Norman Conquest Encyclopedia

As the new Duke of Normandy, William the Bastard, strove to achieve full control of his duchy, he was challenged by Guy of Burgundy and his followers from western Normandy, Nigel, Count of the Cotentin, Rannulf of the Bessin and others. The Duke appealed to his liege lord, the king, Henry I and it was in this rôle that the sovereign led the army into Normandy early in 1047. At the Battle of Val-ès-Dunes, on the Bourguebus ridge south-east of Caen, the western counts were put to flight and William distinguished himself as a warrior. As his vassal's power grew, Henry had misgivings and, together with Geoffrey, Count of Anjou he entered Normandy as an enemy of the Duke in 1054. The expedition failed when the dispersed force was overcome at Mortemer. In 1057 another attempt to curb the growth of William's influence collapsed when Henry and Geoffrey's force was cut off at Varaville, north-east of Caen. Henry died three years later.

See also: Caen; Count of Anjou; Mortemer; William the Bastard

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