Primogeniture- A system of inheritance in which the eldest son in a family received all of his father's land.
Personal relationships
William did not trust or respect Robert highly enough to make him king- was made Duke of Normandy instead while Rufus became king of England
Fears of the nobles
If the nobles held land in Normandy and England and war broke out between the two brothers, the feudal system made it so that they would have to pay homage to them both/ fight for them both.
Odo's ambitions
Persuaded some nobles to back only Robert as he would be easier to influence than Rufus.
Events of the 1088 rebellion
Odo took over some parts of Southern England from his base at Rochester castle. Other nobles joined the rebellion such as the sheriff of Leicester and Robert of Mortain. In the west, marcher earls Roger de Montgomery and Roger de Lacy led larger rebellions. Robert = expected to invade from Normandy.
Why did the rebellion fail?
Rufus bribed the nobles by promising more land and besieged Rochester castle, defeating Odo. Robert's expected invasion never arrived. Rufus had backing of Church and most nobles.
