William Rufus: Interpretations

Interpretations of William Rufus' reign

The reign of William Rufus can be viewed in a number of different ways. these brief accounts show how historical evidence can be used to portray people and events in different ways.

Interpretation 1: William Rufus was a poor King.

William Rufus extracted monies from his people when there was no great need to tax them. He was concerned not with the welfare of his subjects but only with his own perosnal power and wealth. His treatment of the church clearly demonstrates that he was not interested in honesty, justice or the well being of the people. In keeping the see of Canterbury open for so long he denied the people their right to a spiritual leader and in taxing the church in a way that had not been done before he prevented the church from being able to care for the poor. William was a bitter man, his hatred of his brother led to him causing endless political prolems within England, the barons were disunited and this can only lead to unrest across the country. There is nothing to suggest that Willam Rufus cared in any way for his subjects, he was a selfish, self centred monarch.

Interpretation 2: William Rufus was a great King.

William Rufus inherited England as a result of the love, care and consideration he showed to his father. His reign began amid dissatisfaction at the Norman empire being split into two and he had to successfully manouvre to retain his political position. That he managed to maintain control and ensure continued law and order in England whilst in such a difficult diplomatic situationshows that his character was as strong as his fathers. In achieving a reconcilment with his brother, Robert, William demonstrates that he is able to use persuasion rather than force to solve problems. Rufus was a great warrior, politician and diplomat. His forces repelled threats from both Scotland and Wales with little harm done to England. Such guile was repeated in Normandy where his forces regained all of the territories that his inept brother had lost. At the edn of his reign william was lord of a much larger territory than at the beginning of his reign. He did this without overtaxing his people, his levy of Danegeld was lower than that which his father had imposed. As a monarch he was responsible for securing the relam for the Normans and turning the Normans into a major political force in Europe.