William of Aldrie facts for kids
William of Aldrie was an important person from a long time ago. He was one of the first Anglo-Normans, which means his family came from Normandy (in France) but lived in England after the Norman Conquest. William was also a rebel, meaning he went against the king. He was a cousin and a helper (called a steward) to another powerful person named William of Eu. Sadly, William of Aldrie was executed in January 1096.
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Who Was William of Aldrie?
William of Aldrie lived in England during the 11th century. He was part of a group called the Anglo-Normans. These were people whose families had come from Normandy in France. They settled in England after the Norman Conquest in 1066.
William of Aldrie was a relative of William of Eu. He also worked as a steward for William of Eu. A steward was like a manager, taking care of someone's property and affairs.
What Was the Rebellion About?
William of Aldrie joined a secret plan against King William II. He worked with his cousin, William of Eu. Other important people involved were Roger de Lacy and Robert de Mowbray.
Their plan was to remove King William II from power. They wanted to put the king's cousin, Stephen of Aumale, on the throne instead.
In 1095, the rebels took control of four trading ships. These ships belonged to Norwegian merchants. The king demanded that the rebels return the goods from the ships. However, William of Aldrie and the others refused.
The King's Response
King William II acted very quickly. He launched a fast military campaign against the rebels. He moved around their forces near Newcastle. The king also captured a rebel stronghold, which was a strong fort, at Morpeth.
Next, King William II surrounded the rebels at Bamburgh Castle. This is called a siege. During the siege, the king even built a new castle right across from Bamburgh Castle. This showed how determined he was to defeat the rebels.
What Happened to William?
In January 1096, King William II made a decision. He ordered that William of Aldrie be put to death. William was sentenced to death by hanging.
At that time, it was very unusual for people of high social standing to be executed. This harsh punishment showed how powerful King William II was becoming. When he first became king, his position was not very strong. But by 1096, he felt confident enough to act in such a strict way.
