William II King of ENGLAND, RUFUS

                   William II (1056-1100) called Rufus from his ruddy complexion. King of Eng-
land, 3rd son of Wm. the Conquerer & Matilda of Flanders, was born between
1056-1060. On his deathbed William I nominated his favorite son, William, to
Archbishop Lanfranc as his successor to the English Throne.  William was
crowned king on Sep. 26, 1087. This separation of Eng. from Normandy imposed
a divided allegiance on the barons, most of whom had land on both sides of the
channel. At Easter the following year a rebellion broke out led by Earl of
Kent. Wm. next turned his attention to recovery of Normandy, in 1091 invading
his elder brother's land and soon forcing him to sue for peace.  The two
brothers then turned against Henry, the youngest surviving son of the Conquerer.
who had purchased the Cotentin Penninsula from his brother Robert. The follow-
ing year he left Normandy & marched north against Malcolm III of Scotland, who
had invaded England.He later seized Carlisle, & Westmorland. In 1094 he invaded
Normandy but received only Maine.  At home there was a quarrel with the church.
On death of Lanfranc in 1089 he appointed Ranulf Flambard Treasurer, who was
highly skilled in raising money.  William was accidentally killed perhaps by
Walter Tirel, while hunting in the New Forest on August 2, 1100.