Of the two elder sons Robert was considered to be much the weaker and was generally preferred by the nobles who held lands on both sides of the English Channel since they could more easily circumvent his authority.
Av de båda sönerna ansågs Robert vara den svagare och föredrogs av de adelsmän som hade landområden på båda sidor av engelska kanalen, eftersom de lättare kunde kringgå hans auktoritet.