Editing William II of England (section)

== Contemporary assessment ==
William was an effective soldier, but he was a ruthless ruler and, it seems, was little liked by those he governed. According to the ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'', he was "hated by almost all his people and abhorrent to God."<ref>Garmonsway (ed.) ''[[Anglo-Saxon Chronicle]]'' p. 235</ref> [[Chronicle]]rs tended to take a dim view of William's reign, arguably on account of his long and difficult struggles with the Church: these chroniclers were themselves generally clerics, and so might be expected to report him somewhat negatively. His chief minister was [[Ranulf Flambard]], whom he appointed [[Bishop of Durham]] in 1099: this was a political appointment, to a [[Episcopal see|see]] that was also a great [[fief]]dom. The particulars of the king's relationship with the people of England are not credibly documented. Contemporaries of William, as well as those writing after his death, roundly denounced him for presiding over what these dissenters considered a dissolute court. In keeping with the tradition of Norman leaders, William scorned the English and the English culture.<ref>Cantor ''Civilization of the Middle Ages'' pp. 280–284</ref>