Crusade

Henry’s implacability finally convinced Robert that there was no more to be said.

We took the next tide to Normandy and prepared for war.

Robert’s generosity — or, as some would put it, his impotence — in dealing with his brother’s threats soon began to exact a telling price. Henry had persuaded many of Normandy’s most powerful men that he was a better option for the duchy than its duke. To his dismay, when Robert called for his supporters to join him with their knights, few were forthcoming. Of the most senior men, William of Mortain, the deposed Earl of Cornwall, and Robert of Belleme, Earl of Shrewsbury, were the only ones to hear the rallying call.

On the other hand, King Henry had built up a significant force, far outnumbering Robert’s army. He had returned to Lower Normandy shortly after we had, and immediately began to prepare for battle.

Henry’s final provocation, the laying down of the gauntlet, came in September 1106. The King advanced south from Falaise with a large army towards the small settlement of Tinchebrai, part of the lands belonging to William of Mortain. He could have overwhelmed the fortress within the hour, but instead besieged it, as a lure with which to entice us. Count William immediately appealed to Robert for help and we duly rode west, preparing ourselves to withstand the jaws of the trap that had been set for us.

Robert knew the trap was primed and that our prospects were not the best, but several layers of pride were steeling him for the encounter: his Norman ancestry, the legacy of Palestine, and his innate decency which compelled him to behave honourably.

When we arrived, Robert demanded that Henry lift the siege, to which Henry responded by offering Robert an annual pension and a quiet life in exchange for Normandy.

I looked at Sweyn; we were almost tempted to suggest to Robert that he should agree, but then thought better of it. First of all, it was hardly an offer worthy of a noble duke of any stature, let alone that of Robert, and secondly, Henry’s promises did not have much of a reputation.

Robert did not even respond to Henry’s offer. Instead, he ordered that we make camp and meet to discuss our tactics.

Our scouts had reported on King Henry’s disposition. We were outnumbered by about three to one. Robert had his personal squadron, the elite cavalry unit formed by his father — now called the Sybilla Squadron — and a strong deployment of archers and infantry. He would take the centre ground with Hugh Percy, Sweyn and I standing with him. William of Mortain would take the left flank, while Roger of Belleme took the right.

We mustered 300 knights and 3,000 infantry.

King Henry had nearly 1,000 knights and at least 8,000 infantry, many of whom were Englishmen.

Early the next morning, the King took a position to the rear, with his reserves, while Ralph of Bayeux, Robert Beaumont and William II of Warenne led his centre, left and right flanks respectively. Helias, Count of Saint Saens, led Henry’s Breton and Manceaux cavalry.

For Robert Beaumont, the highly respected, wily old campaigner, it must have been a particularly poignant moment. Now sixty years old, a lifetime ago he had led the right flank of the army of Robert and Henry’s father at Senlac Ridge. Not only that, the date was the 28th of September 1106, forty years to the day since William’s army had first set foot on English soil at Pevensey Beach.

This time, Beaumont was on the right flank of the King of England, whose wife was English, whose heir was called Atheling, and whose army contained thousands of English foot soldiers; and he was facing a fight to the death with the Duke of Normandy and his Norman army. Over the years, we had witnessed many strange paradoxes in England. Now we were witnessing another one in Normandy.

Robert did not make a speech before the battle. For the first time in his reign, he raised the baculus of his Viking ancestors high above his head and bellowed, ‘For Normandy!’

Robert’s simple but powerful war cry fortified our men, and Henry’s first attack was held — but at a fearful price. A second onslaught followed and then a third, until our numbers had been significantly reduced. The battle had raged for less than an hour and already our lines had become ragged and breached in several places. Then Henry unleashed a sustained cascade of arrows into our ranks, causing yet more confusion and heavy losses.

Robert was already in the thick of the fighting, with Sweyn, Hugh Percy and I taking positions to protect his rear and sides, when disaster struck. Robert of Belleme, thinking that the day was lost, turned and fled, leaving our right flank completely exposed.

Henry grasped the opportunity immediately.

He committed his cavalry and ordered Count Helias to charge, letting loose a horde of knights from Normandy’s neighbours who had many scores to settle.

Our position was hopeless.

Sweyn turned to Robert and shouted at him, ‘We are being overrun; let us get you away before it’s too late.’