He was educated under Lanfranc and was considered to be destined to be a great Lord and not King. He was The considered The Conqueror's favorite son. He became King of England on his father's death in 1087.

William Rufus built 'Rufus Castle' also known as the 'Red King's Castle'. It is situated on top of a hill and is the oldest castle in Portland. The Normans built an arch or bridge leading into the castle.

William Rufus was an effective soldier, a ruthless ruler and according to 'The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' he was "hated by almost all his people". William fought against the Church and scroned the Anglo-saxons and their culture.

His brother Richard was killed in a hunting accident at the age of 20. William and his other two brothers did not have a good relationship. However, Robert and William reconciled against their brother Henry when campaigned against them.

During the Rebellion of 1088 Robert failed to appear in England and William won the support of the English with silver and promises of better government. Thus he defeated the rebellion and secured his authority. He crushed Robert's forces when he invaded Normandy in 1090 and forced him to cede a portion of his lands. William and Robert reconciled and William helped Robert get back lands that were lost to France.

Much of his reign was spent fighting the church. He lost his advisor and confidant, the Italian-Norman archbishop of Canterbury, Lanfrance, who died in 1089. William delated the appointment of a new archbishop and thus appropriated ecclesiastical revenues. He was much criticised for this action.

He paniced during a serious illness in 1093 and thought he was going to died. He then apointed another Italian-Norman as Archbishop of Canterbury, Anselm of Bec. He was a great theologian. He was a strong supporter of the Gregorian reforms than Lanfranc had been. There were disagreements on many ecclesiastical issues and the English clergy were unable to support Anselm. In 1097 Anshelm went into exile and William then recognized Urban as pope.

William Rufus was not as capable a ruler as his father. He had trouble channelling the Norman lords' propensity for indiscipline and violence. He was unsuccessful in an attack on Wales in 1097. He then campaigned in France until 1099 at which time he secured Maine. However he failed to gain control of the Vexin region. He had planned to occupy Aquitaine at the time of his death.

William's brother Robert Curthose joined the First Crusade in 1096. He was in need of funds for his trip and pledge his duchy to William for a payment of 10,000 marks. At this time William then ruled Normandy as well as England. He was regent in Robert's absence.

William's death occurred while he was hunting in the New Forest.

According to the chroniclers, William's death was not murder. Walter and William had been hunting together when Walter let loose a wild shot that, instead of hitting the stag he aimed for, struck William in the chest. Walter tried to help him, but there was nothing he could do. Fearing that he would be charged with murder, Walter panicked, leapt onto his horse, and fled.

A version of this tale is given by William of Malmesbury in his Chronicle of the Kings of the English (c. 1128):
The day before the king died he dreamt that he went to heaven. He suddenly awoke. He commanded a light to be brought, and forbade his attendants to leave him. The next day he went into the forest... He was attended by a few persons... Walter Tirel remained with him, while the others, were on the chase. The sun was now declining, when the king, drawing his bow and letting fly an arrow, slightly wounded a stag which passed before him... The stag was still running... The king, followed it a long time with his eyes, holding up his hand to keep off the power of the sun's rays. At this instant Walter decided to kill another stag. Oh, gracious God! the arrow pierced the king's breast.

On receiving the wound the king uttered not a word; but breaking off the shaft of the arrow where it projected from his body... This accelerated his death. Walter immediately ran up, but as he found him senseless, he leapt upon his horse, and escaped with the utmost speed. Indeed there were none to pursue him: some helped his flight; others felt sorry for him.

The king's body was placed on a cart and conveyed to the cathedral at Winchester... blood dripped from the body all the way. Here he was buried within the tower. The next year, the tower fell down. William Rufus died in 1100... aged forty years. He was a man much pitied by the clergy... he had a soul which they could not save... He was loved by his soldiers but hated by the people because he caused them to be plundered.

William Rufus Death - Lithograph, 1895

A Stone known as the 'Rufus Stone' marks the spot where it is believed
that King William Rufus fell and died.
The Inscription reads:
"Here stood the oak tree, on which an arrow shot by Sir Walter Tyrell
at a stag, glanced and struck King William the Second, surnamed
Rufus, on the breast, of which he instantly died, on the second
day of August, anno 1100. King William the Second, surnamed Rufus,
being slain, as before related, was laid in a cart, belonging to one
Purkis, and drawn from hence, to Winchester, and buried in the
Cathedral Church, of that city."