Robert de Comines

Robert de Comines ( Robert Comines, Robert de Comyn, † January 1069 ) was from 1068 to 1069 briefly Earl of Northumbria.

Robert is probably from Comines in Flanders and joined the retinue of William the Conqueror. He was involved in the Norman Conquest of England by William and participated in the October 14, 1066 also at the Battle of Hastings in part.

In 1068, Wilhelm appointed him as the successor of the deposed Gospatric Earl of Northumbria. The Northumbrians did not want a foreign ruler and conspired against him. The warnings Æthelwins bishop of Durham, to meet him on his way to Durham, he disregarded.

Robert paid his soldiers no pay, but allowed looting. The soldiers were like in enemy territory and killed several people.

During the night, rushed from everywhere Northumbrians and stormed at dawn on 28 or January 31, 1069 the town. The 700 -strong Norman garrison was massacred to the last man. Robert de Comines had holed up in the house of the bishop with the few surviving men. When the attacks were not successful the bishop's house was burned down with all the defenders. Bishop Æthelwin had changed sides and marched with the army at York, which led to The harrying of the North, a fixed term for the looting of the North, by King William.

Swell

• Symeon of Durham, Historia regum Anglorum et Dacorum
• Symeon of Durham, History of the Church of Durham
• Stenton, Frank M., Anglo- Saxon England, 3rd ed Oxford University Press: Oxford, 1971.