Welcome to the British History Podcast. My name is Jamie and this is episode 458,

Henry's Story. This show is ad-free due to member support and as a way of

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The last two episodes have been focused on how King William Rufus was handling the aftermath

of the rebellion and the political moves that were being made. But Rufus didn't exist in a vacuum and across the channel his brothers were making moves as well. Now the rivalry between Robert and

Rufus had been costly to just about everyone. Rufus had come out victorious, but his position in England had only weakened.

His power was hanging on by a thread and his grip was so tenuous that he was forced to turn a blind eye to much of the

treasonous behavior from his vassals because to do anything else would risk fermenting yet another rebellion.

And across the channel, Duke Robert wasn't doing any better.

His failed coup had been expensive, and it wasn't like you as rolling in cash to begin with.

Robert had been burning through money just to keep the nest of vipers that made up Norman aristocracy happy.

Not that it was really working, of course.

Norman nobles weren't inclined to be happy people,

even to the best of times.

I mean, these were the same nobles who, upon hearing about

the death of the conqueror and the rise of Robert, had attacked and ousted the ducal

garrisons from castles all across Normandy,

meaning that many of his vassals and so-called allies had celebrated Robert's

ascension by essentially engaging in outright treason.

And just like Rufus, there wasn't much Robert could do about it.

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