William Rufus: The Red King Who Angered the Church

William Rufus, son of William the Conqueror, ruled England from 1087 to 1100 as a hawkish, irreverent king who clashed with the Church and his own barons. This episode explores Rufus's reign in detail: his ruthless tax policies, his conflicts with Archbishop Anselm of Canterbury, his military campaigns in Normandy and Scotland, the construction of Westminster Hall, and the mysterious hunting accident that killed him in the New Forest. We examine the character of this forgotten Norman king, his relationship with his elder brother Robert Curthose, and why contemporary chroniclers like William of Malmesbury and Eadmer painted such a hostile portrait. The episode also covers the unusual circumstances of his death, the role of Walter Tirel, and the immediate succession of Henry I. A fresh look at a controversial ruler who expanded royal power at a high cost. #WilliamRufus #HistoryOfEngland #NormanKings #Anselm #RedKing #NewForest #WestminsterHall #WilliamOfMalmesbury #Eadmer #RobertCurthose #HenryI #WalterTirel #InvestitureControversy #AngloNorman #MedievalEngland #KingOfEngland #FexingoHistory #History Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo