Name William Count Children John, Count of Eu | Parents Robert I, Count of Eu Died January 1096 | |
Grandparents William, Count of Eu Great-grandparents Richard I of Normandy | ||
William II, Count of Eu, feudal baron of Hastings (d. circa 1095) was a first generation Anglo-Norman nobleman, Count of Eu and rebel.
Contents
Origins
According to most authorities he was the son and heir of Robert, Count of Eu, (d.pre-1093), by his wife Beatrix de Falaise.
Career
William of Eu held about 77 manors in the west of England and was one of the rebels against King William II in 1088. Although he made his peace with that King, together with William of Aldrie (his wife's nephew), Roger de Lacy and Robert de Mowbray, he conspired to murder William II and to replace him on the throne with Stephen of Aumale the King's cousin.
In 1095 the rebels impounded four Norwegian trading ships and refused the King's demand to return the merchandise. King William conducted a lightning campaign, outflanking the rebels at Newcastle upon Tyne and capturing a rebel stronghold at Morpeth in Northumberland. He besieged the rebels at Bamburgh Castle and built a castle facing the surviving one. During January 1097 in Salisbury, William was formally accused of treason, challenged to trial by battle and was defeated by Geoffrey Baynard, former High Sheriff of Yorkshire. It was finally decided that William was to be blinded and mutilated. William died sometime later and was buried at Hastings. William's son Henry inherited the countship of Eu and also became Lord of Hastings.
Marriage & progeny
William married twice: