His father, the 1st Earl, was one of the
Conqueror's most trusted and most rewarded barons who, at his death in 1088, was the third- or fourth-richest magnate in England. In 1088 William II inherited his father's lands in England and his Norman estates including the castles of
Mortemer and
Bellencombre in
Haute-Normandy. But William II was not as disposed to serve the king as his father was. In 1093 he attempted to marry
Matilda (or Edith), daughter of king
Malcolm III of Scotland. She instead married
Henry I of England, and this may have been the cause of William's great dislike of Henry I, which motivated him in the following years. When
Robert Curthose, Duke of Normandy invaded England in 1101 William joined him. But when Curthose promptly surrendered to Henry I, William lost his English lands and titles and was exiled to
Normandy. William was one of the commanders on Henry's side (against Robert Curthose) at the
Battle of Tinchebray in 1106. Afterwards, with his loyalty thus proven, he became more prominent in Henry's court. He fought for Henry I at the
Battle of Bremule in 1119. William, the second Earl of Surrey was present at Henry's deathbed in 1135. After the king's death disturbances broke out in Normandy and William was sent to guard Rouen and the Pays de Caux. William was a donor to a number of priories, with his donations being mentioned in charters issued between 1130 and 1138 to
Longueville Priory near Rouen, Normandy and to the priory of Bellencombre (also near Rouen) in 1135. His sons and his wife were witnesses to many of these charters. William's death is recorded as 11 May 1138 in the register of
Lewes Priory and he was buried at his father's feet at the
chapter house there. His wife, the countess Elizabeth, survived him, dying before July 1147. ==Family==