William the Second, by The Grace Of God, King Of England
William Rufus was crowned king on the 26th.
September, 1087, at Westminster Cathedral.
Purely from a constitutional standpoint, it's interesting to speculate when he did, actually, become king.
When his father made the gift? Hardly.
The father was still alive and therefore England would have had two kings.
When his father died? That holds more water.
When Lanfranc accepted him? Or when he received sufficient support from the baronage? This debate could never be settled, if for no other reason that Lanfranc held the reins of the kingdom during the interregnum.
Neither was the Archbishop in a hurry to crown William.
Lanfranc was a prudent man, an Italian, and therefore not swayed by either Norman nor English pressures nor sensibilities.
However, once he'd satisfied himself that the testament from the old king was indeed accurate and that William was accepted by the majority of the barons, he lost no time in going ahead with the coronation.
William was crowned according to the Anglo Saxon liturgy, and the ecclesiastical ritual conducted in Latin.
First, the new king was 'elected' by the people and clergy and in return promised to protect the church, secure good justice for the people, and abolish all evil laws and customs.
These promises were spoken in French, so that all could understand.
Then, he was anointed with holy oil and invested with the crown and other insignia.
There is no difference here than in the coronation 900 years later of Her Majesty, Elizabeth the Second.
After his royal estate was announced, he took homage from the magnates.
"All the men in England bowed before him and swore oaths," is the Anglo Saxon Chronicle's laconic description.
William the Second, by the Grace of God, King of England.
It should be remembered that up until his coronation, William was a landless knight.
It would have been understandable if he'd tended to kick over the traces somewhat, booting out the old guard and replacing them with men of his choice, but nothing like that happened.
It's known that he had the greatest respect for his father and for a while, the kingdom ran on as before.
His metal was to be tested in March and April of the following year, however.
William held his Christmas court in London, unsurprisingly, although the more usual venue was Gloucester.
Among those present was Archbishop Lanfranc and Odo of Bayeux.
Odo had been busy.
Within four months of his release from prison, he'd recovered his honours both in Normandy and in England.
Lanfranc was by no means fooled by Odo's overtures, neither was William particularly please to see his uncle.
Nevertheless, since Odo hadn't wronged him in any way, William extended a warm welcome to him.
By no means all the baronage was happy with William's coronation, Odo among them as we shall see.
Robert was their choice, since it was well known he was weaker and far more pliant than the reigning king.
September, 1087, at Westminster Cathedral.
Purely from a constitutional standpoint, it's interesting to speculate when he did, actually, become king.
When his father made the gift? Hardly.
The father was still alive and therefore England would have had two kings.
When his father died? That holds more water.
When Lanfranc accepted him? Or when he received sufficient support from the baronage? This debate could never be settled, if for no other reason that Lanfranc held the reins of the kingdom during the interregnum.
Neither was the Archbishop in a hurry to crown William.
Lanfranc was a prudent man, an Italian, and therefore not swayed by either Norman nor English pressures nor sensibilities.
However, once he'd satisfied himself that the testament from the old king was indeed accurate and that William was accepted by the majority of the barons, he lost no time in going ahead with the coronation.
William was crowned according to the Anglo Saxon liturgy, and the ecclesiastical ritual conducted in Latin.
First, the new king was 'elected' by the people and clergy and in return promised to protect the church, secure good justice for the people, and abolish all evil laws and customs.
These promises were spoken in French, so that all could understand.
Then, he was anointed with holy oil and invested with the crown and other insignia.
There is no difference here than in the coronation 900 years later of Her Majesty, Elizabeth the Second.
After his royal estate was announced, he took homage from the magnates.
"All the men in England bowed before him and swore oaths," is the Anglo Saxon Chronicle's laconic description.
William the Second, by the Grace of God, King of England.
It should be remembered that up until his coronation, William was a landless knight.
It would have been understandable if he'd tended to kick over the traces somewhat, booting out the old guard and replacing them with men of his choice, but nothing like that happened.
It's known that he had the greatest respect for his father and for a while, the kingdom ran on as before.
His metal was to be tested in March and April of the following year, however.
William held his Christmas court in London, unsurprisingly, although the more usual venue was Gloucester.
Among those present was Archbishop Lanfranc and Odo of Bayeux.
Odo had been busy.
Within four months of his release from prison, he'd recovered his honours both in Normandy and in England.
Lanfranc was by no means fooled by Odo's overtures, neither was William particularly please to see his uncle.
Nevertheless, since Odo hadn't wronged him in any way, William extended a warm welcome to him.
By no means all the baronage was happy with William's coronation, Odo among them as we shall see.
Robert was their choice, since it was well known he was weaker and far more pliant than the reigning king.
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