Robert Curthose

Robert Curthose (French: Robert Courteheuse;  1051 – c. 3 February 1134) was the eldest son of William the Conqueror and was Duke of Normandy as Robert II from 1087 to 1106.

Robert was twice an unsuccessful pretender to the throne of the Kingdom of England. The epithet "Curthose" originated in the Norman French word courtheuse ("short stockings"). The chroniclers William of Malmesbury and Orderic Vitalis wrote that his father had derisively called him brevis-ocrea ("short boot").

Robert's reign is noted for the discord with his brothers, the English kings William II and Henry I. He mortgaged his duchy to finance his participation in the First Crusade, where he was an important commander. In 1106, his disagreements with Henry led to defeat in the Battle of Tinchebray and lifelong captivity, with Normandy temporarily absorbed into England's possession.