29th September 1106
Yesterday was the fortieth anniversary of the day the Conqueror landed at Pevensey and gained a kingdom. And yesterday was the day his son, Duke Robert, lost Normandy. After a rainsoaked battle fought at Tinchebrai in wretched conditions, the duke’s hopes sank into the mud and disappeared.
Background politics
For months the fortunes of the duchy have floundered as Duke Robert swung one way then another, seeking appeasement with his home-grown warlords and searching for compromises with his brother King Henry of England. The threat has been building for some time. Since Henry invaded last year and captured Bayeux and Caen, frequent interventions from the church and appeals by the Pope have kept the two brothers talking sporadically. Luckily for Duke Robert, Henry agreed to withdraw to England after meeting with him at Laigle in July 1105. But, although drawn back to England by quibbles with the church, Henry did nothing to scotch rumours of an imminent return. Normandy was always Henry’s unfinished business. Now it has finished the Duke.
Background to battle
Tinchebrai is a stronghold of William, Count of Mortain, one of the barons who has apparently remained loyal to Duke Robert. When Henry beseiged his castle there, Mortain appealed to Robert Curthose for help which eventually arrived. Seeing that battle was now inevitable, Robert disposed his forces, placing them opposite Henry’s three contingents, one led by Mortain himself, and the rear-guard under the command of Robert de Belleme.
Battleground
As we know the summer has been dire and constant heavy rain has ruined crops and filled rivers to overflowing. The ground around Tinchebrai was waterlogged which meant that heavy cavalry could not be used. Both armies slogged it out on foot with the flanking support of light cavalry. Fighting uphill put Duke Robert’s forces at a disadvantage. Early reports suggest the battle was not of long duration and that King Henry was clearly heading for a victory after a mere hour of fighting. Several of Robert’s most loyal supporters were captured including Edgar Aetheling, who was in charge of the central contingent, William of Mortain, on whose territory the battle took place, William Crispin, William de Ferrers and old Robert de Stuteville. However, it is rumoured that Stuteville was actually captured at St.Pierre-sur-Dive shortly before the battle of Tinchebrai. Other members of the Stuteville escaped capture. As yet there is no news on the fate of Duke Robert himself.
King Henry’s long term aim is to prise Normandy from his brother and impose sweeping reforms on the governance of the duchy along with suppression and banishment of warlords and private armies. If our sources are correct and this has been achieved, we are going to see a new kind of order emerging in the long suffering duchy.
One immediate result of all this is the news that Anselm, the exiled Archbishop of Canterbury, having been pacified by recent talks and encouragement from the Pope, will now return home and begin work on reforming relations between laity and church.
Immediate plans of King Henry
The King, however, will not be returning to England until he has begun the work of reconstruction. He has already announced a council to be held at Lisieux where he will unroll a ‘charter of liberties,’ so-called, and pledge to suppress ‘evil customs’. He will then return to Rouen to preside over a tribunal on church affairs. A source close to the court told us that it was uncertain how long the King will stay in Normandy but the affairs in the duchy have become so dire that he will likely stay some months. “It will take some time,” a spokesman of the chancellery told us, “we are going to have to set in motion the reform of all the branches of administration.”
In the meantime one question overshadows all activity since Tinchebrai. What has happened to Duke Robert?
No announcement has yet been made concerning his fate nor that of his son, the four-year-old William Clito.
It is hoped Henry will issue a statement from Lisieux in the next few days.