'William of Eu',
Count of Eu (died January
1096) was a first generation
Anglo-Norman aristocrat and rebel.
Along with
William of Aldrie, he conspired with
Roger de Lacy and
Robert de Mowbray to murder
William II and install the king's cousin
Stephen of Aumale.
In 1095 the rebels impounded four
Norwegian trading ships and refused the king's demand to return the merchandise.
King William conducted a lightning campaign, outflanking the rebels at Newcastle and capturing a rebel stronghold at
Morpeth. He besieged the rebels at
Bamburgh Castle and built a castle facing the existing one.
In January 1096 in
Salisbury, Eu was formally accused and challenged to
trial by battle. He was defeated by
Geoffrey Baynard, former sheriff of Yorkshire. Tradition condemned the loser to blinding and castration. William of Eu died as a result of this mutilation.
References
★ Chronicle of Britain ISBN 1-872031-35-8