439 – Juggling Responsibilities

There was no getting around it. William had been humiliated. The Duke of Normandy and King of England had spent years mocking his son. He’d even recruited the upper crust of Norman society into using the cruel nickname “short pants” to describe Robert. When his son had rebelled, William doubled down on the disrespect, and started calling him Robin (a diminutive comment that was also a clear reference to both Robert’s size and belly). It was cruel, but also a pretty sick burn.