Editing William II of England (section)

== War and rebellion ==
William Rufus inherited the Anglo-Norman settlement detailed in the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086, a survey undertaken at his father's command, essentially for the purposes of taxation, which was an example of the control of the English monarchy. If he was less effective than his father in containing the Norman lords' propensity for rebellion and violence, through charisma or political skills, he was forceful in overcoming the consequences. In 1095, [[Robert de Mowbray]], the earl of [[Northumbria]], refused to attend the ''[[Curia Regis]]'', the thrice-annual court where the King announced his governmental decisions to the great lords. William led an army against Robert and defeated him. Robert was dispossessed and imprisoned, and another noble, [[William of Eu]], accused of treachery, was blinded and [[castrated]].<ref>Carpenter, ''Struggle for Mastery'', p. 131.</ref>

In external affairs, William had some successes. In 1091 he repulsed an invasion by King [[Malcolm III of Scotland]], forcing Malcolm to pay homage. In 1092 he built [[Carlisle Castle]], taking control of [[Cumberland]] and [[Westmorland]], which had previously been claimed by the Scots.<ref name=Carpenter129/> Subsequently, the two kings quarrelled over Malcolm's possessions in England, and Malcolm again invaded, ravaging Northumbria. At the [[Battle of Alnwick (1093)|Battle of Alnwick]], on 13 November 1093, Malcolm was ambushed by Norman forces led by Robert de Mowbray. Malcolm and his son Edward were killed and Malcolm's brother [[Donald III of Scotland|Donald]] seized the Scottish throne. William supported Malcolm's son [[Duncan II]], who held power for a short time, and then another of Malcolm's sons, [[Edgar, King of Scotland|Edgar]]. Edgar conquered [[Lothian]] in 1094 and eventually removed Donald in 1097 with William's aid in a campaign led by [[Edgar Ætheling]]. The new king recognised William's authority over Lothian and attended William's court.

William made two forays into Wales in 1097. Nothing decisive was achieved, but a series of castles were constructed as a marchland defensive barrier.<ref>Philip J. Potter, ''Gothic Kings of Britain: The Lives of 31 Medieval Rulers, 1016–1399'' (2009), [https://books.google.com/books?id=h_zW8TBBVQkC&pg=PA47 p. 47].</ref>

In 1096, William's brother [[Robert Curthose]] joined the [[First Crusade]]. He needed money to fund this venture and pledged his [[Duchy of Normandy]] to William in return for a payment of 10,000 marks, which equates to about a quarter of William's annual revenue. In a display of the effectiveness of English taxation, William raised the money by levying a special, heavy, and much-resented tax upon the whole of England. He then ruled Normandy as regent in Robert's absence. Robert did not return until September 1100, one month after William's death.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Robert II {{!}} Duke of Normandy |language=en |work=Encyclopedia Britannica |url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Robert-II-duke-of-Normandy |access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref>

As regent in Normandy, William campaigned in France from 1097 to 1099. He secured northern Maine but failed to seize the French-controlled part of the [[Vexin]] region. According to William of Malmesbury he was planning to invade the [[Duchy of Aquitaine]] at the time of his death.<ref>Gillingham, William II, p. 97</ref>