His wedding feast and associations highlight connections to both Anglo-Saxon and Danish nobles, as well as his vast inherited lands in Brittany.

Shortly after the Norman conquest, he held large estates in Norfolk,[13] as well as property in Suffolk, Essex, Hertford, and possibly other counties.

Their marriage united two extremely large estates, as well as noble lines, including to the English Saxon kings and queens of old.

[19] The king's refusal to sanction the marriage between Ralph and Emma, from two powerful families, caused a revolt in his absence.

He who now bears the title of king is unworthy of it, as being a bastard, and it must be evident that it is displeasing to God such a master should govern the kingdom.

He is involved in endless quarrels in his dominions over the sea, being at variance not only with strangers but with his own children, and in the midst of his difficulties his own creatures desert him.

Walter, Count de Pontoise, nephew of King Edward, and Biota his wife, being his guests at Falaise, were both his victims by poison in one and the same night.

Conan, also, was taken off by poison at William's instigation; that valiant count whose death was mourned through the whole of Brittany with unutterable grief on account of his great virtues.

He has impudently usurped the glorious crown of England, iniquitously murdering the rightful heirs, or driving them into cruel banishment.

To his victorious soldiers, covered with wounds, were allotted barren farms and domains depopulated by the ravages of war; and even these his avarice subsequently compelled them to surrender in part or in whole.

These things cause him to be generally hated, and his death would be the signal for universal joy.Work began to prepare the revolt; however, the plan was discovered by William after Waltheof lost heart and confessed the conspiracy to Lanfranc, the Archbishop of Canterbury, who urged Earl Roger to return to his allegiance, and finally excommunicated him and his adherents.

His body is believed to have moved after death, he appeared in visions, and healing miracles were reported at his tomb,[22][23] and many pilgrims began to visit his grave.

Emma stayed to defend Norwich Castle, while Ralph sailed for Denmark in search of help (which may indicate familial ties), and returned to England with a fleet of 200 ships under Knud, son of King Svend, and Jarl Hakon,[26] which arrived too late, and instead sacked the Norman Cathedral St Peter's Minster[27] in York, where a previous Saxon church had been destroyed.

[20] Meanwhile, Countess Emma bravely held the fort at Norwich Castle until she had negotiated terms for herself and the safe escape of her followers, who were deprived of their lands, but allowed forty days to leave the realm.

His forces were overwhelmed and resoundingly defeated as the King of France, with a large army, roared to the defence of the Bretons;[32] whereupon William departed thence, having lost there both men and horses, and many of his treasures'.

[citation needed] William being dead, Ralph appears in Normandy c. 1093 as a witness in the record of a suit between the abbots of Lonlay-l'Abbaye and Saint-Florent de Besneville.