Objectives/Template

A limited number of facts are known about the killing of William Rufus:

- on 2 August 1100, a Royal hunting party hunted in the New Forest

- William Rufus, his brother Henry and Sir Walter Tirel/Tyrel/Tyrell, at least, were in the hunting party

- William Rufus was killed by an arrow

- the main suspect was Sir Walter Tirel/Tyrel/Tyrell

It appears that the members of the hunting party, inclucing his brother Henry, dispersed!

The event was described in chronicles by near contemporaries, other historians years after the event and a monument in the New Forest, the Rufus Stone, centuries later

Initial Objectives/Template

The main objective is to try to identify some additional facts by first obtaining a good representative selection of books and other information published and then
analyse each publication for potential answers against a Template containing just 4 questions:

1. where the Hunting Lodge was

2. where the Hunting Accident took place

3. who was in the Royal Hunting Party

4. who fired the arrow which killed William Rufus, plus

Any additional information felt relevant

Additonal Information sought

I found that the questions did not do the publications justice and extended the Template:

1. The Chronicles

2. The Build Up to The Hunt

3. Where the Hunting Lodge was (Brockenhurst or Malwood Castle/Keep)

4. Who was in the Royal Hunting Party

5. Where the hunting accident took place

6. Who fired the arrow that killed William Rufus

7. The Aftermath of the Killing

Colin Bower
31 October 2024

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