THE LATER REIGN OF WILLIAM IN NORMANDY. 1051–1066.
1051 Recapitulation; William returns from England 75
Character and divisions of the period; William’s wars with France; his war with Maine; the Breton war and the oath of Harold 76–78
§ 1. _The Marriage of William and Matilda._ 1049–1060.
Position of William; political necessity of his marriage; domestic purity of his life 78–80
His counsellors recommend a marriage with Matilda of Flanders 80
Position and greatness of the Counts of Flanders 81–83
1036–1067 Reign of Baldwin the Fifth; his connexion with France and England 83–84
Matilda’s former marriage and children 84–87
1048–1049 Beginning of William’s courtship; the marriage forbidden by the Council of Rheims 87–89
1053 Celebration of the marriage; its coincidence with the captivity of Leo the Ninth 90–93
Opposition of Archbishop Malger; his character 93–96
1055 Malger deposed; his banishment and death 96–98
1055–1069 Maurilius, Archbishop of Rouen, his life and character 98–101
Lanfranc opposes the marriage; his quarrel and reconciliation with the Duke 101–103
1054–1059 Lanfranc supports the marriage at Rome 104–106
1059–1060 Lanfranc returns with the dispensation 106
Foundation of the two Abbeys of Caen 108–110
1066? Anselm Prior of Bec; excellence of William’s ecclesiastical appointments 110–111
Children of William and Matilda 111–113
§ 2. _William’s Wars with France._ 1053–1060.
Character of the period; Norman rebellions supported by France and Anjou 113–114
Greatness of Normandy; its natural hostility to France 114–116
1048–1053 Revolt of William Busac 116
The Counts of Eu; their ecclesiastical foundations 116–118
William Busac defends Eu against the Duke; he is banished 118–119
1058 He takes refuge in France and receives the County of Soissons 119–120
1053 Revolt of William of Arques; his former conduct; the Duke occupies the castle; description of Arques 120–125
The castle betrayed to Count William; his revolt; march of the Duke from Valognes 125–128
The Duke blockades the castle; King Henry helps the rebels; ambush at Saint Aubin 129–133
Death of Ingelram; history of the Counts of Ponthieu 134–136
The King retires; Moulins betrayed to him 136–138
The castle surrenders; Count William retires to Boulogne 138–140
Hatred of the French towards Normandy; enmity of Geoffrey of Anjou and other princes; great confederacy against Normandy 140–144
1054 Double invasion of Normandy under King Henry and his brother Odo 144–150
William’s preparations; his plan of defence and division of his forces 150–153
Ravages of the French; they reach Mortemer 153–155
The French surprised and cut to pieces at Mortemer; imprisonment of Guy of Ponthieu 155–158
Promotion of William of Warren; he marries the Duke’s step-daughter Gundrada 158
The news brought to William; his stratagem and message to the King 158–160
Panic and retreat of the French army 161
Illustrations of the Norman national character 161–163
William fortifies Breteuil 163–164
1055 Peace with France; William authorized to make conquests at the expense of Anjou 164
1048–1063 Extension of William’s frontier to the south; Domfront and Ambrières 164–166
1055 New fortifications at Ambrières; William and Geoffrey before Ambrières; flight of Count Geoffrey and homage of Geoffrey of Mayenne 166–169
Further extension of William’s frontier towards Anjou 169
1055–1058 Three years’ peace 170
August, Last French and Angevin invasion; William’s 1058 defensive policy; advance and ravages of the French 170–172
The French at Varaville; William’s march; the French surprised and cut to pieces; the King retreats 172–177
Peace with France; restoration of Tillières 177
1060 Death of King Henry; his Russian marriage 177–178
1059 Coronation of Philip the First 178
1060 Baldwin of Flanders Regent for Philip; death of Geoffrey Martel; his dominions divided between his nephews 179–180
1058 Coincidence of the Battle of Varaville with Harold’s pilgrimage; change in the state of Gaul after the deaths of Henry and Geoffrey 180–182
§ 3. _The War of Maine._ 1060–1064.
1060–1063 Banishment of various Norman nobles; affairs of Saint Evroul; Synod of Caen 183–185
Old Norman claims over Maine; early history of the country; ecclesiastical and popular element at Le Mans 185–188
924–978 Alleged grants of Maine to Rolf, to Hugh the Great, and to Geoffrey Grisegonelle 188–189
Rivalry of the Counts of Maine with the Bishops and with the Counts of Anjou 189
960–994 Count Hugh and Bishop Sainfred 189–190
987–994 Fulk Nerra overruns Maine 190
1015–1036 Count Herbert Wake-the-Dog 190–193
994–1036 Avesgaud Bishop of Le Mans; his disputes with Herbert 190–192
1016–1028 Herbert’s relations with Anjou; his share in the Battle of Pontlevois; his imprisonment at Saintes 191–192
1035–1051 Hugh Count of Maine; regency of Herbert Bacco 193
1036–1058 Gervase Bishop of Le Mans; he commends the Bishoprick to Geoffrey Martel; expulsion of Herbert Bacco 193–194
1044–1051 Gervase imprisoned by Geoffrey Martel 195
1051–1061 Geoffrey Martel occupies Le Mans 195
1051–1058 Gervase takes refuge in Normandy; he becomes Archbishop of Rheims 195–196
1060 Herbert commends himself to William on the death of Geoffrey; settlement of the succession 196–199
1063 Herbert dies childless; succession of Walter and Biota 199–200
War of Maine; William ravages the country; surrender of Le Mans 201–207
Death of Walter and Biota; William charged with poisoning them 207–208
Geoffrey of Mayenne still holds out; conquest of Mayenne 208–212
Betrothal and death of Margaret of Maine 212–213
Importance of the conquest of Maine; its connexion with that of England 213–215
§ 4. _The Visit of Harold and the Breton War._ 1064?
Position of William and Harold 215–216
Their meeting; contradictory nature of the stories; connexion between the bequest of Eadward and the oath of Harold 217–218
Three different versions; Harold’s presence in Normandy probably accidental; probable presence of other members of his family 219–221
Harold sets sail at Bosham; he is wrecked in Ponthieu and imprisoned by Guy 222–223
He is delivered by William 224–226
Harold at Rouen; he engages to marry William’s daughter and receives knighthood 226–229
Harold joins William in the war against Britanny 229
1040–1066 Conan Count of the Bretons 230
1056–1062 Relations of Conan, Odo, and Hoel; a party in Britanny favourable to William 230–231
Conan’s challenge; Dol held for William 232–233
March of William and Harold to Dol; description of the city 233–237
Flight of Conan from Dol 237
Siege and surrender of Dinan 238–240
Harold’s oath; various statements as to time, place, and terms; question of the relics 240–247
Probable nature of the oath; an engagement to marry William’s daughter, combined with a formal homage 248–251
Moral aspect of the case; the English people not affected 252–253
Summary 254