William II
/ˌwɪljəm ðə ˈsekənd/
/ˌwɪljəm ðə ˈsekənd/
(also William Rufus
/ˌwɪljəm ˈruːfəs/
/ˌwɪljəm ˈruːfəs/
)- (c.1056-1100) the king of England from 1087 to 1100. He became king when his father William I died. He was a skilful leader but his attempts to take money from his barons and the Church made him unpopular. He died in an accident while hunting, but many people think he was murdered so that his brother Henry I could be king. He was called Rufus, meaning red, because of the colour of his hair.
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William II