Robert II, Archbishop of Rouen
| Robert II | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Archbishop of Rouen | |
| Tenure | 989-1037 |
| Predecessor | Hugh III |
| Successor | Mauger |
| Count of Évreux | |
| Reign | c. 989-1037 |
| Predecessor | New creation |
| Successor | Richard |
| Born | bef. 989 |
| Died | 1037 |
| Spouse | Herlevea |
| Issue |
Richard, Count of Évreux Ralph de Gacé William d'Évreux |
| House | House of Normandy |
| Father | Richard I, Duke of Normandy |
| Mother | Gunnora |
| Religion | Roman Catholicism |
Robert II or Robert the Dane, Archbishop of Rouen (bef. 989–1037), and Count of Évreux was a powerful and influential prelate, and a family member of and supporter of five dukes of Normandy.
Robert was a son of Richard I, Duke of Normandy and his second wife, Gunnora. He was a younger brother of duke Richard II and uncle of duke Robert I. He had been appointed Archbishop of Rouen by his father c. 989–990 and had been given the of Évreux at the same time. Robert was well aware he was destined for the church and seemingly accepted his role as both archbishop and count willingly. But he had always been involved in Norman politics and was a powerful adherent of the Norman dukes. Robert had proved himself a powerful ecclesiastical ally of his father, Richard I, as well as his brother, Richard II, and at the latter's death effectively became the senior male adviser to the ducal clan. But his nephew Richard III had a turbulent and short reign of just over a year and when replaced by his brother Robert I, as Duke of Normandy, the prelate Robert had a great deal of trouble restraining the new duke. In 1028 he found himself besieged and then banished by his young nephew. Duke Robert I then besieged Hugh d'Ivry, Bishop of Bayeux who, along with Archbishop Robert had apparently questioned his authority as duke. From exile in France, Archbishop Robert excommunicated his nephew Duke Robert and placed Normandy under an interdict.
The Archbishop and Duke finally came to terms and to facilitate the lifting of the interdict and excommunication, Duke Robert restored the Archbishop to his see, to his countship of Evereux, and returned all his properties. To further illustrate his change of heart towards the church, Duke Robert restored property that he or his vassals had confiscated, and by 1034 had returned all church properties including those taken from Fécamp Abbey. By 1033 Duke Robert was mounting a major campaign against his double cousin Alan III, Duke of Brittany. He and Alan had been raiding back and forth but finally a peace was negotiated between them by the returned Archbishop Robert, their mutual uncle.
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