William of Aldrie
Encyclopedia
William of Aldrie was a first generation Anglo-Norman
and rebel. A cousin of, and steward to, William of Eu
, he was executed January 1096.
Along with his cousin, Aldrie conspired with Roger de Lacy
and Robert de Mowbray
to murder William II
and install the king’s cousin Stephen of Aumale
.
In 1095 the rebels impounded four Norwegian
trading ships and refused the king’s demand to return the merchandise.
King William conducted a lightning campaign, outflanking the rebels at Newcastle and capturing a rebel stronghold at Morpeth
. He besieged the rebels at Bamburgh Castle
and built a castle facing the existing one.
In January 1096 William II sentenced Aldrie to death by hanging. Execution of those of high social standing was extremely unusual at the time. It was a measure of the growing strength of William II’s kingship from his initially weak position that he felt able to act in this high handed manner.
Anglo-Norman
The Anglo-Normans were mainly the descendants of the Normans who ruled England following the Norman conquest by William the Conqueror in 1066. A small number of Normans were already settled in England prior to the conquest...
and rebel. A cousin of, and steward to, William of Eu
William of Eu
William of Eu, Count of Eu was a first generation Anglo-Norman aristocrat and rebel.Along with William of Aldrie, he conspired with Roger de Lacy and Robert de Mowbray to murder William II and install the king's cousin Stephen of Aumale....
, he was executed January 1096.
Along with his cousin, Aldrie conspired with Roger de Lacy
Roger de Lacy
Roger de Lacy, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman, a Marcher Lord on the Welsh border.- Lineage :He was son of Walter de Lacy , a retainer of William fitzOsbern. Roger was a castle builder, particularly at Ludlow Castle....
and Robert de Mowbray
Robert de Mowbray
Robert de Mowbray , a Norman, was Earl of Northumbria from 1086, until 1095, when he was deposed for rebelling against William Rufus, King of England. He was the son of Roger de Mowbray and nephew of Geoffrey de Montbray, bishop of Coutances...
to murder William II
William II of England
William II , the third son of William I of England, was King of England from 1087 until 1100, with powers over Normandy, and influence in Scotland. He was less successful in extending control into Wales...
and install the king’s cousin Stephen of Aumale
Stephen of Aumale
Stephen of Aumale was Count of Aumale from 1082 to 1127.He was son of Eudes de Blois, Count of Troyes and Count of Meaux, and Adelaide of Normandy, countess of Aumale, and sister of William the Conqueror...
.
In 1095 the rebels impounded four Norwegian
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
trading ships and refused the king’s demand to return the merchandise.
King William conducted a lightning campaign, outflanking the rebels at Newcastle and capturing a rebel stronghold at Morpeth
Morpeth, Northumberland
Morpeth is the county town of Northumberland, England. It is situated on the River Wansbeck which flows east through the town. The town is from the A1, which bypasses it. Since 1981, it has been the administrative centre of the County of Northumberland. In the 2001 census the town had a population...
. He besieged the rebels at Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle
Bamburgh Castle is an imposing castle located on the coast at Bamburgh in Northumberland, England. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
and built a castle facing the existing one.
In January 1096 William II sentenced Aldrie to death by hanging. Execution of those of high social standing was extremely unusual at the time. It was a measure of the growing strength of William II’s kingship from his initially weak position that he felt able to act in this high handed manner.