robert, duke of Normandy, William, earl of Mortaigne, and Robert de Stuteville, with William Crispin and many others, were taken prisoners, while Robert de Belesme escaped by flight. In consequence of this success, king Henry subdued the whole of Normandy, and rendered it subject to his will, informing archbishop Anselm thereof by letter.’ Robert was kept in prison in various parts of England for the remaining twenty-eight years of his life. He died at Cardiff, at a very advanced age. William de Mortaigne was confined in the Tower of London. Robert de Belesme was captured in the summer of 1113 and sent to the castle of Wareham.
Posted on: Sat, 28 Sep 2013 07:54:40 +0000
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