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Wilgelm KlintonSon of Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, and pretender to the throne of England and Normandy, at the end of his life - Count of Flanders (from 1127).
Date of Birth: 25.10.1102
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Early Life and Norman Succession Claims
- Rebellion and Rise to Power
- French Alliance and Papal Intervention
- Potential Heir to England and Normandy
- Count of Flanders
- Rebellion in Flanders and Death
Early Life and Norman Succession Claims
William Clito was the illegitimate son of Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy, and the eldest son of William the Conqueror. Following his father's defeat and capture in the Battle of Tinchebray (1106), four-year-old William was placed under the custody of King Henry I of England. Henry's decision to not strictly control William proved to be unwise when supporters of the Norman duke's son hid and removed him from Normandy in 1110.
Rebellion and Rise to Power
William Clito and his guardian found refuge in the lands of Robert of Bellême in Perche, but after his capture in 1112, they sought asylum in Flanders with Count Baldwin VII. By the mid-1110s, a coalition had formed to oppose English rule in Normandy and support William's claims to the dukedom. In 1118, an armed rebellion broke out, and Clito's forces along with Flemish troops seized most of eastern Normandy. However, the death of Baldwin VII in 1119 and the defeat of the French army at the Battle of Brémule dashed these hopes.
French Alliance and Papal Intervention
William Clito subsequently sought support from the French court, and King Louis VI attempted to secure papal recognition of Clito's rights to Normandy. However, Henry I's diplomacy prevailed, and Pope Calixtus II, a cousin of the English king, recognized the legality of the English conquest of Normandy. With the conclusion of peace between Henry I and Louis VI in 1119, Clito once again became a landless exile.
Potential Heir to England and Normandy
A dramatic turn of events occurred in 1120 when Henry I's only legitimate son, William Adelin, drowned in a shipwreck. This left Clito as the last male descendant of William the Conqueror, making him the potential heir to both Normandy and England. Although Henry I attempted to name his nephew, Stephen of Blois, as his successor, many Norman barons embraced Clito's cause.
Count of Flanders
In 1127, Clito married Joan of Montferrat and received the Vexin from King Louis VI as a dowry. That same year, he became Count of Flanders upon the death of Count Charles the Good. This inheritance made Clito a vassal of the French king and provided him with a base from which to launch attacks against Normandy.
Rebellion in Flanders and Death
Clito's rule in Flanders was marked by both military successes and political blunders. He subdued opposition from other claimants to the county, but his attempts to raise funds for his invasion of Normandy alienated Flemish towns and merchants. Dissatisfaction with his policies led to rebellions in 1128, which culminated in the Battle of Axspoel. Clito's forces emerged victorious, but he was fatally wounded by a crossbow bolt during the siege of Aalst. William Clito died at the age of 25 and was buried in the Abbey of St. Bertin in Saint-Omer.
