What if Robert Curthose slew William the Conqueror in 1079?

In 1079, Robert Curthose (also know as Robert II of Normandy) was in revolt against his father William I of England, better known as William the Conqueror. William had besieged his son at the castle of Gerberoy for several weeks, after which Robert and his forces sortied out of the castle. A battle ensued during which William was unhorsed, and set upon by his own son, who wounded him in the arm. According to the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle, Robert then recognized his father by his voice, and then let him ride off to safety on his own horse. See David, 1920, p.27.

What if Robert either had not recognized his father, or decided to finish him anyway? Robert never held power in England, as his ambitions were repeatedly thwarted by both is father and younger brothers William (II) Rufus and Henry (I), both of whom inherited the throne of England ahead of their elder brother. Would Robert have been able hold power in England, or would his ascension in rebellion caused a breakdown in order akin to the Anarchy?
 
Every honest Angle and Saxon would cheer!

Robert would have a ready-made Fifth Column - if he was sensible and gave them their rights!

Otherwise, we need another sixteen men like Hereward the Wake...
 
Do you think that the Norman barons would not quickly give their fealty to Robert, as the eldest son of the Conqueror? Or would the odium of parricide, plus the fact that he was in rebellion against his lawful sovereign make it more likely they would rally around William Rufus?

The only problem I see which would make another Saxon revolt unlikely is that it had been barely a decade since the Harrying of the North, and the depopulation that accompanied that campaign. In addition, the rebels would be almost bereft of allies, since the Danes would not likely have decided to intervene in England again after their disastrous intervention six years earlier.
 
Do you think that the Norman barons would not quickly give their fealty to Robert, as the eldest son of the Conqueror? Or would the odium of parricide, plus the fact that he was in rebellion against his lawful sovereign make it more likely they would rally around William Rufus?

Well, when William died Robert was certainly the first choice of many nobles to be his father's successor, but that was because he was seen as weaker than his brothers. I'm not sure if he would be seen in the same way 8 years earlier.
But at the time William Rufus wasn't the next heir in line. His eldest brother Richard was still alive, and would have played a role in the conflict.

Sorry for ressurrecting this, but I was reading about Curthose and I've found this thread.:eek:
 
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