23 Facts About Robert Curthose

Robert Curthose was an unsuccessful pretender to the throne of the Kingdom of England.

The epithet "Robert Curthose" originated in the Norman French word courtheuse.

Robert Curthose was the eldest son of William the Conqueror, the first Norman king of England and Matilda of Flanders.

Robert Curthose was prone to laziness and weakness of character that discontented nobles and the King of France exploited to stir discord with his father.

Robert Curthose was unsatisfied with the share of power allotted to him and quarrelled with his father and brothers fiercely.

In 1077, Robert Curthose instigated his first insurrection against his father as the result of a prank played by his younger brothers William Rufus and Henry, who had dumped a full chamber pot over his head.

Robert Curthose was enraged and, urged on by his companions, started a brawl with his brothers that was only interrupted by the intercession of their father.

Robert Curthose seems to have left court soon after the death of his mother and spent several years travelling throughout France, Germany, and Flanders.

Robert Curthose took on Ranulf Flambard as his adviser, who had been previously a close adviser to his father.

In 1096, Robert Curthose formed an army and left Normandy to join the First Crusade to aid the Byzantine Empire against the Seljuk Turks and travel to Jerusalem.

Robert Curthose then participated in the brutal Siege of Antioch and commanded the Normans and English in the first line alongside Robert Curthose of Flanders at the subsequent Battle of Antioch in which a huge Muslim relief army was defeated.

Robert Curthose left Raymond's service during the siege on Jerusalem and instead joined Godfrey of Bouillon.

The fulfilment of his crusader vows was a personal triumph for Robert Curthose: he had shown military skills as well as the ability to mediate between different factions in the crusading forces.

Robert Curthose landed near Portsmouth with his army, but the lack of popular support among the English as well as Robert's own mishandling of the invasion tactics enabled Henry to resist the invasion.

Robert Curthose was forced by diplomacy to renounce his claim to the English throne in the Treaty of Alton.

Orderic claimed that Robert Curthose squandered his wealth and became so poor that he had nothing to wear, but this seems unlikely given that Robert Curthose would have been reduced to penury so short after his return and might rather refer to his pre-Crusade persona.

In 1105, Robert Curthose's continual stirring of discord with his brother in England, as well as civil disorder in Normandy, prompted Henry to invade Normandy.

Orderic reports on an incident at Easter 1105 when Robert Curthose was supposed to hear a sermon by the venerable Serlo, Bishop of Sees.

Robert Curthose spent the night before sporting with harlots and jesters, and while he lay in bed sleeping off his drunkenness his unworthy friends stole his clothes.

Robert Curthose awoke to find himself naked and had to remain in bed and missed the sermon.

In 1134, Robert Curthose died in Cardiff Castle in his early eighties.

Robert Curthose's effigy carved in bog oak adorns a mortuary chest decorated with the attributed arms of the Nine Worthies.

Robert Curthose married Sybilla of Conversano, daughter of Geoffrey of Brindisi, Count of Conversano on the way back from Crusade; they had one child:.