Editing Wace (section)

===''Roman de Rou''===
The ''Roman de Rou'', was, according to Wace, commissioned by [[Henry II of England]] in around 1160.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |last=Urbanski |first=Charity |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/10.7591/j.ctt32b522 |title=Writing History for the King: Henry II and the Politics of Vernacular Historiography |date=2013 |publisher=Cornell University Press |isbn=978-0-8014-5131-7 |jstor=10.7591/j.ctt32b522 }}</ref> The ''Rou'' is a vernacular adaptation of the chronicle tradition of the dukes of Normandy begun by Dudo of St. Quentin, and continued by William of Jumièges, Orderic Vitalis, and Robert of Torigni.{{Sfn|Paul|2012|p=58}} Wace claims that he was fired by Henry II after working on the project for 15 years.<ref name=":0" /> 

{{Block quote|text=Let he whose business it is continue the story. I am referring to Master Beneeit, who has undertaken to tell of this affair, as the king has assigned him the task; since the king has asked him to do it, I must abandon it and fall silent.|author=Wace|title=Roman de Rou}}

Henry had indeed replaced Wace with another writer, [[Benoît de Sainte-Maure]], already famous from having written the ''[[Roman de Troie]]''. Benoît did not use any of Wace's work, but started afresh in composing his own ''Chronique des ducs de Normandie''.<ref name=":0" /> Precisely why Henry II fired Wace and replaced him on the project with Benoît is unknown, although a number of theories have been advanced to explain the decision. Among the sensitive issues that were introduced by Wace, and handled differently by Benoît, was the memory of [[Robert Curthose|Robert of Curthose]], duke of Normandy, and the role in the [[First Crusade|First Crusade.]] In terms of English dynastic history, Curthose could only be a controversial figure, since his son had offered a rival claim to the ducal title. Where Wace offered a fawning description of Robert's heroism, including claims that he had returned with great trophies like the banner of a Muslim emir, Benoît closed his account by emphasizing the shame Robert had brought upon the family by refusing to accept the crown of the [[kingdom of Jerusalem]].{{Sfn|Paul|2012|p=228-233}}