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King William had a clear plan when it came to dividing England between his followers. Most were given lands that were scattered across large areas - this was to prevent any lord from becoming powerful enough to challenge his authority.

Two parts of the country needed special attention and control of these large consolidated lands were trusted to his half-brother Odo and his childhood friend and closest advisor William FitzOsbern.

Odo was given control of the south-east, this was to protect the channel crossing to Normandy and FitzOsbern was given land along the Welsh marches.

He built a number of castles there and maintained a large force of knights to prevent attack from across the Welsh border.

When FitzOsbern died in 1071 King William was faced with a problem- could he trust anyone else to hold so much consolidated territory?

The death of William FitzOsbern led to major problems for William. FitzOsbern’s oldest son William de Breteuil was given his father’s lands in Normandy. His younger son Roger de Breteuil inherited his English lands and titles.

King William’s decision was very sensible since it kept both sons happy by giving them significant territory and also reduced the ability of either to challenge his authority.

But Roger led a rebellion against his William that threatened to destroy the peace he had fought so hard for.

Why did Roger lead a rebellion?

Unhappy with his lack of power

By 1074 Roger was increasingly unhappy with the amount of power he had. He felt he did not have the same authority as his father in England and blamed King William for reducing his inheritance. The only way he could increase his power was to align with other powerful earls. Roger accepted the Earl of Norfolk’s proposal to marry his sister Emma. King William refused them his permission but the marriage went ahead.

Support from Ralph de Gael, Earl of Norfolk

Ralph de Gael’s father was also an important early Norman earl and controlled most of East Midlands. After the death of his father, Ralph’s new territory was reduced to Norfolk and parts of East Anglia because King William wanted to reduce the power of barons he did not trust. Ralph’s anger made him open to Roger’s plan to rebel in order to force King William into giving them more territory.

The revolt of the Anglo-Norman earls failed for a number of reasons:

• They did not have the support of the Anglo-Saxon people who were not willing to risk their lives for ambitious young Normans.
• They were betrayed by their co-conspirator Earl Waltheof of Northumbria after he revealed the whole plan to King William.
• Norman barons loyal to the king defeated Ralph in East Anglia and forced him to escape abroad.

Bishop Odo

The last years of King William’s life were full of misfortune. Bishop Odo’s betrayal of King William is both tragic and mysterious. How did Odo go from his half-brother’s most trusted advisor to spending five years in prison?

William, then Duke of Normandy, made his half-brother the Bishop of Bayeaux in 1049 at the age of 20. Odo fought at the Battle of Hastings and was rewarded for his service with land. Odo also commissioned the famous Bayeaux Tapestry that told the story of the conquest.

Odo was one of the most powerful lords in England during William I’s reign. He was trusted to rule as regent. Many people complained about Odo’s ruthlessness and greed whilst he was Earl of Kent. He was accused of stealing from the Church and was tried in court in 1076.

Odo did not learn his lesson from the trial of 1076, and in 1082 King William had him thrown in prison for attempting a Norman military expedition to Italy. His aims remain a mystery but writers at the time believe he intended to install himself as Pope.