The sons of William I.left Normandy to Robert and England to his second son, William, who was called ‘Rufus’ from his red hair. William II, called ‘Rufus’, 1087–1100.Rufus was a violent ruffian, grasping and cruel, and mocked at everything holy; but he was strong and clever too, a mighty warrior and leader of men. He had at once to meet a fearful rebellion got up by Robert, but the English freeholders turned out in crowds to help him, and he smashed the rebels and battered down their castles as he battered down everything that came in his path. Soon he managed to grab Normandy also from poor Robert, who was always deep in debt and trouble of every sort.
The first Crusade, 1096.In 1096 Robert had gone to the East, and many of the turbulent French and Norman barons with him. They had gone in order to fulfil one of the noblest yet vainest dreams of those times, to rescue the Holy Land from the infidel Saracens or ‘Turks’, who had recently taken Jerusalem. The Saracens bullied pilgrims who went thither to venerate the places of Christ's earthly ministry and passion. These expeditions from the West were called ‘Crusades’, and pious adventurers went with them from all parts of Europe. A man who died upon a crusade thought that he was fairly sure of going straight to Heaven. This first Crusade was successful, and a Christian kingdom was set up in Jerusalem which lasted there for eighty-eight years, and in some parts of Palestine for nearly two hundred years. Europe learned much from the Crusades, and many luxuries, arts and crafts were brought back to it from the East. But the name got much abused, and at last the popes called every private quarrel of their own a crusade, promising their blessing to all who paid money to it, and scolding all who refused.
