Robert “Curthose” or Robert II, Duke of Normandy

1054 - 1134  (80 years)

• Name	Robert “Curthose” or Robert II
  Suffix	Duke of Normandy
  Born	1052/54	Normandy, France
  Gender	Male
  Died	10 Feb 1134	Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Wales
  Buried	Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, England
  Notes	“ROBERT de Normandie (Normandy [1052/54]-Cardiff Castle [3] Feb 1134, bur Gloucester Cathedral). William of Malmesbury names Robert as eldest son of King William I. "Roberti filii sui Normannorum comitis, Richardi filii sui…" subscribed the charter dated Apr 1067 under which "Willelmus…dux Normannorum…Anglorum rex" confirmed rights to the abbey of Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire. Orderic Vitalis records that, after unsuccessfully aspiring to govern Normandy and Maine during the lifetime of his father, Robert rebelled in 1079 and went into exile in Flanders. William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis both state that he was assisted in his rebellion by Philippe I King of France and that he wounded his father in battle at Gerberoy. HHe succeeded his father in 1087 as ROBERT “Curthose” Duke of Normandy, his nickname due, according to William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis, to his short stature which he presumably inherited from his mother who was also reputed to have been very short. He joined the contingent of Robert II Count of Flanders on the First Crusade in Sep 1096, together with Etienne Comte de Blois, after pledging the duchy of Normandy to his brother King William for 10,000 marks of silver in order to fund the expedition. Following the capture of Jerusalem, Robert left Palestine to return to Europe in Sep 1099. On returning to Normandy in Autumn 1100, he recovered his duchy without opposition. He landed at Portsmouth in 1102 aiming to displace his brother King Henry I as king of England, but was persuaded to return to Normandy on payment of 3,000 marks. His brother King Henry invaded Normandy and defeated Robert at the battle of Tinchebrai, declaring himself duke of Normandy 28 Sep 1106. King Henry took Robert in captivity back to England, where Robert remained in prison for the rest of his life. Robert of Torigny records the death in 1134 of "Robertus dux Normannorum filius Willermi regis…primogenitus" and his burial at Gloucester. The Continuator of Florence of Worcester records the death at Cardiff in [1134] of "Rotbertus frater regis Heinrici quondam comes Normanniæ" and his burial in Gloucester.”«s87»
  Person ID	I11940	Lowell&Block
  Last Modified	23 Dec 2022

  
  

  Father	William I “The Conqueror”, Duke of Normandy, King of England,   b. 1027/8, Château de Falaise, Calvados, Normandy, France ,   d. 9 Sep 1087, Prioré de Saint-Gervais, Rouen, Normandy, France  (Age 59 years)
  Mother	Matilda, of Flanders, Queen Consort,   b. Abt 1031,   d. 2 Nov 1083, Caen, Calvados, Lower Normandy, France  (Age ~ 52 years)
  Married	1053	Collégiale Notre-Dame-Saint-Laurent, Eu, Normandy, France
  Family ID	F4140	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1052/54 - Normandy, France Died - 10 Feb 1134 - Cardiff Castle, Cardiff, Wales  = Link to Google Earth