So he offered to give up Normandy to his brother William while he was gone, if William would let him have the money he wanted. But he had wasted his money, so that he could not fit out an army to take with him. Many thousands promised to go on this crusade and among them was Robert, Duke of Normandy. The atrocities in Jerusalem started the preaching of Peter the Hermit and led to the First Crusade. He cared only for being powerful, for feasting, and for hunting. William Rufus let his cruel soldiers do just as they pleased in England, and spoil what they did not want. He is sometimes called the Red King, but more commonly William Rufus. He had sent off his second son, William, to England, with his ring to Westminster, giving him a message that he hoped the English people would have him for their king. William the Conqueror was obliged to let Normandy pass to Robert, his eldest son but he thought he could do as he pleased about England, which he had won for himself. The story of King William II ( William Rufus - The Red King )
Character of William Rufus: Cruel, selfish, self-indulgent and unjust.Cause of the Death of William Rufus: Shot by an arrow on a hunting trip in mysterious circumstances.Date when William Rufus died: 2 August 1100 aged 40.Date succeeded to the throne of England: 1087.William Rufus had three brothers: Robert, who was called Court-hose or Short-legs Henry, called Beau-clerc or the fine scholar and Richard who died young
His mother was Queen Matilda of Flanders. Family connections / Genealogy: He was the second son of William the Conqueror.