His divided allegiance.
He suggests an attack on Normandy.
William and Robert Count of Flanders.
Death of Count Robert. October 4 or 13, 1093. the brothers was the more useful master to serve. He was now, by the death of his father, Count of Eu, and Eu was among the parts of Normandy which Robert had yielded to William.[1] For Eu then Count William was the man of King William; but he was still the man of Duke Robert for some other parts of his possessions. He thought it his interest to serve one lord only; he accordingly threw off his allegiance to Robert, and came over to England to stir up William to take possession of the whole duchy.[2] And it must surely have been in connexion with these affairs that, at some time between March and September, William had an interview with Count Robert of Flanders at Dover. By this description we are doubtless to understand the elder Count Robert, the famous Frisian, of whom we have already heard as an enemy to the elder William,[3] but who must now have been at least on terms of peace with his son. He was drawing near the end of his life, a memorable life, nearly the last act of which had been honourable indeed. He had, several years before the preaching of the crusade, sent a body of the choicest warriors of Flanders to defend Eastern Christendom against the Turk.[4] Robert died in October of this year, and was succeeded by his), does homage to the Emperor ([Greek: ton synêthê tois Latinois apodidôsin horkon]) and promises five hundred knights ([Greek: hippeis]). In viii. 7 we find that he had fulfilled his promise, and that they are [Greek: hippeis ekkritoi]. In viii. 3 they figure as [Greek: Keltoi]. Cf. Will. Malms. iii. 257.]
- ↑ See above, p. 276.
- ↑ This action of William of Eu is marked by Florence at the end of the year, but without saying at what time of the year it happened; "Eodem anno Willelmus comes de Owe, auri ingenti victus aviditate et promissi honoris captus magnitudine, a naturali domino suo Rotberto Normannorum comite, cui fidelitatem juraverat, defecit et in Angliam ad regem Willelmum veniens, illius se dominio, ut seductor maximus, subjugavit."
- ↑ See N. C. vol. iv. pp. 538, 684.
- ↑ Anna Comnena tells us this, vii. 6. Robert, on his return from Jerusalem ([Greek: ho Phlandras komês ex Hierosolymôn epanerchomenos
