his sons. Robert supported the elder son, Robert Curthose and in 1088 he and his troops were involved in the siege of Rochester. They were however obliged to surrender to the forces of William Rufus. Robert was killed on 3 July 1093; according to chronicler Orderic Vitalis there was a skirmish with a force led by Gruffudd ap Cynan which resulted in Robert's death. He was enjoying a noontide nap in his castle at Deganwy when the news was brought to him that Welsh raiders had landed in three ships underneath the Great Orme and pillaged his lands. Some sources say that these raiders were led by Gruffudd ap Cynan, who had escaped from captivity in Chester. The raiders had beached their ships and were busy loading the plunder. Robert despatched messengers to gather his troops and hastened to the Great Orme, where he found that the rising tide was about to allow the Welsh to refloat their vessels and get away with the loot before Robert's troops could appear. In a fury, Robert rushed down the slopes to attack them, followed only by his armour-bearer. He was killed by a volley of javelins, and the raiders sailed off with his head attached to the mast of one of the vessels. Robert's lands in Gwynedd were now taken over by Earl Hugh of Chester, but the Welsh revolt of 1094 led by Gruffudd ap Cynan resulted in the loss of most of this territory. References Bibliography 11th-century births 1093 deaths 11th-century Normans Anglo-Normans in Wales Norman warriors Normans killed in battle William II of England