1088 – William II and the Rebels

Historical records reveal that Odo, Bishop of Bayeux and Earl of Kent, likely attended the installation of Abbot Wido at St Augustine's Abbey, Canterbury, and subsequently accompanied King William II (William Rufus) to London for Christmas celebrations in 1088. This inference stems from a lost diploma accessible to Henry of Huntingdon, who compiled the names of bishops present during William's reign. The study reconstructs this event using fragmented sources, including a late account by William Thorne suggesting a December 21 date for Odo's presence in Canterbury. Additionally, it highlights William's early reign marked by peace and popularity, though his northern journey to York is documented only through Stephen of Whitby's later account of St Mary's Abbey's founding. The research relies on cross-referencing chronicles and lost diplomatic records to piece together the political landscape of Norman England.

Sharpe, R. 1088 – William II and the Rebels. Anglo-Norman Studies XXVI, 139–158. https://doi.org/10.1017/upo9781846152054.010