William of Aldrie was a first generation

Anglo-Norman Anglo-Norman may refer to: *Anglo-Normans, the medieval ruling class in England following the Norman conquest of 1066 * Anglo-Norman language **Anglo-Norman literature * Anglo-Norman England, or Norman England, the period in English history from 10 ...

and rebel. A cousin of, and steward to, William of Eu, he was executed in January 1096. Along with his cousin, William conspired with

Roger de Lacy Roger de Lacy (died after 1106) was an Anglo-Norman nobleman, a Marcher Lord on the Welsh border. Roger was a castle builder, particularly at Ludlow Castle. Lands and titles From Walter de Lacy (died 1085) he inherited Castle Frome, Herefor ...

and

Robert de Mowbray Robert de Mowbray (died 1125), a Norman, was Earl of Northumbria from 1086 until 1095. Robert joined the 1088 rebellion against King William II on behalf of Robert Curthose, but was pardoned and later led the army that killed Malcolm III of Scotl ...

to murder King William II and install the king's cousin

Stephen of Aumale Stephen of Aumale (–1127) was Count of Aumale from before 1089 to 1127, and Lord of Holderness. Life He was son of Odo, Count of Champagne, and Adelaide of Normandy, countess of Aumale, sister of William the Conqueror.George Edward Cokayne, ''Th ...

. In 1095 the rebels impounded four

Norwegian Norwegian, Norwayan, or Norsk may refer to: *Something of, from, or related to Norway, a country in northwestern Europe * Norwegians, both a nation and an ethnic group native to Norway * Demographics of Norway *The Norwegian language, including ...

trading ships and refused the king's demand to return the merchandise. King William conducted a lightning campaign, outflanking the rebels at Newcastle and capturing a rebel stronghold at

Morpeth Morpeth may refer to: *Morpeth, New South Wales, Australia ** Electoral district of Morpeth, a former electoral district of the Legislative Assembly in New South Wales * Morpeth, Ontario, Canada * Morpeth, Northumberland, England, UK ** Morpeth (UK ...

. He besieged the rebels at

Bamburgh Castle Bamburgh Castle is a castle on the northeast coast of England, by the village of Bamburgh in Northumberland. It is a Grade I listed building. The site was originally the location of a Celtic Brittonic fort known as ''Din Guarie'' and may have ...

and built a castle facing the existing one. In January 1096 William II sentenced William to death by hanging. Frank Barlow, ''William Rufus'' (1983), p. 357. Execution of those of high social standing was extremely unusual at the time. It was a measure of the growing strength of William II's kingship from his initially weak position that he felt able to act in this high-handed manner.

References

* ''Chronicle of Britain''

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:William of Aldrie 11th-century births 1096 deaths Year of birth unknown 11th-century Normans 11th-century English people Anglo-Normans English rebels Norman warriors People executed under the Normans Executed English people 11th-century executions People executed by the Kingdom of England by hanging William II of England