Editing William II of England (section)

== Early years ==
William's exact date of birth is not known, but according to [[Frank Barlow (historian)|Frank Barlow]] it occurred by 1060.{{Sfn|Barlow|2000|p=3}} He was the third of four sons born to [[William the Conqueror]] and [[Matilda of Flanders]], the eldest being [[Robert Curthose]], the second [[Richard (son of William the Conqueror)|Richard]], and the youngest [[Henry I of England|Henry]]. Richard died around 1075 while hunting in the [[New Forest]]. William succeeded to the throne of England on his father's death in 1087, but Robert inherited Normandy.<ref name="Douglas393">Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 393</ref>

William had five or six sisters. The existence of sisters [[Adeliza]] and Matilda is not absolutely certain, but four sisters are more securely attested:
* [[Adela of Normandy|Adela]], who married [[Stephen, Count of Blois]];
* [[Cecilia of Normandy|Cecily]], who became a nun;
* [[Agatha of Normandy|Agatha]], who died unmarried;
* [[Constance of Normandy|Constance]], who married [[Alan IV, Duke of Brittany]].<ref name="Douglas395">Douglas ''William the Conqueror'' p. 395</ref>

Records indicate strained relations between the three surviving sons of William I. William's contemporary, chronicler [[Orderic Vitalis]], wrote about an incident that took place at [[L'Aigle]] in Normandy in 1077 or 1078: William and Henry, having grown bored with casting dice, decided to make mischief by emptying a [[chamber pot]] onto their brother Robert from an upper gallery, thus infuriating and shaming him. A brawl broke out, and their father had to intercede to restore order.{{Sfn|Barlow|2000|pp=33–34}}{{efn|Barlow suggests that William and Henry probably urinated over Robert.{{Sfn|Barlow|2000|pp=33–34}}}}

According to [[William of Malmesbury]], writing in the 12th century, William Rufus was "well set; his complexion florid, his hair yellow; of open countenance; [[Heterochromia iridum|different coloured eyes]], varying with certain glittering specks; of astonishing strength, though not very tall, and his belly rather projecting."<ref>William of Malmesbury ''History of the Norman Kings'' p. 70</ref>