William II

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William II ( Rufus) (1056–1100) King of England (1087–1100). He was the second surviving son of William I (the Conqueror). His elder brother, Robert Curthose ( Robert II), was Duke of Normandy, and William had to crush revolts by Anglo-Norman lords in Robert's favour. He invaded the Duchy twice, and in 1096 Robert mortgaged it to him to raise cash for the First Crusade. He invaded Scotland, later killing Malcolm III (1093), annexed Cumbria, and subdued Wales (1097). He was killed hunting in the New Forest allegedly although improbably, by accident.

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